Mother Talkers

Babies in the Workplace

by Elisa

Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:07:41 AM PDT

During the height of the dot-com era here in the San Francisco Bay Area, many companies used to allow employees to bring their babies to work as a way to retain them. Once the local economy collapsed, many employers stripped the stock options and other perks, including this one, from their budgets.

Most recently, blogger Carla Moquin over at MomsRising raised the issue, saying that company productivity would increase if workers were allowed to bring their babies to work.

The impact on the work environment has been profound in these companies with structured baby programs. Babies improved morale--not just for the parents, who were obviously deeply grateful for the opportunity to keep their children with them--but for the office in general. Higher morale meant happier, more loyal, and often more productive employees. People started talking about their personal lives more and developed closer relationships with their coworkers, which led to increased cooperation and teamwork. In many companies, managers noticed that people were actually nicer to each other as a result of the babies being around. People--including many who really didn't want the baby program in the first place--discovered that a smile or hug from a baby was deeply rejuvenating if they were having a bad day, and they talked about needing their daily "baby fix..."

Babies-at-work programs obviously have many benefits for parents and babies, including easier breastfeeding, deeper bonding, lower day care costs, better financial stability, and increased social and intellectual stimulation for new mothers and babies. A "side effect" of babies in the workplace that could truly transform our society, though, is how regular interaction with babies (which was actually the "norm" in human history prior to the Industrial Revolution) rekindles awareness of our humanity in the workplace. It is likely that many more organizations will adopt baby programs, given the proven success of these programs in a wide range of companies, the extensive benefits of these programs, and the nominal financial costs for a business.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for family-friendly practices in the workforce. But, initially, I had a lot of questions about this arrangement. A new parent should be home resting and bonding with the baby, not stretching herself thin, commuting, trying to get work done AND caring for the baby. Why can't these companies let the parents take paid family leave? Or, let them work from home so that the baby can nap in its familiar surroundings?

Then again, it depends on what one does for a living. Not everyone has a job, in which working from home is possible. Take, for example, someone in retail or a waitress. As one of the posters mentioned in Moquin's piece, she works around heavy machinery and it would be unsafe to bring her baby to work. She wanted to know what MomsRising could do to make industrial jobs more family-friendly.

But the responses to Moquin's piece were overwhelmingly in favor of the arrangement. Dozens of moms piped up how it had worked for them with the caveat that is can be challenging, too.

  • ::

Currently I work 2 days a week in the office, bringing my 10-month-old daughter with me as well as my husband who is in a tenuous job situation at the moment-- in previous months I would just bring the baby, but we are now playing it by ear as my husband transitions out of his current job. We are stressed out about work, but it is a source of great comfort to me that my employer has made a commitment to be supportive and flexible. I also work some hours from home as well. There have also been times when I worked more days in the office with the baby, training new employees. When my daughter was smaller I would mostly pop her in the wrap on my body and she would nap on and off. I have often found myself breastfeeding while typing at my computer, breastfeeding during meetings, breastfeeding on the floor, etc.

Positive aspects of having the baby in the office: everyone loves her! She spreads joy and happiness to all. Everyone is still productive. Students who come into the office get all excited to see her, and I am excited to show them that this is possible. We are living our communitarian values, breaking down some of the barriers between work life and "private" life, while still functioning happily and efficiently. It feels very family-like. We have personal check-ins at least a few times a week where we talk about what's happening in our lives that's not work-related; we are open about the challenges we face as well as the fun aspects of our lives.

I must acknowledge that at times it has been very challenging as well. My daughter doesn't nap well in the office and I worry about her getting enough rest sometimes. Before my husband started coming with me regularly, I often felt quite overwhelmed and couldn't focus. The divided focus issue has been the biggest hurdle, I think, and I have been pretty hard on myself about it, wanting everyone to feel completely taken care of and having to settle with being "good enough." But the reality is, my daughter is doing well, my organization is doing well, so I can't be screwing up too badly, I guess.

If I couldn't bring my daughter to work, I think we would be in much worse straits financially as well as emotionally. I wish all moms had the option to bring their children to work. I know it wouldn't work in every setting, but it could probably work in many settings.

In that sense, I do agree with Moquin that babies in the workplace would lighten the mood and make workers chipper. They would serve as a constant reminder that a life outside the cubicle is an inalienable human right.

