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One family day home that I've looked into has the children sleep behind closed doors and doesn't use a monitor. It doesn't sound safe or legal to me. Any thoughts?
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Oh, I am located in VA. -
I think it depends on your state. In double checking the Minnesota Statute (9502) regarding daycare facilities. All I could find was:
"There must be a safe, comfortable sleeping space for each infant and newborn. A crib, portable crib or playpen with waterproof mattress or pad must be proved for each infant or newborn in care." Then it goes on to list more specific requirements/restrictions for the crib.
It also says that "each toddler shall be provided with a mat, crib, cot, bed, sofa or sleeping bag." It says the same for the preschooler minus the crib.
It says nothing about specifics on where the child is to sleep or how they are monitored. Personally, my little ones (3 and under) do sleep behind closed doors and I do not use a baby monitor either. I do peek in on them every 15 to 20 minutes once they are asleep. I figure, they are children, the sleep just like my children do, and like most kids at home do. Though honestly, I do NOT check on my OWN children every 15 to 20 minutes once they are asleep at night. I'd never be able to sleep myself, and I doubt most parents do either. I don't see anything illegal about it, though I'm not familiar with the laws in your state.Give a little love to a child, and you get a great deal back.Comment
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In TX dc centers you are required to actually be in the room when children are sleeping, no matter what the age is.
I don't know about home daycares..they might be different though. Your best bet is to check with your state.Comment
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Hey, just a heads up as I'm in MN too. Three years ago I had an unannouced visit and got written up because I didn't have the monitor on. The child was not an infant and the door was open....
Of course she also wrote me up because I took the gate down so that she could get down the the stairs...I didn't put it back up during her visit but I did hold the only child who required a gate the entire time she was here--Comment
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There should be a law against something like that! I remember the gem of a rep we had. She ALWAYS interrupted me at whatever I was doing. Once I was reading a story and she had the brass knockers to say really loud..UM EXCUSE ME!!!!! I gave her my teacher look (big eyes :
and I said yes? and she said sweetly..how many kids do you have? I told her and then she left. That was just one of many times though.
In case, they should ring the doorbell or something though!Comment
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I am in VA and I don't see anything in the licensing standards about monitors being required when children are are napping in a family day home.
I keep a monitor in my nap room but rarely use it. The only time I turn it on is if one of the children appears to be getting ill or is recovering from a recent illness. I am sure the provider does regular checks on the children as they are sleeping. I check on mine about every 20 minutes. I don't always go into the room either - sometimes I just peek through the glass doors to make sure everything is in order.
During your visit, did you ask her about it? It's even possible that she had one that you overlooked.Comment
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In Maryland monitors are not acceptable means of watching a sleeping child. You must be on the same level of the home with sleeping children and must check on them every 15 mins if they are under 12 mos of age.Comment
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Can you tell me if you have someone up watching your child sleep at night? What about a child sleeping without an adult watching them sleep seems unslafe and illegal? :confused::confused::confused: I would think that the VAST majority of children across the world sleep without an awake adult watching them.
Why would it be safe for your child to sleep three/four/five/six hours a night WHILE YOU SLEEP and not be safe sleeping without an adult watching them while the child is under someone else's care? Is it not the same child?
A baby is markedly safer in a home with an AWAKE adult even if they are in another room, another level, and the door is closed than a baby is in the same room with their parent while their parent is sleeping. It's the AWAKE adult that can save a child's life.
Why is it that the value/safety of children's lives becomes so exponetially increased when there is two/three/four dollars per hour being exchanged? How is it that money somehow increases the worth of the child to a degree that is so far drastically different than when they are in the care of their own parents?
If we are going to say that the only safe way to care for a baby is to have an AWAKE adult watching them sleep then why wouldn't that be the law for every baby in every home every day? If your baby needs an AWAKE adult watching them 24 hours a day 7 days a week then you should start with doing that at your home and see how well that works.
Why would you WANT a provider to have the door open during naps? Did you know that a child's chance of surviving a fire is markedly higher if they are sleeping behind a CLOSED door. A solid core door is the best. A closed door can be the difference between life and death of a baby in a fire. Call your Fire Marshall and ask them if your baby's chance of survival is higher with a closed door or an open door. He'll be able to answer that one real fast.Comment
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I do overnight care. No way am I sleeping in the same room - I'd probably get accused of some kind of Michael Jackson thing. Also it it unrealistic to check them every 15 minutes I just use a monitor even though the state says I should check that often. Go to a garage sale and pick one up if you want to do cheap. It's tax deductible.I see little people.Comment
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