Yearly Inspections

[PitterPatter]

When/if the state or your licensor comes to inspect do they look through your whole house? Do they look in YOUR bedroom? What about closets and things?

Food program inspection do they look in your fridge or your cupboards?

Just curious as to what the norm is.

[MN Day Mom]

I get inspected every two years... I have a space separated from my families space, so the brunt of the inspection happens in the daycare space as I have the family space inaccessible to the daycare. She will do a walk through of my main floor, won't open drawers or anything, just looking for major hazards... she never goes to my 2nd floor where our bedrooms and my kids play/rec room is.

The food program... she comes in does her paper work, verifies kids and my license, looks around my kitchen area to see if it is sanitary.... never opened my fridge or a cabinet.

All pretty painless if you stay within the rules

[littlemommy]

My licensing inspection lady just walks through and asks me basic questions like where they sleep, if I have my first aid kid, if chemicals are locked up...Never walks outside of my daycare area. She knows I have one kid sleep upstairs in our bedroom but has never looked in there.

My food program lady sits down and does paperwork, asks me what I'm feeding for the day, and leaves. Doesn't look at anything, really.

[Meeko]

Utah regs are:

All areas of the home must be accessible to the licensor.

However if the area is not used for day care and is behind a door with a lock, childproof handle cover, or behind a baby gate...then the licensor can only peek in to look for hidden children (sadly that happens) and obvious danger things. She cannot go through drawers, closets etc...just peek in.

Areas that are used for day care are inspected thoroughly. All cupboards, drawers etc.

[MyAngels]

I've had my inspections run the gamut over the years. I once had a licensing visit last an entire day. I think he would have stayed for dinner if I hadn't asked him to finish up and leave. He looked in every cupboard, every drawer, even going so far as to remove things so he could make sure he saw everything. He inspected all of the mechanicals in my house - I'm still not sure why. He inspected every area of the house, including my unfinished basement, which has never been used for daycare.

I've also had the cursory inspections, just a few quick verification questions, fill out the forms, and leave type.

My food person just looks over paperwork, verifies who is here, has me sign and leaves. Even if it's supposed to be a meal observation, I've never had anyone actually look at what I'm serving.

[Cat Herder]

Here they use a fine toothed comb.

They visually check bedrooms, garages and closets because some providers warehouse kids (they will peek in unlocked storage sheds as well).

They will measure your play space and deduct any area covered by furniture, toy boxes or storage cabinets. They may limit the number of children you can keep if you have too much furniture.

They check the refrigerators for temperatures and to see that you have whole milk and 100% juice. Occasionally they will ask how you prepare certain foods like mac-n-cheese or ramen noodles since it is not allowed unless it is "homemade" (meat, cheese, or milk added) for nutritional reasons. They check that all food is stored on shelving off the floor.

They check your cups, lids, plates and silverware to ensure it is not chipped, sanitized correctly between uses, age appropriate and labeled for each individual child as required. They push using disposable.

They check your diapering area for sanitation, safety and non-porous surface. They will watch you do a round of changes to ensure proper procedure and provider/child hand washing.

They check the main property where families enter/exit for hazards like tree stumps, exposed wiring/air conditioning units, ant hills, uneven areas and other perceived issues outside.

They check every drawer in your bathroom if kids are EVER (bathing after an accident) in there, even if you do not have any potty training kids at the time. No razors, soaps, shampoos, baby lotions/oils, etc. are allowed within reach unless locked in a cabinet. Even kids tear free hand soap has to be given to the child, supervised and stored out of reach. They check water temperature, must be warm/not hot.

They check nap mats for storage, correct daily disinfection procedure and look to be sure they are nonporous (not ripped). They check linen storage and laundering. I keep 8 mats JIC one rips or someone has an accident during the day (needs replacing) and have had my DCP questioned since I can only have 6 kids.

They check the playground for rusted bolts, exposed screws, wood splinters, tree roots, chipped plastic that could pinch or catch clothing, strings/ropes of any kid, etc. They will measure the depth of your mulch, height of play equipment and of your fence.

They ask about firearms and if you have them they will want to see each weapon individually to see the safety lock in place (very time consuming). They also want the ammunition stored away from the weapon, locked.

