10 Babies Too Much?

[BrynleeJean]

For my area and the needs in the area I was gonna o do a babies or under 18 month only, with an assistant. And it occurred to me that parents may thing 10 in one house may be too much. Though it’s legal of course, 2 Will be mine a toddler and infant and 8 paid and so it would be like a 1:5 ratio because of the assistant.
It’s just such a high demand in the area but people see home daycares as a low ratio I feel in my experience.
What do y’all think?

[Blackcat31]

For my area and the needs in the area I was gonna o do a babies or under 18 month only, with an assistant. And it occurred to me that parents may thing 10 in one house may be too much. Though it’s legal of course, 2 Will be mine a toddler and infant and 8 paid and so it would be like a 1:5 ratio because of the assistant.
It’s just such a high demand in the area but people see home daycares as a low ratio I feel in my experience.
What do y’all think?

Depends on how many assistants you have.

When you say "babies" what ages are you referring to?

[BrynleeJean]

5-18 months. Really 9 babies one is my two year old sons ten children total. Me and one assistant is the ratio.

[Miss A]

When I worked in a center, the ratio was 1:4. Our infant room (6 weeks- 18 months) was licensed for 11, so we had 3 staff for 11 babies. The last year I worked there we had a fresh crop of babies who were all under a yeat, so most every day was 11 baby babies and 3 adults. It was so stressful trying to meet each individual childs needs, and it began to feel mechanical. I never built a solid bond with one of those babies that last year, which I feel is so important in infant care.

[Country Kids]

Even with an assistant that is a lot of children under 2.

I think as a parent looking at childcare, I would think it is to many and wonder if you would have time for my child.

I'm allowed only 2 under 2 but focus on preschool age and SA. Even then I'm only allowed 10 but if I have eveyone at once I will have parents that are like, wow full house today. The way they ask though it seems they may think I'm over ratio or have my hands full.

I would probably mix my ages up a bit more if it were me.

[Blackcat31]

5-18 months. Really 9 babies one is my two year old sons ten children total. Me and one assistant is the ratio.

As a parent, I would not be comfortable with that many kids and only two caregivers.

Honestly, the highest ratio I think anyone should have with kids under 18 months is 1:4 and even that makes me nervous. Add in the fact that 2 of the kids will be your own and I'd be even less comfortable.

Sorry...nothing against you at all...you could be NannyDe and/or Cat Herder and I'd be uncomfortable with that many of that age all under the care/supervision of only 2 adults.

You could probably meet their basic needs without issues... it's the other stuff I'd worry about.

[storybookending]

When I first transitioned to home care I thought the babies would be my favorite and it’s possible they still would be if I only took infants. In my state that would be limiting to only 4 children and that doesn’t financially make sense to me personally. I think if all of your children were younger it would be easier than having that many children of a mixed age group but even with an assistant I still wouldn’t do it. I have come to find that while one on one I would always choose an infant that in a mixed age group I much more enjoy the more self sufficient +2 crowd. I can see myself one day only enrolling older children and only taking infants of already enrolled families but for now we make it work. I like just being able to pack up the kids and head to the park unplanned and stay as long as we like which isn’t an option when I have anyone under the age of 1. Now this is just me personally.

As for how parents would feel I think it would depend on each family individually. Some look to home care for more one on one time between their child and the provider that they wouldn’t get in a center. I wouldn’t be okay with it but I am anti center having worked in one and while it is technically in home it will have a center vibe with that many that young. If there is such a demand for infant care in your area they might not care as much as they can’t afford to be picky. I would suggest staggering their start times to be sure it is what you really want.

[storybookending]

Also just wanted to add that your son would be seriously left out on most occasions as both you and your assistant would be busy with infants all day. It could cause jealously/behavioral issues and feelings of being left out and resentment towards daycare the older he gets.

