Daycare areas/ non daycare areas

[Blackcat31]

They always go through drawers and closets here to be sure things that should be locked up are. It just doesn't make sense in non-care areas where those items are already locked away from care areas.

And they have gone through our whole house for decades, unrelated to whether they actually find extra children. I believe it is stated somewhere in our relicensing paperwork that they will do this. I have no problem with them looking, but going through drawers does not seem right to me (in non-care areas.) We have actually been told that when parents pick up with siblings in tow, that our license could be in jeopardy for being out of ratio.

Do not let them tell you that....if the parents are present you would NOT be out of ratios. This has been discussed in detail in a MN provider group and was also brought up to the higher ups at DHS and you do NOT have to count siblings in your ratios that accompany the parents to pick up.

They DO create a liability for you under your insurance though.

[LostMyMarbles]

I am in MN and the only rooms they inspect are those that are going to be licensed. I have a basement and I've never had them check/inspect my basement. It's not used for child care and therefore not subject to inspections.


Since each state seems to vary, I'd check your state regulations and see what it says.

This is true in my state as well. I don't use my garage for day care . I had a consultant that tried to bust my chops about a dirty diaper I was disposing of. I have a garbage pail in my garage, with a plastic bag in it. I open my garage door, drop the diaper in it, shut the door and walla. It's gone. The consultant tried to write me up for that. I told her my garage is not approved for day care use, and she can't have a say in that area. She backed down.

I have a consultant now that gets it. There are areas in your home that you don't use and she gets it. On the application you need to list rooms you plan on using. Those are the rooms they inspect and approve or disapprove. The rest is off limits.

I guess it's not all bad for them to do look/see just to make sure we are not cooking meth. Children's safety first.

[thrivingchildcarecom]

It does seem a bit awkward, but I believe the analyst has the legal authority to inspect even non-daycare areas. Probably due to other cases where providers have hidden children in such areas to mask being over ratio.

I wonder, though. Maybe check your states regs to see if that is the case where you are.

[daycare]

It does seem a bit awkward, but I believe the analyst has the legal authority to inspect even non-daycare areas. Probably due to other cases where providers have hidden children in such areas to mask being over ratio.

I wonder, though. Maybe check your states regs to see if that is the case where you are.

This is what I was told. I asked the analyst why she checked in my closest and she said sadly. People try to hide children anywhere they can when they show up and the provider is over ratio.

She said it was just standard procedure. I even had to unlock my storage shed on my side yard.

[daycarediva]

I am in CA and in every single of my inspections I have had every room of my house including closets, garage, storage sheds and bathrooms looked into.

My private space they just open the door and looked in. Daycare areas they did a full inspection.

Yes, this. My initial and relicensing inspections are the most thorough. Every room, every closet, every shed, my barn, etc. Most of the pop ins just check my dc space.