Tags: MomsRising, babies, childcare, daycare, friendly workforce, workplace, workers (all tags)

Permalink | 52 comments

  • i bring my kids to both of my jobs (0 / 0)

    i drive a school bus for the town and work in the nursery at a church

    some of the drivers who bring their kids drive for three schools, so their kids ride for six trips each day, which adds up to between 4 1/2 and 6 hours.  if they have a midday kindergarten run, it's more

    i only drive for the preschool program (because my van is filled w/ car seats they can't use me for other schools) so we stay in the drivers' break room for a while, then drive about three hours a day.  if my husband doesn't work until the afternoon, then i leave them home with him in the morning, and just take them with me to church and the afternoon run

    i like taking them with me, but sometimes i really need a break

    by thankgodforairamerica on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:36:46 AM PDT

  • My daughter came to work with me (0 / 0)

    The first year, I was an employee, and my boss encouraged me to bring her. I had an office with a door, and DH also worked there. It was a small company. I had a playpen in my office and some toys, and I carried her around in the Baby Bjorn or sling. Some days my mother came in to be with me and the baby and some days she'd show up around lunch and take the baby home.

    It worked out really well, but it was an unusual situation. I was a manager and a programmer, two functions that are fairly child-compatible.

    I remember once when I was covering customer service, and my daughter started to squawk. I was wincing, but when the nice lady on the other end asked me if I had a baby in the office, she went out of her way to say how neat she thought it was.

    After that, we had our own business expressly so we could continue having our daughter with us while we worked.

    There were many challenges, and she does/did affect my productivity. On the other hand, having her in day care would have cost two hours a day and a mint of money, and so I was willing/able to slide more time into strange hours. I worked at night from home and did other things to pull it together. It was tough, and I probably couldn't have done it without the support of my mom.

    by shenanigans on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:59:09 AM PDT

  • not always realistic (0 / 0)

    I am a reporter. I do phone interviews, research, go out on interviews and write all day. Those things would be hard to do with a baby attached to me. I could do them in a pinch, but it would be far from ideal. And I certainly wouldn't want my baby with me at a crime scene, or when I'm out covering wildfires.

    What I did find extremely helpful at my last newspaper was on-site day care. It was just across the street from our building and it made my transition back to work so much easier. Initially I went over there on my breaks and lunch hour to nurse her. As she got older that tapered off to one lunchtime visit. By the time she transitioned to the toddler room there were no more visits so as not to disrupt her busy day.

    On nights where I had to stay late to cover breaking news I would pick her up from day care and bring her to the office, where a kind co-worker offered to entertain her while I did a final story edit. That got harder as she became mobile; eventually she was running around the newsroom, but no one seemed to mind much.

    I do think employers should offer flexibility wherever possible. I was extremely loyal to my last employer for those reasons, and I often wonder what the heck we'll do should we have another baby. No on-site day care here!  

    by Erika on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:25:36 PM PDT

  • My friend's head would explode (0 / 0)

    at this statement:

    In that sense, I do agree with Moquin that babies in the workplace would lighten the mood and make workers chipper. They would serve as a constant reminder that a life outside the cubicle is an inalienable human right.

    She dislikes kids, thinks working parents get perks and/or use their kids to leave early or call in for the day (because they "get" to leave or come in late when a child is ill), thinks children should be seen and not heard - actually, not even seen - and thinks that bfing mothers should lock themselves in a bathroom stall! (I could go on. Can you believe she's my good friend? Yikes.)  So, the thought of a child in her office environment would make her go absolutely postal!

    I think kids at work is a great idea. Lots of the Silicon Valley and dot.com startups allowed people to bring their pets to work, so why not kids? It is so difficult to strike a work/life balance (which is why I quit my job when DD was born) that any flexibility is a good thing. I would work outside the home right now if I could bring DS with me - no question, out the door right now!

    by GiGi on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:29:23 PM PDT

    • You should phone her at 3am (0 / 0)

      for several months and then go to her house and wreck the place just to give her a taste of the perks that come with motherhood.  

