What Are the Penalties for Breaking A (Dumb) California Rule?

[Second Home]

In MD an infant is considered any child under 24 months . We can only have 2 children under 24 months in care . I wish it were 4 like many of you are allowed.

[sharlan]

I would have to look it up, but I BELIEVE it can be a $250 per day fine. Just not worth it.

[LysesKids]

In Tennessee, providers can only have 4 children under 24 months whether Group (12) or Family (7). Sometimes I do wish the ages were 16-18 months and under because 24 months and under is a broad range.

See I agree with this and as such I age my babes out starting 18 months; they are technically a toddler at 16 months here so why not just do 0-15 months infant, 16-30 months toddler as it is in some states - it's written that way in the law, but ratios are set 4 under 24months which makes no sense

[Annalee]

See I agree with this and as such I age my babes out starting 18 months; they are technically a toddler at 16 months here so why not just do 0-15 months infant, 16-30 months toddler as it is in some states - it's written that way in the law, but ratios are set 4 under 24months which makes no sense

They are working on (in the proposed new rules) infants to be 0-12 months BUT no change for the only 4 children-24 month and under rule! :confused: Rules are changing here for sure, but not necessarily what I want to be changing!

[Blackcat31]

In MN, they define infant, toddlers and preschoolers differently between family care and center care.

For example:

Infants in FCC = 6 wks to 12 months
Infants in centers = 6 wks but less than 16 months old

Toddler in FCC = 12 months to 24 months
Toddlers in centers = 16 mos but less than 33 mos old.

Preschooler in FCC = 2 yrs to age 5 (even if not in school)
Preschooler in centers = 33 months but has not yet attended the first day of kindergarten

School age in FCC = 5 yrs (THE day they turn 5) to 11 yrs
School age in centers = Is at least of sufficient age to have attended the first day of kindergarten, or is eligible to enter kindergarten within the next four months, but is younger than 13 years of age

[Nisaryn]

I would love to sign a petition (of sorts) that would redefine an "infant" as a child who can't walk. If the child can walk, regardless of their age, I believe that they should be viewed as a toddler.

All the advice everyone already gave you is wonderful, I run an infant only FCC and can take up to 4 infants (only 3 actually since one is my own son) but I only keep 3 at a time for safety reasons.

As for the petition....stating that you can't call them an infant once they start walking is very much in the wrong. I have a 10 month old right now that can walk and I still very VERY much consider him an infant. Though I do agree the ages need to be changed (HUGE difference between an 6m and a 16m) I wouldn't base it on their abilities, at least not exactly as every child develops differently.

[daycarediva]

THIS is the way to go about ithappyface

I disagree with the infant classification in NY as well (FCC can have 2 under 24 months). I just turned away a child who needed care immediately who would be a very good fit for my program, but is 22m. I already have a 21m and an 18m.

Maybe 0-18m as an infant. Once they're walking, talking, down to one nap, no more baby food and bottles it's silly to consider them infants.

OP- infant care is hard to find so you are always going to get more calls for infants than other age groups. In addition, most parents want a preschool or some sort of curriculum/structure to their child's day at increasingly younger ages. I run a preschool program and start them at 18m. I've gotten preschool calls for children as young as 9m! I suggest setting up something like that, and advertising at mommy/me classes and library story time to attract 'older' kids. The other alternative is to wait for her current DC children to age up and enroll younger infants.

[Play Care]

I agree. And I thought the union had made it so that infant was under 18 months but there was never a reg change.

On a side note I wonder if CSEA is wishing it had never stepped into the day care biz :: I feel the only thing good that's come from that is grant money. No real changes to regs that would benefit providers. If anything it's gotten worse/more restrictive.

[daycarediva]

I agree. And I thought the union had made it so that infant was under 18 months but there was never a reg change.

On a side note I wonder if CSEA is wishing it had never stepped into the day care biz :: I feel the only thing good that's come from that is grant money. No real changes to regs that would benefit providers. If anything it's gotten worse/more restrictive.

I have found some union perks-- they hooked me up with a reduction in our medical insurance through the obama care marketplace. We are both self employed and purchase our policy out of pocket, so that was awesome.

I have a union credit card- it has a great interest rate and cash back offers. I put my bills on auto pay on my union card and then pay it off monthly. It gives me a credit of over $50/month.

Our local union rep did attend the meetings with the state and providers when the new regs went into place, they asked for clarification and helped one local provider keep her 2 in home daycares. She is on site provider at one, and the state was attempting to force her to close the other- she opened both under the old regs when it was legal.

[daycarediva]

oh and dd has applied for MANY scholarships through the union now that college applications are being done. She has received one worth $500 and has applied for several more.

[Play Care]

That's good to hear it's being somewhat helpful!

We have insurance through DH, so I've seen the flyer for the insurance but didn't need it.

I didn't think we could have in homes unless it was our residence. :confused: how did they get around it?
(Cause I would love to have a separate day care!)