Should I Start an In-Home?

[kidsrourfuture]

Hi everyone!
I'm considering opening up an in-home daycare. I do have a few concerns I'd like answered before I get started.

I adore children and believe in excellent quality care and teaching to support their emotional, physical, and intellectual growth. I am a new mother of a baby boy who is now 11 weeks old! I've been thinking of starting an in-home center with me as the only caregiver. I would like to open up in the beginning to maybe mid-October. I was wondering if I'd still have quality time for my baby and all of the kids. I'm thinking 4-5 full-timers during the day and maybe 1-2 overnight a few times a week. That is my biggest concern.

I was also wondering what ages you think would be best?

Any thoughts will be helpful. Thank you

[GirlMomma]

Welcome to the Forum!

Depending on what state you’re in, I would confirm how many children you can legally have with or without being license. Some states will not allow you to have watch any children for any dollar amount if you aren’t licensed.

As far as work/life balance, it will be hard! Personally, I wouldn’t keep any child overnight. I’ve turned down people that worked 3rds. My time with my family begins at 5:30. I take days off if I want quality time with my girls.

[kidsrourfuture]

Thank you so much for your insight! Do you find that you had to sacrifice a lot of your time spent with your girls during the times that you were watching other children?

[Michael]

Welcome to the forum!

[Gemma]

Hi everyone!
I'm considering opening up an in-home daycare. I do have a few concerns I'd like answered before I get started.

I adore children and believe in excellent quality care

Welcome to the forum!
I don't want to discourage you, but it is best if you start with realistic expectations
Depending on what State you're in, this job can be very demanding. You're talking quality care for the children and one on one with your own, while running double shift, having done that, I can guarantee you that you will get burned out in a very short time, cause daycare is not just love and laughter, you have to consider the stress in dealing with some parents, Licensing regulations etc
If I were you, I would start out SLOW...I would start with just a couple of kids during the day, and see how it plays out
Good luck!

[GirlMomma]

kidsrourfuture during the day, I get to be the one raising my girls, but I am not getting quality time with them until my daycare kids are gone. You’re a stay-at-home-WORKING mother with more children and it can be VERY hard! I am thankful that COVID shutdowns prepared me in many ways otherwise I think I’d be very stir crazy.

START SLOW! When I first opened almost a year ago, I took on four infants (10-12 months old plus my child) thinking I could handle it. I was burnt out by October. I stumbled upon this Forum and by December, I had adjusted my contract, my hours, and the ages I took. I “cleaned house” and termed all the bad apples. My mental health improved

I now only take ages 1 and up - I really try to interview families with children that are close to 2YO. I no longer accept school aged children. My hours are Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM-5:30 PM. Payment is due Monday by closing time. If payment is not made by Tuesday, I term for non-payment. I have set days that we do arts and crafts, sensory play, learning, etc. so I’m not doing too much and over stimulating the children or myself. I also allow myself to take three weeks vacation/year. This year I’ve used two of those three weeks. Next year, I fully intend on using all three of them.

This Forum is great if you need advice, support or just to vent.

[GirlMomma]

I also make sure that I take ME-TIME! Away from my kids, my husband and my house. On Saturday’s, I leave for a few hours and do something I enjoy doing. On Sunday’s, those are strictly our family days.

[DaveA]

Welcome. Couple of things

Remember that as much as you “love kids” this is a business first and foremost. Run it to fit the needs of you & your family foremost.

Have a contract/ policy manual and stick to it. Parents who don’t want to follow your rules are the ones you don’t want in your program.

Take ample time off. I had a pair of unpaid 5 day breaks and 10 paid holidays (including my birthday & anniversary) per year written in my contract.

Start small. I would avoid overnights unless you have a place that is isolated from your family’s areas. Even then unless you want to deal with hiring staff days & overnights are a beast of a load.

Good luck with the project!!!

[mamadaycare]

Hi everyone!
I'm considering opening up an in-home daycare. I do have a few concerns I'd like answered before I get started.

I adore children and believe in excellent quality care and teaching to support their emotional, physical, and intellectual growth. I am a new mother of a baby boy who is now 11 weeks old! I've been thinking of starting an in-home center with me as the only caregiver. I would like to open up in the beginning to maybe mid-October. I was wondering if I'd still have quality time for my baby and all of the kids. I'm thinking 4-5 full-timers during the day and maybe 1-2 overnight a few times a week. That is my biggest concern.

I was also wondering what ages you think would be best?

Any thoughts will be helpful. Thank you

In home is a great idea if you want to make money and not have to leave your kids with someone else! Unfortunately, not a lot of quality time is had with my own kids during the day since I have 6 others to take care of. I will say it has been nice not to have to load up my kids every morning to take them somewhere so I can work! But a downside is I have less patience with my kids because I have so many kids and parents (that act like kids sometimes) to deal with that my fuse is pretty short some days. There are pros and cons to every job! It just depends on what you are willing to deal with! good luck

[kidsrourfuture]

Thank you everyone for all of your feedback. I will definitely start off much slower and take in a couple of kids at first and only during the day. Thank you all so much!