      I childproofed my house but they got back in somehow.

      by lonestar canuck on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:16:15 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      • or (0 / 0)

        Or make her go shopping with a bunch of goats like Shenanigans wrote about.

        by NJmom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:03:14 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        • Yeah... (0 / 0)

          and then barf on her clothes and stand outside the door while she's peeing and knock constantly.  

          I'm having one of those "why did I want kids" kind of days.  

          I childproofed my house but they got back in somehow.

          by lonestar canuck on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:37:07 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        • Once I actually wanted (0 / 0)

          to make her go eat her lunch in a bathroom stall when she got all indignant about me nursing DD in public...DD was 3 months old at the time. Our friendship almost did not survive DD's early months...

          by GiGi on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:24:01 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          • I lost a childfree friend when (0 / 0)

            my first was little because she simply didn't get that I wasn't prepared to listen to how tired she was... that taking a toddler to a restaurant wasn't a fun experience for me or that I couldn't sit on the phone and listen to her boyfriend troubles for hours on end anymore.  

            Me having a baby really revealed a lot about her.  And then we moved to Texas and I think she was ticked at me for having a child and then abandoning her.  

            She's since had a child (I hear through the grapevine) and I wanted to call and say "Do you get it now?"  But it seemed petty.  

            I'm glad that your friendship survived those early months.   You're a better person than I.

            I childproofed my house but they got back in somehow.

            by lonestar canuck on Sun Feb 24, 2008 at 08:14:23 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

  • DS at work (0 / 0)

    If my job involved walking around in circles while bouncing and swinging my arms, and all my coworkers were deaf, heck yeah, he would have been a great addition to my workplace. I simply don’t get how people can actually work and care for a child at the same time. Extended, paid maternity leave? Right on. Flex time, sure. Telecommuting? Bring it on. But bringing your baby to the office? If he’s anything like mine was, please, please, please stay home.

    by minnmom on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:37:27 PM PDT

    • ITA (0 / 0)

      I agree. Flextime, mat leaves, all good things.  Brings babies and kids to work?  Bad idea.

      by NJmom on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 02:27:27 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    • An office with a door (0 / 0)

      was essential.

      by shenanigans on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 02:53:48 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      • good point (0 / 0)

        That's a good point about the office.  Few jobs are going to be conducive to this arrangement in any way shape or form.  As you said an office with a door is critical.  Those types of jobs are usually at least mid-level jobs in most organizations these days, everyone else is in a cube.  Also, it has to be the kind of job that can be done whenever, if the need arises.  A secretary's job, for example, wouldn't fall into that category.

        What if you need to go to meetings?  Then what happens? Or like you said, answer the phone, but your phone rings all day?

        And then, you can think of a million fields where it will never work at all.  Healthcare, teaching, working in lab, sales, the list goes on and on.

        by NJmom on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 04:51:26 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        • One thing you can do (0 / 0)

          is rethink how the job is done and what is essential.

          When push comes to shove, I've seen babies in the most amazing workplaces. Our local restaurant had a waitress with her infant with her one day. This is a very informal, small community situation: obviously it would not work in a more formal setting. She was not having a good day, for sure: it added a lot of difficulty for her. Still, she did it, and no doubt it was a save from a childcare foulup.

          Computer programming doesn't have to be done in a cube; so much can be done with telecommuting. I know some daddies who do programming with their kid in a sling.

          I don't think it can be done full time, with the kid in with parent 40 hours a week. I think you need to have some kid-free time, and meetings etc can often be scheduled for those times. (My daughter actually went to a lot of meetings; when I was a child, so did I.)

          It's not an easy way to go and it's absolutely true that many/most jobs cannot be done effectively with kid. But I applaud more flexibility, even if it only covers the childcare emergencies.

          by shenanigans on Sun Feb 24, 2008 at 09:57:00 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          • flexibility in childcare emergencies... (0 / 0)

            should be the norm.

            by parentalunit1 on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 01:52:01 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            • flexibility in working life (0 / 0)

              should be the norm!! Hey, we're all going to encounter troubles in our non-working lives, whether we're parents or not. I think going forward, that's going to be the message; instead of calling it maternity/paternity leave, we should call it personal leave. People are going to have sick relatives, ailing children, houses that need to be fixed, cars that break down, pets that need care, yadda yadda yadda. Or even if people are in perfect health and don't have ailing dependents, maybe they just need time for non-specified reasons! Let's be inclusive!

              by Rachel on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:04:33 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

  • I have been fighting for this for 27 years! (0 / 0)

    Well, not what you described, but much less -- just having an onsite daycare!  Ever since my oldest was born, I realized how great it would be if I could take her to work with me.  As has been said, studies have shown that companies get much more (and better) work out of their employees if they don't have to constantly worry about their kids, call a babysitter about them, etc.  I would have been content if only I could have gone down to see her on breaks, lunch, etc.