[HappyEverAfter]

Honestly that seems like a lot. I had 4 under 13mths when I started and while I have successfully cared for them, I wouldn’t do it again. It’s a lot to handle, especially if you get a super fussy one, which I did. I don’t have an assistant so what I had would feel similar to what you’ll have with an assistant. There were days when I literally was in tears after the last one left because I was so mentally and physically drained. For me, the hardest part was having some mobile when others weren’t, as well as when their feeding times all happened to fall at the same time and each child required my help to be fed. It might be easier to manage if you took up to age 2 and kept half the kids 1 and under and the other half 1 and over. I noticed a significant ease of stress as my older two age. They require much less one on one attention than my younger two and can now both mostly feed themselves which leaves my hands free to feed the younger ones. Only one of my parents ever expressed concern during the initial interview that I might be taking on too much with such a young group but she quickly changed her mind and there has never been a problem. I will say that having so many littles so young has made me feel a little burnout when it comes to infants.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

For my area and the needs in the area I was gonna o do a babies or under 18 month only, with an assistant. And it occurred to me that parents may thing 10 in one house may be too much. Though it’s legal of course, 2 Will be mine a toddler and infant and 8 paid and so it would be like a 1:5 ratio because of the assistant.
It’s just such a high demand in the area but people see home daycares as a low ratio I feel in my experience.
What do y’all think?

My sweet spot is 5 kids, and I would prefer 5 infants, but my state won't allow it. That being said, me caring for 5 babies is a lot different when you add in another adult and five more babies. I know your own child is 2, but that is an age that requires just as much, if not more attention, so I would really sit down and think about whether, your toddler can handle that many babies in their home.

I think it sounds like a lot, but it really would depend on how great your assistant is...and they would have to be exceptional, so I hope you pay well! Lol

[Blackcat31]

. I know your own child is 2, but that is an age that requires just as much, if not more attention, so I would really sit down and think about whether, your toddler can handle that many babies in their home.

She also has an infant of her own.

[BrynleeJean]

I appreciate all the honesty.

okay then heres my dilemma
i live in a small town where the neighborhoods are growing super fast, and last time i had my daycare up and running i preferred over 18 months of course cuz who doesn't for ratio reason, to do it myself, not have an assistant and i like to teach preschool BUT i found the home daycare community didnt value the effort i put into the preschool teaching i was doing and i got 9/10 calls for babies, maybe more.
it could be my area. There are two other daycares in my small town and neither take infants under 6 months, one doesn't take infant until they walk so there is a business for it.
and the assistant thing is because i really just didnt like working alone in the end.
the ratios here, centers and home, is like 1:2 2:4
it always gets bigger when you add a teacher if that makes sense that was just an example of course. the infant one is
1:4 2:10
it make more sense to me being in daycare for years i know its easier to stick to one age group. infants aren't my FIRST choice but they are easy enough. its more the PR outlook i was looking for.
if i try all preschool I'm afraid it won't get off the ground, i struggled around 5-6 last time, and if i took an infant or two we seemed to have to be at the mercy of the infants schedule if it was a nice day but infant was sleeping we couldn't go on that nice walk to the park or whatever.
I think offering preschool age parents expect LOW LOW price as well because they don't see a home daycare as a learning facility as much as the other places around here, and the schools do free head start here too so thats a bummer so its not a lot to pay an assistant even if i lucked out and got a lot of Prek, but infant i felt like home daycare is where its at, and was planning on offering diapers, wipes and bottle washing which is more than others around and at a $20 a week cheaper rate but your right the same ratios as the centers so its like.... ehhhh.... dilemma..

[happymom]

I am a parent and I think 1:4 ratio for babies is acceptable but 1:5 would be a stretch. I would not enroll my babies in a place with more than 8 babies.

I would also not be super excited to enroll at a place that seems temporary. 5-18 months is just over a year --- and then the parent has to look for different care?

Maybe you build your group as babies so you have a core group of kids close in age. Is there a reason you aren't taking babies younger than 5 months?

[BrynleeJean]

Oh my bad, i meant 5 WEEKS-18 months
or earlier guess but most moms stay home for the first few weeks and id prefer not to keep them after they walk because thats a whole other developmental group but i think I'm going to keep the window open because most home daycare usually around here at least only have stops available for over 18 months. we may end up splitting throughout the day, one teacher with the infants, 1:4 babies and one with the walkers over one 1:5 , and my son when he is there and not at grandmas. WAS my plan anyways.
a lot to think about

[Country Kids]

Oh my bad, i meant 5 WEEKS-18 months
or earlier guess but most moms stay home for the first few weeks and id prefer not to keep them after they walk because thats a whole other developmental group but i think I'm going to keep the window open because most home daycare usually around here at least only have stops available for over 18 months. we may end up splitting throughout the day, one teacher with the infants, 1:4 babies and one with the walkers over one 1:5 , and my son when he is there and not at grandmas. WAS my plan anyways.
a lot to think about

Make sure about the 5 weeks with your license. We aren't allowed any children under the age of 6 weeks in care. I know it's only a week but when it comes to licensing you don't want to get in trouble for that week.