providers with infants and toddlers both

[lilcupcakes09]

I currently have 2- 2 yr olds enrolled along with 5 B&A kids. I had a baby in December, I feel like adding another infant will be too overwhelming....I have always had 2 infants at a time since starting daycare with no problems but mixed with grown, self sufficient older children. I feel like I will be spread to thin between all the little ones that it isn't fair to any of my dck or my newborn. I already have someone who has put a deposit down for the spring for their newborn, I just need to figure out if I can handle it
Any guidance from providers who have been in my spot would be greatly appreciated!

[Unregistered]

If you are really concerned that you can't handle it, then pass now so that parent can find care. Otherwise, if you decide to take the baby, it will get easier with time. The first few days are always hard. Things should settle in to "constant work" after that, and six months later, you will know you lived through it.
For your SA dcks could you use a code word to remind them to calm down if one of the babies needs it? We use "pianissimo" and the kids go around whispering and tip-toeing.
If any of your SA kids particularly likes one of the 2s, you could have them do special things like read to them or play with them.

[Unregistered]

Every time these circumstances would occur, I would tell myself that I was never doing it, again. Time would go by, and I would forget what it entailed and agree to do it, again. It's completely doable, but in my case, I was constantly putting out small fires throughout the day because I was spread too thin. (And the toddlers knew and would act accordingly...) I would collapse on the evenings and weekends, until it started all over, again. Only you know your limitations, and mine finally wrote a letter to myself on my phone that says: Read This Before You Accept a Family.

[Unregistered]

I currently have 2- 2 yr olds enrolled along with 5 B&A kids. I had a baby in December, I feel like adding another infant will be too overwhelming....I have always had 2 infants at a time since starting daycare with no problems but mixed with grown, self sufficient older children. I feel like I will be spread to thin between all the little ones that it isn't fair to any of my dck or my newborn. I already have someone who has put a deposit down for the spring for their newborn, I just need to figure out if I can handle it
Any guidance from providers who have been in my spot would be greatly appreciated!

I found it harder to care for 2 infants when one was my own.

[Leigh]

I think it's really just a matter of what you're comfortable with. I had 2 newborns at the same time last year (after swearing that I was DONE with babies), and one was my own foster child (who is still with me). I found it quite easy to care for 2 of them, maybe because they entertained each other so much, even when they were quite young. They were 4 months apart, and my foster son was a preemie (2 months) with delays, so they matched up quite nicely.

[Controlled Chaos]

I think it's really just a matter of what you're comfortable with. I had 2 newborns at the same time last year (after swearing that I was DONE with babies), and one was my own foster child (who is still with me). I found it quite easy to care for 2 of them, maybe because they entertained each other so much, even when they were quite young. They were 4 months apart, and my foster son was a preemie (2 months) with delays, so they matched up quite nicely.

Good to know you care for foster children - I may pm you about that if its ok.

OP I cared for two infants (started at 3 and 5 months old). And had 2 2yos, 2 3yos and a 4 yo. It is possible BUT we all need to know our limits. ONE school age kid makes me wanna scream :: but babies and toddlers are good . If you don't need the money I might recommend passing on the new LO. If you do need the money, you could try.

[Leigh]

Good to know you care for foster children - I may pm you about that if its ok.

OP I cared for two infants (started at 3 and 5 months old). And had 2 2yos, 2 3yos and a 4 yo. It is possible BUT we all need to know our limits. ONE school age kid makes me wanna scream :: but babies and toddlers are good . If you don't need the money I might recommend passing on the new LO. If you do need the money, you could try.

Feel free to PM me!

[CraftyMom]

I think it depends on the infants. I have 2 right now and neither one sleeps, so I have sworn off infants after these two.

In the past though I've had infants that were great, so if I had 2 of those it would be no problem.

I guess you'd have to see how the infants are... use your trial period if you decide to do it. After 2 weeks if it's too much then let one go (the one that isn't yours of course :

I have not had my own infant in daycare but I would imagine it could go either way, depending on how your infant is

[CraftyMom]

Also, I have 2 2 year olds and 2 3 year olds along with the infants and I am finding it difficult to do things with them because I have to spend so much time tending to the babies. Which drives me batty because I love to do stuff with the kids! Every day things like going outside can be the biggest project some days because of the babies

[renodeb]

I have 2 2 year olds, an almost 4 year old, 2 1 year olds and a 6 m/o. When they are all here it is craziness but I have it under control. If you are already having doubts I would pass now so they can find care. Hard decision. My own kids are 12 & 18 so no issues there. Better to have doubts now rather than taking them and then regretting it.
Deb

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I started my program with 5 children, all under 2 1/2. Two were infants. It was fine. But when I had my own daughter, I stopped taking anyone younger than she is. I didn't want her to have to deal with seeing me give most of my attention to another child. It felt like one thing if the other child is a sibling, but for someone else's child, I didn't want to do it. A very personal decision, but one I felt good about. Just something to consider.

[Shell]

Every time these circumstances would occur, I would tell myself that I was never doing it, again. Time would go by, and I would forget what it entailed and agree to do it, again. It's completely doable, but in my case, I was constantly putting out small fires throughout the day because I was spread too thin. (And the toddlers knew and would act accordingly...) I would collapse on the evenings and weekends, until it started all over, again. Only you know your limitations, and mine finally wrote a letter to myself on my phone that says: Read This Before You Accept a Family.

any time I have doubts about what I can/can't handle, I always regret the decision to challenge myself and move forward. If you are having doubts, I would pass.

[Crazy8]

I like to only take one infant at a time but have done 2 at a time on occasion (usually when its a sibling of one of my other kids) and my oldest kids are rarely over 3. Sometimes its a little rough getting into a routine but I always managed thru and then things would get easier.