    I can't imagine literally having her WITH me at work.  I guess my job just wasn't the type you could do that with.  Too much writing where you had to concentrate, meetings, etc.

    And I will probably be tarred and feathered for this -- but I am the type of mother who couldn't take being home with a baby (or more than one child), 24/7.  I think I was a good mother (and my adult children today say I was one), but not 24/7/365.

    by Shell on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:38:48 PM PDT

    • you're in good company (0 / 0)

      as I'm sure there are many of us who don't feel we'd be all that great as a 24/7 mom- I'm sure one of them.

      I'd like to be able to do something like this until the baby was about 5 months old, I think, or as an option once in a while. Once attention needed to be paid more to toys and activities and overall entertainment, I couldn't see it working much. But being at a small start up, I'm hoping if there is a gap in my 3 months off and DH's summer break, I'll be able to do that sort of thing here. Who knows.

      by lilianna28 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 02:03:29 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    • why (0 / 0)

      Why would you be tarred and feathered for that?  : )

      I was the opposite, I couldn't have taken being apart from my babies all day, at least in the first three years.  I broke out into hives when I went to look at our on-site daycare when I was pregnant.  

      Even after three, after a couple of hours (like preschool) I was ready to go pick up.

      by NJmom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 04:54:42 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      • Maybe you are honest? (0 / 0)

        I get the feeling that too many mothers ... lie.  haha  Well, when my children were babies, you were either a Stay-At-Home Mom, who was smug and felt so much better to be "rich" enough to stay at home OR a Working-Outside-The-Home Mom, who was smug and felt so much better to be "smart" enough to hold a job that paid enough for them to afford a full-time daycare plus the other expenses of working (gas, eating out for lunch, more clothes, etc.).

        I was going to write that maybe it was all in my head, but then I remembered sometimes mothers actually said that -- that they were superior.  (PTA meetings, etc.)  I guess motherhood means often feeling guilty -- no matter what you do.

        P.S.  But it is a great way to gauge the economy.  When my children were very young, I could afford to work and pay for 3 children in full-time daycare.  (Even with the $10,000 a month in diapers -- just kidding, but barely!) By the time they were late-elementary school, I couldn't, and suffered in the summer, when they all needed full-time care, not just after-school.  And even though many other mothers felt comfortable leaving their 5th or 6th grade children at home alone after school, I knew that if I had done that, my house probably would have been burned down.  (Kidding -- sort of.  haha)

        by Shell on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:48:30 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        • interesting (0 / 0)

          That's really interesting.  So the prices of daycare and after-school care went up that much that it became harder and harder?

          I don't think it was all in your head, in fact, I think there is still some feelings of superiority on both sides, working or at-home.  It's hard being a mom in this country, so very hard,and getting harder, and it's so easy to get defensive.

          by NJmom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 12:02:36 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      • I'm the same (0 / 0)

        I am definitely freaking out a bit about my professional life, and itching to make decisions and get on with something, but I really don't want to be separated from my son for significant chunks of time. I have left him with his babysitter for up to three hours, but it never felt that good, and I started to stay home more while she was around. In fact, I just let her go and am going to forgo babysitting altogether for awhile.

        I do love it when dh takes him for chunks of time though, thank goodness. Otherwise, things could get a bit cuckoo around here.

        I think that if I knew for sure that he didn't miss me, and was having an absolute ball, I would be ok with leaving him with someone. But right now that is not the case.

        by RachelD on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 03:17:03 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        • yeah (0 / 0)

          Yeah, don't fight it. Sometimes it's easier to just go with the flow.  

          Sometimes we think, "Oh, I need me time" but there will be time for that.  It sounds like you can relax when he is with your hubby, so take that time.

