Ridiculous Regulations

[Annalee]

In my state my children count in ratios until they turn 14 and I had to ask my licensor if my infant daughter could go upstairs (going upstairs is a big NO NO in our state...) with my husband. She ultimately approved but I haven't sought approval from my new licensor. Guess I had better do that.

In TN, your own count until they are 9 yrs old.

[KiddieCahoots]

I don't transport kids. ever. so I'm good there.

I can't get the image of the book cover Room On A Broom out of my mind, !

[SquirrellyMama]

Our state is pretty fair on regulations but there are very few that are ridiculous and those ones annoy me to the core. I've posted this before but here I go again because these couple of regs annoy me because they lack common sense and that's my biggest pet peeve.

If we have a swimming pool the fence has to be 4 feet taller than the pool, if the pool is in-ground the fence only has to be 4 feet tall. So if I have a 4ft deep above ground I need an 8ft fence but if I have an 8ft deep below ground I only need a 4ft fence. There are other requirements for the fence surrounding the pool but the height requirements are the only thing I have an issue with.

The other reg that drives me nuts was that if we are a level B home (up to 12 children) we have to have 2 direct exits to our basement if we use it for daycare but if we are a level A home (up to 6 children) we don't. The rule itself doesn't neccesarily bother me it's the fine print. An egress can be used as the second exit but you have to have stairs going up to the egress window. On the outside of the window (in the window well) you are supposed to have stairs going up to ground level. That probably doesn't seem so bad to most but we also have to have a gate on the stairs so children don't get hurt. I've been told the reasoning behind the stairs is so the children can escape if he provider isn't present. Sooo..the child is supposed to get over a gate purposely set up so they can't get over it, unlock a window, open it and bust out the screen? Silliness. The entire idea just drives me nuts but then there is also the practicality. If you've ever seen an egress window well you know they are pretty deep but not very wide..it's impossible to put in steps outside that meet building code regulations. I've seen photos of some providers that have followed this rule and their steps are about 5 inches deep..not enough for most feet. The other problem is that by putting steps in the city will not pass your egress when they inspect it. The city (and most places) wants there to be a certain amount of area free in an egress well so a firefighter can get in there and through the window with all of his equiptment on. The city will also not pass the steps during inspection because they don't meet building code. So you can either follow city code or regs but if you don't follow city code you would be in trouble with your insurance if a person was hurt on the illegal steps.

In our state you can have 5 children without any oversite and 6 with oversite (more if you meet certain requirements). Our state really wants people to get registered, I think the last I heard 1 out of 3 providers is registered. With registration and one extra child you get unannounced inspections, training geared towards people who didn't graduate high school that makes you want to slam your head into the table, a lot of paper work and regs. With no registration you get none of that, are perfectly legal and can only have 1 less child but seriously who would know how many children you care for since there is no oversite? I've seen so many long term registered providers go unregistered in the last few years since they started having unannounced inspections on registered providers. They keep making more rules for registered providers and of course less providers are becoming registered. It just seems like they are doing things backwards, our state really needs to work towards mandatory registration or just give up trying to regulate childcare.

When I first started in daycare (in 2003) I was a registered home. I quit daycare for several years, and started up again 2 years ago. I was going to get registered again, but decided not to after talking with 3 friends who have been providers for years. They had all been registered every year for 10-12 years. Last year they all became unregistered providers. It just wasn't worth it anymore. I'll stay under 6 kids to not have the hassle of the state. I went to enough childcare classes for 4years, and have experience with my own kids. I also read up on child development.

If I ever want to have 6 or more I'll become registered again. I'd like to be a B category, but now wonder if my egress stairs would meet code.

Kelly

[daycare]

Yes, ALL of mine.

If I was paid strictly based on how many times I've heard "Miss C there's no toilet paper!!!!!!!!" yelled from the bathroom, I'd be doing pretty well financially. ::

mine do too. Infact I have to tell them to chill on the TP.........

[Bookworm]

I remember about 6-7 years ago my center was cited for using 75 watt bulbs instead of 100.

[Meeko]

I remember about 6-7 years ago my center was cited for using 75 watt bulbs instead of 100.

OMG!!!! You're lucky the kids are still alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Blackcat31]

OMG!!!! You're lucky the kids are still alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure they all have post traumatic stress syndrome now though.

[e.j.]

