New With Lots of Questions????

[Luvnmykidz]

Hello all. I am new to daycare.com. I am in the process of starting a licensed home daycare in the state of Maryland. I am a single parent of three. I am CPR/First Aid certified and i am taking the required classes. I have not attended my first orientation yet, because i was under the impression that here you must have all classes complete and the home fully set up for the inspection within days after the orientation. Someone please tell me if this is true or not. Also I have been working on my policy and contracts. I relocated here from Florida and am not sure what are the going rates or rules for home daycares here. My town house is 3 levels. My basement area as well as my dining room on the main level will be used for my daycare. There is a fire place in my basement so am i allowed to use this room as long as it is secured to where the kids cannot open it or be hurt from it? Do I need to have a gate by my kitchen entrance? My entrance has three steps before you enter the dining room so does this area need a gate as well? my upper level is a no access zone for the DCK's and will be gated at the first step. Will licensing inspect the entire home or just daycare areas? My backyard is fenced but my son has a power wheels out there in a tarp, will this be an issue for licensing? Please excuse my long post. Thank you in advance for all advice, answers, or suggestions.

[MsLaura529]

Welcome I'm a bit newer here, too - and waiting to get my license approval. I won't be able to answer all of your questions, but I will see what I can do.

I have not attended my first orientation yet, because i was under the impression that here you must have all classes complete and the home fully set up for the inspection within days after the orientation. Someone please tell me if this is true or not. Also I have been working on my policy and contracts. I relocated here from Florida and am not sure what are the going rates or rules for home daycares here. My town house is 3 levels. My basement area as well as my dining room on the main level will be used for my daycare. There is a fire place in my basement so am i allowed to use this room as long as it is secured to where the kids cannot open it or be hurt from it? Do I need to have a gate by my kitchen entrance? My entrance has three steps before you enter the dining room so does this area need a gate as well? my upper level is a no access zone for the DCK's and will be gated at the first step. Will licensing inspect the entire home or just daycare areas? My backyard is fenced but my son has a power wheels out there in a tarp, will this be an issue for licensing? Please excuse my long post. Thank you in advance for all advice, answers, or suggestions.

Here in Michigan, you have to send in your license application, and once that gets approved, then you go to the orientation. After the orientation, you get a "checklist" of sorts to sign off on (saying your home is up to par with the rules and regulations) and once that is sent in and a certificate is returned to you, then you can start. Sometime within 90 days after you get your certificate, you will get an inspection.

I would try to find a play-yard gate set-up so that you can block off the fireplace during daycare hours. Are you using your kitchen for daycare? I am not (other than me cooking food in it) so I am putting a walk-thru style gate in the doorway.

Good luck!

[Luvnmykidz]

MsLaura529 thank you so much for your response. Yes I plan to use my kitchen for the daycare as well.I have a high chair and fold up table for the little ones for this area. I am excited but so nervous, because I want my environment to be very safe for the children. I called the licensing office in my area and was told to call back next week to speak to someone about the requirements needed to schedule for orientation. So hopefully next week I am able to speak with someone and they are willing to give me more information.

[tjones34]

Hi!!! I'm in MD too...to answer a few questions yes they inspect your entire house. Then they will let you know what areas you can use and what has to be off limits. I'm late seeing your post but have you taken orientation yet? You don't have to have it all done by orientation but everything needs to be done before they will come out to inspect. And they are kinda of slow. I started my process in January 2012 and I just received my license February 1st 2013..just to give you an idea of their time table. Where in MD are you located? I'm in PG county in Fort Washington. You will definitely need gates. And make sure where ever your kids will be have 2 exits because I originally wanted my daycare in the living room but because there is only one exit I had to move it to my downstairs. Contact me if you have anymore questions. I would love to help cause there was no one really to help me along. happyface

[Luvnmykidz]

Thank you for your response. I am in pg county as well ( Upper Marlboro). That is a very long time, OMG why does it take them that long??? I attended the orientation last week. I'm working on my handbook and curriculum now. I need to purchase gates and am mot really sure what I need as far as outside equipment goes. Do you have to have a changing table on both levels or can you have a changing pad as well? I wanted to purchase the regalo cots,but was curious as to whether they are a good buy or not. I have a ton of questions, sorry. I will pm you.

[Luvnmykidz]

Sorry for the typos, I'm using my phone.

[melilley]

Hi! Welcome! I just wanted to chime in on the cots. I too was going to buy the Regalo cots. I emailed the company because here in MI, all sleeping equipment must be approved by the CPSC and I wasn't sure if they were. They contacted me back and said that they aren't really made for daycare settings, that they aren't very sturdy. I ended up ordering regular cots from www.schooloutfitters.com (www.discountschoolsupplies.com also has good prices) and I am happy with them! I bought the cots that you assemble yourself and it was simple to do. Just something to think about. Good luck with everything!

[Luvnmykidz]

Hi! Welcome! I just wanted to chime in on the cots. I too was going to buy the Regalo cots. I emailed the company because here in MI, all sleeping equipment must be approved by the CPSC and I wasn't sure if they were. They contacted me back and said that they aren't really made for daycare settings, that they aren't very sturdy. I ended up ordering regular cots from www.schooloutfitters.com (www.discountschoolsupplies.com also has good prices) and I am happy with them! I bought the cots that you assemble yourself and it was simple to do. Just something to think about. Good luck with everything!

Thank you. I looked on the sites and they have some good prices. I think I will make myself a list of all the great sites you all post up here for. Thanks again.