I could probably go on....but I think you get the idea. ::::::

[sharlan]

My last inspection - opened every drawer and cupboard in the kitchen. Checked the fridge and pantry to verify food. Checked the kids' bathroom, opened the medicine cabinet and under sink cabinet. She went upstairs and took a quick peek into all the bedrooms and bathrooms, but didn't open anything as the upstairs is off limits. Outside, she took a quick peek into the garage and locked shed. She also quickly checked out all the play equipment in the backyard. I was surprised, but she really didn't check out the playroom.

About 1/2 of her time was spent going over all of my paperwork and verifying who was here and who wasn't.

I got caught with toothpaste in the bathroom and a battery in a kitchen drawer.

[daycare]

My last inspection - opened every drawer and cupboard in the kitchen. Checked the fridge and pantry to verify food. Checked the kids' bathroom, opened the medicine cabinet and under sink cabinet. She went upstairs and took a quick peek into all the bedrooms and bathrooms, but didn't open anything as the upstairs is off limits. Outside, she took a quick peek into the garage and locked shed. She also quickly checked out all the play equipment in the backyard. I was surprised, but she really didn't check out the playroom.

About 1/2 of her time was spent going over all of my paperwork and verifying who was here and who wasn't.

I got caught with toothpaste in the bathroom and a battery in a kitchen drawer.

I have toothpaste on the counter that the kids use to brush their teeth, I am in CA so this is not allowed?

I also have tons of batteries in my kitchen drawer and the org. licensor never said no batteries in the drawer. I dont have locks on the kitched cabinets, but I have baby locks (which the kids can still open) in the bathroom.

[Cat Herder]

I have toothpaste on the counter that the kids use to brush their teeth, I am in CA so this is not allowed?

I also have tons of batteries in my kitchen drawer and the org. licensor never said no batteries in the drawer. I dont have locks on the kitched cabinets, but I have baby locks (which the kids can still open) in the bathroom.

These seem to be "hot button" issues this year nationwide. Have you been inspected in the last 6 months? If not, be prepared.

Next year it will be something else....

[daycare]

These seem to be "hot button" issues this year nationwide. Have you been inspected in the last 6 months? If not, be prepared.

Next year it will be something else....

I have not had an inspection in over a year... In CA its a random inspection, kind of like a lottery type inspection. They choose DC liC # at random using a computer system, you may get chosen, you may not.

Unless a parent or other person calls to complain, they don't come out.

[mac60]

And this is why I will never do this business and have to be licensed. Coming into my private bedroom. Rediculous, absolutely none of their business. Coming into my families bedrooms, again none of their business. Going thru my personal drawer space, none of their business. Because I am a childcare provider does not give a parent/or licensing the right to invade my personal things and space.

[sharlan]

And this is why I will never do this business and have to be licensed. Coming into my private bedroom. Rediculous, absolutely none of their business. Coming into my families bedrooms, again none of their business. Going thru my personal drawer space, none of their business. Because I am a childcare provider does not give a parent/or licensing the right to invade my personal things and space.

It is their business what is accessible to the kids.

If the rooms are kept off limits and access is denied by either locks or kiddie gates, they will just take a quick peek in. They will not go through your personal drawers if the kids aren't in there. Any room that is available to the kids (bathrooms, kitchens, etc) is fair game.

[sharlan]

I have toothpaste on the counter that the kids use to brush their teeth, I am in CA so this is not allowed?

I also have tons of batteries in my kitchen drawer and the org. licensor never said no batteries in the drawer. I dont have locks on the kitched cabinets, but I have baby locks (which the kids can still open) in the bathroom.

Anything that says to "keep out of reach of children" cannot be accessible to them. That includes toothpaste, some hand soaps, lotions, etc.

I have the fridge "locks" on my downstairs shower so the kids can't get into it. I have the magnetic locks on the undersink cabinets and most of my kitchen cabinets. I also have a magnetic lock on my medicine cabinet in the upper kitchen cabinets.

In all honesty, it all depends on the person who comes to do the inspection and what their pet peeve is. (just my opinion)

[daycare]

I called licensing yesterday to ask some questions about what I can and can't have in my bathroom or kitchen drawers. She told me that anything that can fit through a toilet paper tube needs to be out of reach. So I had to take a ton of stuff out of my kitchen drawers and bathroom drawers too.
I don't understand why can't I have hair clips in my bathroom drawer, but children can wear them to DC. ( I personally have ban all hair clips and such)
There is a lot if grey area in the LIC rules.

[daycare]

No hand soap?
So where do you put it?
Most of my kids use the bathroom by themselves and was their hands with soap and water when done.
Ugh how am I this confused