My state requires us to have exit signs on all doors leading to outside. It might make sense in a larger, public building where maybe the doors don't have glass panes to enable you to see where you are relative to the outside but it makes no sense for me to have to have them in my home. My exit doors are very obvious. They all have windows/glass panels in them so you can see the outside. Even a first time visitor would have to be an absolute moron not to be able to figure out how to get outside without the use of an exit sign. Besides....it's my home. I know where the exits are and so do the kids who are enrolled here. They go in and out those doors every day at drop off and pick up times and when we go outside to play. Also, they're all very young and not one of them can read so what's the point? The best my licensor could come up with was, "The signs are useful if you want to teach the kids how to read the word "Exit".

[daycare]

I cant really think of a ridiculous regulation, I just think the way the licensing interprets all of our regulations is ridiculous........

[MissAnn]

My state requires us to have exit signs on all doors leading to outside. It might make sense in a larger, public building where maybe the doors don't have glass panes to enable you to see where you are relative to the outside but it makes no sense for me to have to have them in my home. My exit doors are very obvious. They all have windows/glass panels in them so you can see the outside. Even a first time visitor would have to be an absolute moron not to be able to figure out how to get outside without the use of an exit sign. Besides....it's my home. I know where the exits are and so do the kids who are enrolled here. They go in and out those doors every day at drop off and pick up times and when we go outside to play. Also, they're all very young and not one of them can read so what's the point? The best my licensor could come up with was, "The signs are useful if you want to teach the kids how to read the word "Exit".

We have to have the actual emergency lighting that turns on when you lose power.

[racemom]

My state requires us to have exit signs on all doors leading to outside. It might make sense in a larger, public building where maybe the doors don't have glass panes to enable you to see where you are relative to the outside but it makes no sense for me to have to have them in my home. My exit doors are very obvious. They all have windows/glass panels in them so you can see the outside. Even a first time visitor would have to be an absolute moron not to be able to figure out how to get outside without the use of an exit sign. Besides....it's my home. I know where the exits are and so do the kids who are enrolled here. They go in and out those doors every day at drop off and pick up times and when we go outside to play. Also, they're all very young and not one of them can read so what's the point? The best my licensor could come up with was, "The signs are useful if you want to teach the kids how to read the word "Exit".

Our center has to have lighted exit signs at all doors, which I can kind of understand although we are only open 7 am to 530 pm so it isn't dark. The one I don't quite get is the yard gate has to have an exit sign on it. I am sorry but I think even a moron can figure out where to exit the backyard. Our toddlers can, and can't read!

Edited: this is a fire Marshall reg. I don't know if he thinks our backyard is about to burst into flames or what!

[MOM OF 4]

What would they do if you do not have any kids in diapers .

[LysesKids]

How about...

the fact that TN will allow a 750 sq ft ranch home with mold to be licensed (I had it tested before signing a contract to buy), but won't allow a NEW, 784 sq ft energey star, Manufactured home... that is crazy stupid; I even put a 180 sq ft deck on it in December so i had outdoor space for my babies - and yes all my kids are 18 months and under... I only care for 4 or less, but still can't get a license because of the home rule (I have passed every other requirement licensing asks for)

[missy]

There are a lot in PA that I think are just silly. My biggest pet peeve (and I know it's common in other states as well) is that every child needs his or her own personal rest mat. They are vinyl for a REASON, people! They can be cleaned! It's a huge expense for a center.

The main thing about our regs that burns me up is that there are so many that aren't even mentioned in the codes or anywhere! So if you don't call and harass the inspectors with a million random questions you will never know them all. I think the info should be readily available---it would save valuable time and money for both the state and us!

[nanglgrl]

Our center has to have lighted exit signs at all doors, which I can kind of understand although we are only open 7 am to 530 pm so it isn't dark. The one I don't quite get is the yard gate has to have an exit sign on it. I am sorry but I think even a moron can figure out where to exit the backyard. Our toddlers can, and can't read!

Edited: this is a fire Marshall reg. I don't know if he thinks our backyard is about to burst into flames or what!

This made me think of another reg I have a problem with...well several regs really and they all have to do with signs. I have to have no smoking signs on all of the entrances and exits to my home plus I have to have my emergency plan posted right next to every exit and a fire symbol on all of my doors. I'm so glad my doors are magnetic!