Looking For Some Suggestions

[Lyss]

Thanks, but thats not the case here, I cannot have them nap at certain times when lets say 1 arrives at 7, 1 at 9 and 2 at 10...and then my own is just getting up about 8, what do you do, they will not all sleep at that time as some just got up at home from a sleep, and some only have 1 nap at home too...really, its a different situation for everyone, even noise level plays a factor and some scream for 30 minutes before they fall alseep (even at home) so its disruptive to the others..

the naps are the least of my worry, its the eating right now, but thank you

5 under 2?! Props to you! I've had multiple little ones at once but not that many, I can see how it would be demanding.

I had one DCG that would SCREAM and scream at nap time so she slept in a different room alone, everyone else slept in a different room with a fan (to cover the screaming DCG). For awhile I even had screamer in the kitchen, just to separate her from the others.

I don't do bottles after 13 months and they get the same meals (just more cut up, not pureed) as everyone else at a year. I have a 17mo old that still gets a bottle at home but I don't do it here, they start a sippy or transition to a cup. As for eating I start finger foods at 7-8mo and if they don't eat I usually try to help them with one bite or so but then its up to them. If they don't eat it, they don't eat it. I don't force them to eat or cook multiple things to please each child. Even if a DCP would like them to drink a certain amount I follow they child's lead NOT the DCP request. It sometimes takes kids a few times being served something before they will eat it. My own DD wouldn't eat any foods unless she could use a fork, the novelty of it was so fun I had I cut everything into (even sandwiches, toast, and finger foods) "forkable" pieces.

I had 2 infants that are a week apart since they were 3 mos (now 17mo) and some days it was difficult because one DCG's drop off was inconsistent (some days 8am others noon), I had to work with DCPs to get a nap schedule that fit both of us or I would have lost my mind! Infant1 transitioned to one nap at 12 months (gets up 8-8:30am), infant2 still needs 2 someday (17mo, gets up at 645 or 7am) so our schedule has been like this since then:

8:15 Breakfast
9-10 or 9:30-10:30 DCG2 naps (I do not let her sleep longer than an hour, usually 30-45 mins)
10:15 snack
12:00 lunch
12:30 Everyone Naps
2:30-3:30 everyone wakes
4:00 Snack
(when DCD drops DCG2 off sometimes at noon, he puts her down at the same time for am nap but occasionally lets he sleep longer so then she goes down at 1pm)

Honestly I'd set up a meal/nap schedule and stick to it, work bottles in around it for younger kids. Maybe track everyone's eating/sleeping habits and set your schedule up based on that. Or write out when you are doing things and post it here, someone may be able to help you tweek it to work for everyone.

[MamaBearCanada]

You offer a healthy meal/snack, they either eat it or they will be hungry. They will learn soon

Thanks, but thats not the case here, I cannot have them nap at certain times when lets say 1 arrives at 7, 1 at 9 and 2 at 10...and then my own is just getting up about 8, what do you do, they will not all sleep at that time as some just got up at home from a sleep, and some only have 1 nap at home too...really, its a different situation for everyone, even noise level plays a factor and some scream for 30 minutes before they fall alseep (even at home) so its disruptive to the others..

the naps are the least of my worry, its the eating right now, but thank you

If they aren't napping on a schedule then you will have problems feeding them on a schedule, they kind of go hand in hand.

With the times you gave I'd put the one that comes at 7 & 9 and tour own if he needs it down for nap at 10/10.30am. The others can wait til 12.30/1pm. In the afternoon settle the 10amers first then the rest. I put the ones that will settle themselves down first then work with the others. It might work better for you to put the screamers down first then once they are asleep put the others down. Separate the screamers if you can.

[cheerfuldom]

sounds like you have too many babies. and you need to get a routine going that makes a cut off time for morning drop offs. I would suggest 9am. If parents are unable to drop off in time to keep on your routine, then I would let them go and replace them. you are going to drive yourself crazy trying to accommodate every family! create a daily routine based on your day and your son's day and have the daycare kids get on that routine. If they cant adjust, then they are not right for your program. get those kids self feeding and on sippys asap! no bottles, no purees for kids over one year old. They need to be self feeding and that will free you up. Make sure the parents understand that you OFFER food only and once meal time is over, everything is put away and nothing is offered till the next meal time. You cannot force kids to eat.

[Laurel]

I am kind of mixed up on all the ages/times, etc.

Just some general tips though:

I usually feed anyone up to 10 months the baby food their parent sends but also give them some finger food to get them used to it...usually dry cheerios or if you think they are not ready then I'd soak some Cheerios in milk, drain the milk and let them eat them like that so they are soft. I put them right on the tray (not in a bowl).

