How Many Kids Is Too Many

[Familycare71]

Thanks everyone for your input. I might call the local licensing just so I know what the regs are. I don't doubt her ability to care for that many.... we've thought she is wonderful. I'm more concerned with safety and space issues. At what point is her limit for not accepting any more.

Also- you could talk to her. Explain that you really like having your child there but because the number of kids had increased so much you were wondering what the max she takes at any one time.
If you are worried about space ask her how she does it- I can't imagine she would mind showing you the set up(loss after dc hours and with some notice). I can care for up to 8 (two school age) and some parents can't imagine- but it is second hat to me

[MyAngels]

The rules for Illinois licensed daycare homes can be very confusing:

b) A caregiver alone may care for:

1) A mixed age group consisting of:

A) Up to 8 children under the age of 12, of which

B) Up to 5 children may be under the age of 5, of which

C) Up to 3 children may be under 24 months of age.

2) A mixed age group consisting of:

A) Up to 8 children under the age of 12, of which

B) Up to 6 children may be under the age of 5, of which

C) Up to 2 children may be under 30 months of age.

3) A school age group consisting of 8 school age children, as defined in Section 406.2.

and then:

d) A caregiver and an assistant 18 years of age or older may care for:

1) The groupings in subsection (b), and 4 additional children who are attending school full-time; or

2) Eight children under 5 years of age of which up to 5 children may be under
24 months of age, and 4 additional children who are attending school fulltime.

You can find this information here: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/...60000130R.html

Her grandchildren are included in her numbers.

[spinnymarie]

I see this is oldish, but:
IL has two separate types of daycare homes - group homes and family homes.
Since you said she just recently went through licensing again, I think it would be safe to assume that she now has a group home license, which the max is 12 kids under 6 with an assistant (which you said she has.) The other (much quoted in this thread) 8 kids are for the other type of home, a family home, which you can probably assume is what she had before.
Her license has to be posted somewhere in the home, but I don't think there's any harm in just asking her if she changed her license since you noticed there are now more kids in attendance.