Definition of "infant"

[Nisaryn]

Hello ya'll,

So I keep getting calls for people who need infant care, I am currently full at 4 kids (1 is my son) so I can't take anymore kids. When people ask how long my wait list is I hate having to tell them "Well, either when a child leaves or I ask them to leave I will have a spot open...otherwise they are with me till they are 2 so you have about a 1yr 7 month wait for the oldest!" I wanted to start taking some preschool kids after I cut down to just two infants but no one in my area needed toddler/preschool care thanks to the local military friendly cheap/free schools so I am only being able to stay in business by offering infant care (and have since filled those other two spots).

I know that a lot of it is due to research and the developmental needs of children under 2 but I have NEVER personally thought of a 2yr old as an 'infant' especially since my DCB 15m old can clothe himself, feed himself, and even has picked up a few words and has gotten the hang of baby sign really really well to the point that we communicate pretty often throughout the day with sign (DCM is flabbergasted! She hasn't bothered trying to learn any of it and doesn't understand what he is trying to say!)

My questions is, where did this newer definition of the term 'infant' come from exactly? Why exactly is it that under 2 is now considered an 'infant'. I truly hope it isn't because modern parents want a reason to baby their kids as long as possible, so show me the research please?

I'm being serious, not snotty....I really do want to know the reasonings behind this. I took a Child Development class but we didn't really focus on infants that much :/ I think the professor was biased towards Preschoolers as we focused on that a lot.

[daycare]

Hello ya'll,

So I keep getting calls for people who need infant care, I am currently full at 4 kids (1 is my son) so I can't take anymore kids. When people ask how long my wait list is I hate having to tell them "Well, either when a child leaves or I ask them to leave I will have a spot open...otherwise they are with me till they are 2 so you have about a 1yr 7 month wait for the oldest!" I wanted to start taking some preschool kids after I cut down to just two infants but no one in my area needed toddler/preschool care thanks to the local military friendly cheap/free schools so I am only being able to stay in business by offering infant care (and have since filled those other two spots).

I know that a lot of it is due to research and the developmental needs of children under 2 but I have NEVER personally thought of a 2yr old as an 'infant' especially since my DCB 15m old can clothe himself, feed himself, and even has picked up a few words and has gotten the hang of baby sign really really well to the point that we communicate pretty often throughout the day with sign (DCM is flabbergasted! She hasn't bothered trying to learn any of it and doesn't understand what he is trying to say!)

My questions is, where did this newer definition of the term 'infant' come from exactly? Why exactly is it that under 2 is now considered an 'infant'. I truly hope it isn't because modern parents want a reason to baby their kids as long as possible, so show me the research please?

I'm being serious, not snotty....I really do want to know the reasonings behind this. I took a Child Development class but we didn't really focus on infants that much :/ I think the professor was biased towards Preschoolers as we focused on that a lot.

for me it is determined by my state. any child under two is considered an infant, which we can only have a max of 4 infants in care. of course this depends on your license.

[Baby lady]

I'm not sure it's a developmental definition as much as a licensing one, and as such may vary by state, and even with different types of child care facilities. I think ratios may change at 18 months old in centers in California?

It drives me crazy that a six month old counts the same as an 18 month old, but those are the rules. I'm at full capacity for under 2s, and way under on over 2s, and the only calls I'm getting are for under 2s. My current under 2s are 18 months old

[Blackcat31]

In my state, infants are defined as under 12 months for family child care

For centers, I believe kids are considered infants until 15 months.

[Heidi]

Here, under 12 months, infant.

Then toddler, then preschooler. I think toddler is 12-36 months in theory, but our ratios for daycare change at 24 months.

I honestly wish they'd break it up, because to me, the needs of a 4 month old are very different than a 15 month old. If they've been here a while, at 15 months they're almost as independent as a 2 year old. Sure, they need more help, but they are certainly a far cry (ha ha) from an infant.

[Unregistered]

In my state it's under 1 year. 1-2 years is a young toddler.

[Nisaryn]

See, I'm in California and here an infant is any child under the age of 2 for FCC (what I am) and I'm pretty sure it is the same for the centers as well! It just makes it really really hard because I am full at 4 infants (in CA I can have 4 under 2 if I'm doing infant only, which I chose to do because of the need for it) and so SO many people need care but there are NO openings for those that are stuck in the ages of 1yr to 3yrs.... :/ I wish they could change it because the difference (in my experience anyway) of caring for a 15m or a 21m old versus my 5m old is VERY different as is their play behaviors, social behaviors, mental abilities, etc. etc.

I hate having to turn people away because 1. I am full and 2. Even if I wasn't I will never again accept a child more than 3 months older than my oldest child...causes too much havoc! LOL!

[Lovisa]

In my state, under 2 years old is considered an infant.

[LysesKids]

In TN, as OP knows, infants are up to 15 months, 16-30 is considered toddler... I am full at the moment with 4 kids under age 2 (23 month, 12 month, 6 month, 4 month).

[daycare]

See, I'm in California and here an infant is any child under the age of 2 for FCC (what I am) and I'm pretty sure it is the same for the centers as well! It just makes it really really hard because I am full at 4 infants (in CA I can have 4 under 2 if I'm doing infant only, which I chose to do because of the need for it) and so SO many people need care but there are NO openings for those that are stuck in the ages of 1yr to 3yrs.... :/ I wish they could change it because the difference (in my experience anyway) of caring for a 15m or a 21m old versus my 5m old is VERY different as is their play behaviors, social behaviors, mental abilities, etc. etc.

I hate having to turn people away because 1. I am full and 2. Even if I wasn't I will never again accept a child more than 3 months older than my oldest child...causes too much havoc! LOL!

I agree, I don't take infants by my standards....

I only take kids 18 months and up and they MUST be able to self feed, listen to basic instructions, only take one nap and able to transition with ease.

I have taken a child at 16 months, boy she was smart as a whip.

So I can only take 3 in that age group at one time. I don't ever enroll more than two and never have them attend on the same day.

My hat goes off to you guys who care for babies, I could never do it. I can't handle crying.

[Febby]

In my state, under 12 months is an infant. 12-24 months is a toddler. After that, they're preschool until the day they start kindergarten, but ratios change on each of their birthdays (different ratios for 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s)

[Second Home]

Here in MD under 2 yrs is considered an infant. We can only have 2 children under 2 yrs .

[littletots]

As you know my military license is no more than two under 2yrs. It is explained because in a fire the provider can only carry two children out (one under each arm). Many non base military providers have given up the strict military license for the more relaxed ohio state license which is three under 2yrs. If the military provider has a special needs child over 2yrs old the coordinator has power to limit the under 2 guidance to one . If you are not able to exit in under 2 mins (1 min is preferred) you will be asked to adjust your daycare commitment for the safety of the children. So considered your lucky you are able to have 4 infants under 2yr.

[Nisaryn]

As you know my military license is no more than two under 2yrs. It is explained because in a fire the provider can only carry two children out (one under each arm). Many non base military providers have given up the strict military license for the more relaxed ohio state license which is three under 2yrs. If the military provider has a special needs child over 2yrs old the coordinator has power to limit the under 2 guidance to one . If you are not able to exit in under 2 mins (1 min is preferred) you will be asked to adjust your daycare commitment for the safety of the children. So considered your lucky you are able to have 4 infants under 2yr.

The 4 infants is using state standards, once I officially become a military CDH here in CA it drops down to 3 infants (including my son) so I would have to give up at least one of the babies and I'm already trying to decide who...it's tough to think about :/ But I'm hoping that I can move into preschool care so that I can have a few more children. Right now just babies is working for me best though.