That way if everyone has some Cheerios, then you can spoon feed the hungriest first while the others are eating the Cheerios. Then switch and give the ones you just fed some Cheerios and feed the other ones. I usually let them eat first and then give them their bottle/cup so they mostly fill up on food. Mom's should not expect them to take a 'certain amount of milk'. Try to get them on finger foods as soon as possible though. Most start at 10 months or so and by 1 should be fairly good with it. Obviously it doesn't have to be Cheerios but something they can eat by themself.

If a baby comes late but was just fed at home, I'd put him in the high chair with a toy and that child would get fed at the next feeding. So tell mom if she brings him too late she should feed him at home before he comes. You can't be expected to be a short order cook with so many young ones.

I never let mine eat or have a bottle (except infants in arms) unless they are in their high chair. There are certain meal and snack times at which times they are in their chairs. If they get thristy in between they can have some water.

If they won't eat what I give them I still keep it on the tray but usually feed them something else like applesauce or yogurt. I wait a while though so I'm sure they really won't eat it. Sometimes they will if you wait a bit. I leave it there so they will get used to seeing it especially if it is a new food to them. I understand the concept of not giving them another choice but I'm just not wired that way. I'd rather get them something else (although I don't go overboard and keep trying different things but just one other option) then hear them crying/whining from hunger till the next meal.

With naps, mine all nap after lunch. However, if they are younger and need a morning nap I let them sleep but get them up after 30 min. If 30 min. doesn't work then I'd let them go a little longer but only as much as necessary. Then they'll probably sleep again after lunch with the rest of them. Generally I just keep working with it but my final goal is getting them all sleeping after lunch. The little ones can have a morning nap but my goal is to ALSO have them sleeping after lunch. That way you get a break.

I always say "I do whatever works,". I've already staggered lunch times just a little. Also, naps. For example, I'd take the two crankiest babies and put them in the high chair and start their lunch then 5 minutes later go get 2 more, etc. This only worked though because I could see the babies from where we ate. Might not work depending on your setup. Another idea is to hire a helper just for lunch time. I had a 12 year old (going on 20) home schooled girl helping me out for just two hours a day when I had 6 little ones. It made a big difference.

Laurel

[spud912]

First and foremost: YOUR HOUSE, YOUR RULES!!

You are letting these parents run the show too much at your house.

Policies:
The first thing I would do is set some ground rules like someone else mentioned.

1. What age do you want children to be weaned from the bottle? My age is 12 months and it's done...no more at MY house.
2. What age do you want children to be self-feeding completely? For me, I start letting them feed themselves at around 8/9 months, to be self feeding by 11/12 months completely.
3. What age do you want the children to go from 2 to 1 naps? For me, the cut off point is 18 months but I try sooner to get them to one nap.
4. Do you allow food from home? If it were me, I would allow pureed foods but would introduce my own chopped up foods starting around 8/9 months (and slowly start weaning from pureed food).

Schedule:
Second thing I would do is establish a schedule that all children will follow. For example:
8-8:30: Breakfast
9-10:30: Morning nap
12:00: Lunch
1-3: Afternoon nap
3: Snack
If the child is not dropped off prior to any of the meals, then they are required to feed their children those meals prior to drop off. I would put all children down around those times for naps unless you are weaning them from their morning nap. If they wake up early, then have them play in a separate area until everyone is awake.

Meals:
Regarding the meals you provide, you ought to serve well-rounded healthy meals and snacks as you see fit. If the children don't eat it, then they don't eat it (although I personally have each child try one bite of everything on their plate)! You can't force them to eat everything and you should not be serving unhealthy options to appease anyone. Eventually, they will get the idea that eating healthy choices is better than starving and they will adjust .

Inform the Parents:
I think it would be wise to incorporate the above "policies" (including your meals and schedule) in your parent handbook and/or updated contracts and provide it to your parents asap. This will show the parents that they cannot dictate meals and naps at your house and to show that they can trust that you know what you're doing well enough to not need constant "guidance."

Ratio:
After you have established all of the above, you need to start advertising for an older child. Try to come up with activities that an older child would be interested in so you can appease to the parents who are interviewing. As a parent, it will be a hard sale to convince me to put my older child in your care if it seems like you only cater to little babies and toddlers, so make sure you are prepared to "sell" your program appropriately. Once you find some replacements, term some of your current families until you can get a more manageable ratio (as in no more than 2 under the age of 2).

[Laurel]

Sorry, posted twice and don't know how to delete

I am kind of mixed up on all the ages/times, etc.