          With my oldest, I started him at preschool at 2.5 yo and it sucked for both of us.  So I pulled him out, best thing I ever did.  I know it would have been totally fine if I stuck with it, but my heart was aching dropping him there so what was the point.

          Then I tried again at age four and it was a breeze for both of us!

          by NJmom on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 04:28:14 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    • Oh, I think that makes perfect sense (0 / 0)

      we all need a break sometimes. It's funny, I've never been able to identify myself as fully "working" or fully "SAH". When my older son was born I worked 20 hours per week from home and was back at work 4 weeks after he was born. I had one year while we were traveling with him when I didn't work but other than that, I've always worked at least part time. With number two, I started working 20 hours a week in an office a couple of months after he was born. It was hard to go back to work with a nursing child and there were lots of times when I longed to just be "at home." But I was also grateful for the break that work provided.

      I'm not sure there is any one right answer. But I do think that in general being more community minded is good for everyone, employer, parent, and child. This means a variety of different flexible arrangements, including the possiblity of bringing infants to work; good, affordable onsite daycare; and communal babysitting situations.

      by mpg on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 04:03:00 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      • For me, that would be perfect (0 / 0)

        And my job would easily handle it, too.  (I was a technical writer.)  But none of the places I worked would let you work from home, or work part-time.  (And no, it couldn't be the same hours every day -- I would need a flexible daycare.  I would have to be there for meetings, etc. that wouldn't always be at the same time.)  Imbeciles.

        I hope it has changed/is changing/did change.

        by Shell on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 08:37:09 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  • nice that people are considering it (0 / 0)

    I salute any move by employers and coworkers to make life easier for parents. It's not easy to have your child in your workplace (and I speak from experience!), but it can be done in a pinch as I've explained a myriad of times. Now, unlike Erika, I don't cover fires/crimes/city council meetings. The occasional interviewee gets shirty when Jess starts on her routine, but I've never found it fatally compromises an interview.

    I suppose the best solution would be on-site daycare. My best friend from HS works in special ed outreach (more or less) for a hospital. Their daycare centre is in the building, one floor down from her office. So, her daughter goes to work with her and is literally one minute down the stairs.  Most of her colleagues are parents or very kid-friendly and they keep a rocking chair in the office that's perfect for breastfeeding. So my friend had the best-of-all-world solution. Good care for her daughter, and she could go and pick her up for feeds in the office whenever needed. And her office colleagues would often invite her to bring the baby up if she was doing desk work. Not sure what happens now that the little girl is a toddler, though!

    Definitely a nice set up, and hey, I'm sure nobody is going to be shocked to hear that my friend is very, very loyal to her job and has no plans for leaving until after she's done having children. Talk about a great way to inspire motivation, good morale and employee buy-in, right?

    by Rachel on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:47:39 PM PDT

  • Office babies: Good for morale! (0 / 0)

    So I have found.  People love babies.  Kids of many ages can be brought to work.  Toddlers are the exception.  No way; they'd get into too much trouble.

    by lonespark on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 12:48:28 PM PDT

  • Not always possible even when it should be (0 / 0)

    I'm a PhD student and my advisor went out of his way to allow me to bring DS to work with me. He set me up in a big, very private office with a fridge. I put a playpen in there and tried desperately to bring DS. Even now looking back on it, it sounds like the perfect set-up. Problem was that DS nursed constantly, took 30 minute power naps, and cried pretty much for the first 12 months. To make matters worse, I was not in good emotional shape to make it work. Now that DS is 3 and I'm finally finishing up my degree, he goes to preschool but goes with me to work on his holidays and days off. Now it's great-- he plays with toys and/or watches movies, does art projects, etc. But I think not only does the employer have to make concessions, for some moms and/or babies, it's just harder.

