How many babies can you handle?

[GymMom]

I currently have 2 - 13 months and 17 months, both p/t but I do have them both some days. I got a call from someone about a f/t 11 month old that I turned down because I thought 3 under 2 might be a bit more than I can sanely handle. Just wondered if a lot of you have lots of little ones!

[Crayola kiddies]

I have a 10 month, a 13 month, a 20 month, a 25 month and a 3 yr old.... They are all full time

[loulou]

I have 3 ft little ones-1 year, 14 months & 18 months. I enjoy having them close in age as I find it easier to plan activities around their abilities when they are so close. I also have a 3.5, 3, and my 2.5 y/o. I think when the time comes to replace the 3.5 y/o I will look for someone younger again. I really enjoy the 1-2 age!

[Momof4]

I have a 15 month old, a 23 month old, a 24 month old, a 2.75 year old and a 4 3/4 year old. But the oldest is leaving this month and a 10 month old is starting in Feb. so I'm with a very young group for the next year.

[apples and bananas]

I have a 14 month old, 2 X 20 month olds and a three year old. I find the 3 year old is always the odd man out. I would much prefer if all 4 were under 2. If you have 3 under 2, you might as well have 4. :)

[cfred]

I currently have an 11 mo old, 2 one yr olds, 2 - 17 mos olds (some are part time with no more than 4 each day at the moment). There will be a 9 mos old starting in March. I find it okay as I get used to the different personalities and capabilities. However, I will say that for the first bit it was quite a work out keeping up with everything. I bought a six seat stroller so for the really difficult times, we saddle up and hit the trail for an hour. Now everyone has settled in and I find it very enjoyable. I think every provider is different with what they can handle. Infants and toddlers are my niche....I have always preferred working with them and have found that I can adapt well to the ever changing needs. I have talked with other providers who prefer when the kids get past this very needy stage. I will admit that I am asleep before my head hits the pillow most nights though!

[playfelt]

I think once a child reaches 18 months they start to move into the next age grouping. I have always said the licensed ages should be 2 under 18 months not under 24 months. That said if all of your group are walking and self feeding fingerfoods, drinkiing from a cup and going down for naps without issue then the age of the new child coming into care is less of an issue. While you won't be able to have elaborate circletimes and no one will care about the weather chart or the calendar or be able to sing along you will have a cohesive group that will pretty much move along together in terms of learning and playing and scheduling. Adding an 11month old now depends more on what stage your others are at developmentally than when their next birthday is.

[Momof4]

Playfelt, it's funny but I have been thinking about that lately. My 4 year old girl, 2.75 year old boy and 23 month old girl are smart and understand everything I say and I think of them as the big kids.

Then my 24 month old boy is a lot like the 15 month old baby because he doesn't understand anything I say. I was thinking it's funny that I usually like to have children close in age but my 15 month old is going to be surpassing this 24 month old in no time because the baby understands me. It's so weird. I know they are all so different but you're right, an 11 month old is definitely at 'baby' level still.

[Spixie33]

I have a 18 mo old, a 22 mo old, and a 16 mo old. The days can be busy but it is possible and I agree that after 18 months they get a lot easier and more pleasant to interact with :) It is not as scary as it may seem :)
I also have some 3 year olds rotating through too.

[fruitloop]

My whole group is 2 and under with the exception of 1 dcg who is almost 3 who only has a couple weeks left of care. My youngest is 14 months. I love it and I find it fairly easy. They are all relatively at the same learning level, they are all really good kids and very self sufficient. They are all walking and all but 1 are feeding themselves. They will all grow and learn together.

[monkeymama]

I have a 16 month old (my ds), an 18 month old, a 22 month old, 2 3yo, a 4 yo and my dd is 4. In the summer before two dck started ( 3 and 4 yo) I had 2 others who were under 18 months. That was a busy time! However, they were all on the same schedule and with the the nice weather we had a good time...I actually prefer the little ones and once my two older dck are in school in september i wont be taking any more over 3.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I only every have 1 under 18 months and the rest all older ... I Love the wee ones but y back does not and too much lifting will do me in :(

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

I have four full time children - two girls who are both 2 and a half, and one boy who is 14 months, and my littlest bear who is just 12 months old. It's definitely busy, but I figure in for a penny, in for a pound, right ? :laugh: Having the right equipment makes all the difference - I have a "super-stroller" and cubbies to contain all the backpacks. I am also able to care for four little ones, because my own three are older - 12, 9 and 4.

[Inspired by Reggio]

... It's definitely busy, but I figure in for a penny, in for a pound, right ? :laugh:....

LOL ~ agreed I prefer to have my house full as well ~ if I am here and working with 1 might as well maximize my revenue potential and have the total of 5 to ensure I am covering all my expenses and still making a living at the end of the day ... unfortunately it was the super stroller full of 5 young toddlers that finally herniated my L5S1 disc though so since than I have been an advocate for finding that balance to be able to stay in the field without too much pain ... hence the I love babes but they do not love me sentiment ... anyone caring for multiple infants just please remember to ensure you are taking care of YOU cause you only get one body and no job is worth living the rest of your life in pain cause you broke yourself over doing it :(

[Tot-Time]

I'm one of those crazy caregivers that my best group of children was a group of 5 full time infants who all started within months of each other (just moved and was starting new). I had 5 under the age of 18 months. They grew up together, we're the same age and development that it was the easiest group I've provided care for. But, now I'm a bit older and my back cant handle all the lifting that is required of infant care. Not everyone can work with all age groups and how many infants a caregiver feels s/he can accept is up to the individual. I also have to agree that some infants require more attention than others and the children in care might determine if another infant can be added to the group.

Right now I have the oldest group I've had in a while and they are two 3 1/2 year olds, a 2 1/2 yr old, 2 yr old, and a 20 month old. A part of me is still missing my group of infants, it might have been more physically demanding, but the older children are more mentally demanding and the occasional day I find myself being outwitted by a preschooler, lol.

I'm 3 1/2yrs away from retiring from full time child are and will likely move to before and after school daycare. After almost 20 yrs of child care my back and knees are shot from the years of lifting and being on my knees playing with the children. I'm ready for the older children now.