Child Care

The Coop provides free childcare to children of Coop members while their parent/guardian/babysitter is working and/or shopping at the Coop. Our childcare space is limited to 12 children when all three childcare workers are present, and to 10 children when only two childcare workers are present, so we cannot guarantee there will always be space available. If you require guaranteed childcare for your children while you are working and/or shopping your may want to make other arrangements. Feel free to read the document PDF file Childcare Workers' Handbook -- that all member childcare workers receive at their training, or pick up a paper copy of the Handbook from the Childcare room.
  • Childcare is a service that we provide only to Coop members
  • Children can be in childcare for a maximum of four hours at a time.
  • Members may not drop off more than two children at a time.
  • We cannot provide childcare for children over the age of twelve.
  • The child's parent/guardian/babysitter MUST be in the building at all times while the child is in childcare. Because of the nature of the service, due to insurance considerations, and because it is the law, this is an absolute hard and fast rule. Breaking this rule by leaving the Coop while a child under your care is in the childcare room is grounds for expulsion from the Coop.

How Childcare Works

Where Childcare is: Childcare is located in the second floor of the Coop, next door to the Coop Membership Office. There is an elevator for easy access.

Signing the Child into Childcare: In order to leave your children in Childcare, you must show one of the following to the Childcare workers:
  • A Park Slope Food Coop Membership Card
  • Your name on the "List of People Who Can Shop Without a Card" and a photo ID
  • A bar-coded slip from the entrance desk from that day and a photo ID
Picking up your Child: Tell a Childcare worker you have come to pick up your child, and show them one of the following:
  • A Park Slope Food Coop Membership Card
  • Your name on the "List of People Who Can Shop Without a Card" and a photo ID
  • A bar-coded slip from the entrance desk from that day and a photo ID
Food: The Coop provides bagels and bottled spring water for the children, nothing else. Parent/guardians/babysitters who do not want their children to have bagels must inform the childcare workers. Children may come with an alternative non-messy snack, but full meals should not be eaten in childcare.

Safety: If your child is particularly active or has a tendency to put things in his/her mouth, tell the childcare workers. Crawlers should dress appropriately. There is no rug. The wearing of shoes will be at the discretion of each family. During sign-in parents should let the Childcare workers know whether or not a child?s shoes may be taken off.

Time Limits: Four hours is the maximum time any child may use childcare on any given day. This gives you time to work a shift and then shop. It does not allow for you to do a shift plus a make-up while your child is in childcare, so if you do need to do a make-up and if you need your child in childcare during that time, do not plan to work two consecutive shifts. We are not set up for childcare for longer periods of time.

Illness: A sick child cannot be left in childcare. A child who is sneezing and/or coughing and/or has a runny nose will be sent back to their parent.

Feedback for the Coop: If you have any ideas for improving childcare, please feel free to use the Childcare Feedback Book, or you may call the Childcare Coordinators. Their phone numbers are listed on the flyers available in the Childcare area.