    "We've GOT to make noises in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!"

    by progressiveinky on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 02:05:45 PM PDT

  • I did it (0 / 0)

    I work from home and then sometimes in the office-of-sorts.  I brought my daughter into work with me until she was about 5 months.  She was a mellow baby and wasn't in the least bit disruptive.  I'd keep her in the sling for much of the time and was sure to bring lots of food & distractions as needed.  My employer was great and knew that allowing me to bring my daughter to work meant that I was sticking around, rather than quitting.  

    by Anu on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 03:28:40 PM PDT

  • perhaps with certain jobs... (0 / 0)

    i can see it in a small business. but wouldn't work in my office.  and the times children have come into the office, it is always distracting.  and bringing my husband?  worse.

    i would rather see on site quality child care center, extended maternity leaves and allowances to work from home.  

    i love kids, babies a ton...but i wouldn't want to work in a office with my kid or someone elses.

    dogs?  actually i find that a different matter entirely, as long as they are well trained.

    by parentalunit1 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 04:29:00 PM PDT

    • ditto on the husband (0 / 0)

      The woman cited in this post works just 2 days per week in an office, yet on those days she brings her baby AND her husband?

      As a full-time working mom who is more or less chained to her job by health benefits, I would be THRILLED with just 2 days per week in the office. And as my husband is self-employed and works from home, I would be happy to leave the kid home with him on those days.

      I am guessing that nursing somehow works into this woman's equation, but I would be perfectly willing to pump 2 days per week.

      Having my husband and kid at work would be way too distracting for me!

      by Erika on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 04:45:14 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    • office (0 / 0)

      I remember Take Your Kids to Work day when I worked.  Well, let's just say, not much got done that day.  Every year on that day, I would say, next year, I must remember to take a vacation day.

      Dogs are totally different.  They sleep all day.  : )

      by NJmom on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 04:53:28 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    • I must be naive ..... (0 / 0)

      Bringing a husband to work?  WHY?  

      To care for the child?  He could do that at home.

      He works there?  NEVER!  haha

      I just need a life away from all family members.

      by Shell on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 05:03:18 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    • Not our dog! (0 / 0)

      He shreads paper, enough said.  Poor addition to an office ;-)

      by Anu on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 05:21:28 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  • I've been at home (0 / 0)

    the whole time with my kids, but I remember reading a great article about bringing your baby to work in Mothering Magazine a couple of years ago.  She gives some nice practical tips for making it work.

    American Son ~ Wes Clark

    by 1plain1peanut on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 05:11:12 PM PDT

  • Aren't WOHMs torn enough? (0 / 0)

    I'm already torn between caring about my job and caring for my kid.  I DON"T need that stress throughout the entire 8.5 hours I'm at work.  At least I can compartmentalize now.  I like my walls, leave them where they are!!!

    I don't even want onsite daycare, for lots of reasons.  A, I work in a federal office building, and OK City and 9/11 made it pretty clear those are targets.  B, I don't want 100% of day care duty!!!  I had to stay later than normal today, but its not a big deal because DH picks her up at the day care by our house.  That flexibility is key for us, and it would totally disappear with onsite day care.

    by tessajp on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 05:52:51 PM PDT

    • yes (0 / 0)

      DH and I had to have this conversation when I worked in a place that had OS daycare. It would have been great for nursing, but I worked 8:30-5:30. DH gets off at 3. Why should the baby be stuck in DC for 2 extra hours with another in the car?

      by lilianna28 on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 06:27:20 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  • I wanted a choice! (0 / 0)

    If you have on-site care, and don't want it, don't use it!  But don't make the decision for everyone!  Many mothers would love that choice!

    by Shell on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 11:23:53 PM PDT

  • I worked AT onsite daycare for a company (0 / 0)

    My daugther was in the 3 year old room and I taught the 4's. Our company had a great benefit program where each employee paid a different amount for daycare, if you were a senior VP you paid a larger amount than say, a janitor. So the sliding scale was key. Also as a day care worker they paid for me to take any additional classes or seminars related to my job. Consequently we had some very well-trained teachers.

    The staff could use their employee IDS to access our secure (seperate) day care building for visits, lunch dates, or nursing. Also if your child became ill at school the parents were only a 2 minute walk from the center. One day there was a fire in the corporate building and we all had to evacuate. The parents were able to pick up their kids and go in a matter of seconds! That gave me a lot of peace of mind.

    Our day care schedule was very flexible as well so that if a parent got off early or had grandma or another parent available there were many convenient "break times" to pick up your child. (Obviously you could pick your kid up whenever, but we scheduled in times too so we didn't disrupt the day).

    Also this was the only place I ever worked as a child care provider that offered the teachers vacation time, medical benefits and other perks people usually get.

    by Suzanne77 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:54:52 AM PDT

Permalink | 52 comments