Just some general tips though:

I usually feed anyone up to 10 months the baby food their parent sends but also give them some finger food to get them used to it...usually dry cheerios or if you think they are not ready then I'd soak some Cheerios in milk, drain the milk and let them eat them like that so they are soft. I put them right on the tray (not in a bowl).

That way if everyone has some Cheerios, then you can spoon feed the hungriest first while the others are eating the Cheerios. Then switch and give the ones you just fed some Cheerios and feed the other ones. I usually let them eat first and then give them their bottle/cup so they mostly fill up on food. Mom's should not expect them to take a 'certain amount of milk'. Try to get them on finger foods as soon as possible though. Most start at 10 months or so and by 1 should be fairly good with it. Obviously it doesn't have to be Cheerios but something they can eat by themself.

If a baby comes late but was just fed at home, I'd put him in the high chair with a toy and that child would get fed at the next feeding. So tell mom if she brings him too late she should feed him at home before he comes. You can't be expected to be a short order cook with so many young ones.

I never let mine eat or have a bottle (except infants in arms) unless they are in their high chair. There are certain meal and snack times at which times they are in their chairs. If they get thristy in between they can have some water.

If they won't eat what I give them I still keep it on the tray but usually feed them something else like applesauce or yogurt. I wait a while though so I'm sure they really won't eat it. Sometimes they will if you wait a bit. I leave it there so they will get used to seeing it especially if it is a new food to them. I understand the concept of not giving them another choice but I'm just not wired that way. I'd rather get them something else (although I don't go overboard and keep trying different things but just one other option) then hear them crying/whining from hunger till the next meal.

With naps, mine all nap after lunch. However, if they are younger and need a morning nap I let them sleep but get them up after 30 min. If 30 min. doesn't work then I'd let them go a little longer but only as much as necessary. Then they'll probably sleep again after lunch with the rest of them. Generally I just keep working with it but my final goal is getting them all sleeping after lunch. The little ones can have a morning nap but my goal is to ALSO have them sleeping after lunch. That way you get a break.

I always say "I do whatever works,". I've already staggered lunch times just a little. Also, naps. For example, I'd take the two crankiest babies and put them in the high chair and start their lunch then 5 minutes later go get 2 more, etc. This only worked though because I could see the babies from where we ate. Might not work depending on your setup. Another idea is to hire a helper just for lunch time. I had a 12 year old (going on 20) home schooled girl helping me out for just two hours a day when I had 6 little ones. It made a big difference.

Laurel

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Here I can have only 3 under 2. Bottles must be given held in arms. They cannot self feed bottles. I would seriously consider terming a couple of kids! You cannot adequately care for that many infants. Just do the math 5 kids lets just say 5 diapers a day 25 diapers, that is almost 2 hours changing diapers. Bottles even 4 of them at 15minutes/ bottle ( short time frame) and 4 a day that is 4 hours. spoon feeding 3 kids 15 minutes 3 times a day that's 2:15 so- and no prep no play, no dishing up food, no cleaning up etc. you're at 8 hours 15 minutes. That is not including naps either!
This truly isn't physically possible and you are putting those children at risk! Please, reconsider this!

[spud912]

Here I can have only 3 under 2. Bottles must be given held in arms. They cannot self feed bottles. I would seriously consider terming a couple of kids! You cannot adequately care for that many infants. Just do the math 5 kids lets just say 5 diapers a day 25 diapers, that is almost 2 hours changing diapers. Bottles even 4 of them at 15minutes/ bottle ( short time frame) and 4 a day that is 4 hours. spoon feeding 3 kids 15 minutes 3 times a day that's 2:15 so- and no prep no play, no dishing up food, no cleaning up etc. you're at 8 hours 15 minutes. That is not including naps either!
This truly isn't physically possible and you are putting those children at risk! Please, reconsider this!

[Cradle2crayons]

My 15 month old still takes two naps a day. Her first nap is from 930 until 1200 pm... Any others who arrive before 930 better be fed and ready for nap. Al my parents have the schedule and regardless of drop off they do the same schedule.

All meals and snacks are on exact schedules. Breakfast is at 700 am... If they aren't here by then, they have to bring them fed. Snack is at 915 am for the small ones. If they aren't there by then, they need to have snack before they arrive.

Etc etc.... All parents have a copy of my schedule and are told if they miss a meal or snack they should take care of that before arrival.

The schedule continues regardless of what time they show.

[AmyKidsCo]

In WI children under 12 mos have to be kept on their own schedule. But once they turn 1 they eat and sleep with everyone else.

Our ratios vary and are kind of confusing, but we can never have more than 4 under-two without a helper, and if you have 4 under-two, that's all you can have.

My policies state the same as Cradle2Crayons - if an over 12 mo child will miss a scheduled meal it's the parent's responsibility to feed the child.