Caring for 2 one year olds?

[Spixie33]

I am interviewing for 2 one year olds and I am wondering if I am crazy.

The one child would be 12 months in January when they start. They would come 5 days/weel
The other child would start in December and also be 12 months old in January but only come 2 days a week

Is it crazy to have a daycare with 5 kids where two kids are 12 months old and together on certain days?

I think I could do it because it is PT for one of them but have others done two one year olds and how did you find it? Was it driving you to drink? lol :o:yes:

[5 Little Monkeys]

I started off with 2 almost one year olds (8 and 10 months) and two 2 year olds (so only 4) and it wasn't bad but I don't want to do it again LOL. The 2 youngest didn't walk at the time. Getting outside was a pain in the butt as we had to go upstairs and then downstairs outside and it was winter. That first winter(I opened up 2 years ago in a November) we didn't get out much! The parents understood this and weren't concerned with it. At 8 and 10 months it's not like they did a lot outside anyways!

I did art one at a time than and the 2 youngest needed help eating a bit....things like soup, yogurt, casseroles etc. I would feed one a few bites of food while the other drank their drink or chewed on a cracker while waiting. We did a lot of free play.

It's doable but it can be a lot of work, especially if they are not good at napping. I had them nap in separate rooms for quite a few months because they both cried when I first put them down. They both still had 2 naps and I actually was kinda sad when it went down to one even though it allowed us to do so much more!

You will find a routine that works for you and it will all work out :)

[Spixie33]

Ohhh that sounds tough. This is my third year but wrestling babies into snowsuits is not fun - ever. I hadn't even thought of that x 2

The only thing that makes me tempted to do it is that one of the babies would only be here 2 days a week. I could grin and bear it two days a week ...possibly

[5 Little Monkeys]

I also had my cousin come over a few times and she would help me get them all outside so that we weren't stuck inside all winter!! My fiance now works evenings so he's around during the day when I need him.

2 days isn't bad....I think you can do it!! Good luck :)

[Artsand crafts]

The maximum amount of 1 years old (between 8 to 15 mos) I have had is 4 (including my son). It wasn't that bad since they started some weeks or months apart and when the next ones started the ones already here were used to the routine and our ways. They started during spring so I did not have to worry about snow suits. However, I recently (June) transitioned three 1 year olds on the same date (only one of them one week before) and that was real a pain in the behind. The crying and fussing was multiplied by three at the same time. After 4 or 6 weeks everything went to quiet. I hired an assistant to come in the mornings during transition days so the older ones did not have to miss out outdoor time because of the little ones and me neither since it was the time when I needed fresh air the most. She was such a great help.

[sunnydays]

I've almost always had two babies at a time and it works well. They grow together and end up playing together down the road. My max is 3 under the age of two and even when I have 3 it is totally doable. Everyone is different, but I would go for it if I were you!

[Wonderwiper]

As usual...I'm the oddball ha ha!! I have 5 full time dck all under 19 months plus my own 17 month and 3 year olds. I love my group! It obviously depends on you and the kids that you have.

[mickyc]

For myself it would all depend on if they both are walking or not. If one is walking and one isn't that isn't too bad but if they both are not walking I don't think I would. I currently have a 12 month old (part-time) and a 16 month old (full-time). The 12 month old doesn't walk and I couldn't imagine having to cart around 2 kids who didn't walk yet.

[gravy_train]

I think it depends on your set-up and your routine and your ability to cope - haha! Right now there is now way I would take on 2 babies but I am in a bit of a rut. Some things to consider: Getting the kids dressed to go outside - how to ensure that one is safe while you are getting the others dressed. Actually transporting or 'herding' the kids to the outdoor playspace - can you do it by yourself or do you have to carry one out, leave ne unattended and then come back for the second one? and what are your other kids doing during that time? I find that even if they are walking it is still really hard to get them to go where you want them to at that age.
Another thing is the question of how well the part-timer will adapt to the daycare routine considering he/she is part-time.
I'm no sure what the ages are of the other kids you have but right now I have 4 kids under 2.5 - all in diapers and I am constantly changing diapers and re-directing behaviour. It is NOT fun!!!

[Harmoni]

I actually prefer the little ones! I would rather deal with cranky babies compared to lippy 3-4yr olds, but maybe it's just me who back talk drives berserk? :)

[FSD]

I love the little ones too!! I have 4 little ones all the same age (a month or two difference) ~ they're 18mths, plus an almost 3 year old and my own 3 1/2 year old. It was tough at the beginning since they all started within a few weeks of each other, but once you get the hang of it, it's nice. These babies also transitioned very well which obviously helped A LOT! The older two are the ones that drive me batty!! Like SunnyDays says, they will end up growing up together and playing with each other. Buuutttt...I'm not looking forward to snowsuit season. groan.....

[Artsand crafts]

My assistant and I put snowsuits this morning to 3 dck (16 and 17mos) and a dcg that is 2yo. My son that is 2.5yo can put the snow suit and shoes himself and only needs help with the zipper. The 2 yo dcg is still learning to dress up and need a lot of assistance currently. We put pants to everybody first, then winter jackets to all of them and at last shoes and hats. Mittens we put them on when outside. I used to do this by myself and used the same system. It took a little longer, of course. They know the routine to go out and also know that they have to wait for their turn seating down to be dressed up.

I also prefer starting with babies than older kids since they usually adapt better to the routine, rules, meals, etc. I am currently looking to fill up one more spot and I am hoping that it will be a 1 year old.

[Fearlessbaby]

My daughter was 13 months when a 12 month joined us and they're like 2 peas in a pod now! Enjoy watching friendships grow!

[daycaremom9]

I definitely found when I had 2 one year olds, that I was much busier. One walked and one didn't so the non-walker was mostly in the stroller. It was hard getting all the kids out safely. Around this time one of my moms decided to pull out her 3 year old and put him in group daycare but she was also a difficult client to begin with. You will definitely need to change diapers more often. Having said all the negatives there is a greater demand for this age group and you can set the rate higher (at least that's how it worked for me!)

[playfelt]

The higher rate for the younger ones helps and they eat less, and use very few craft supplies, thrive on repetition so less lessons to prepare as the same two activities or songs works for the whole week or more and you get them almost untarnished as in a lot less issues to undo before molding them to your liking. Love having all little ones and making the playroom like a giant playpen and just letting them loose - not a lot of choice with the amount of diaper changes and bottle feedings to do for some of them.

[torontokids]

I was worried about this when I started because typically those looking for car are infants but I have been very lucky. My 2 kids when I started were 3 yo and 1. I signed on another 3 yo right away and another one yr old to start shortly after and another one 2 mos later. They were all spaced by 2 mos which probably makes a huge difference. The three little ones are super close and the neatest thing is they all try to keep up with each other developmentally so the littlest keeps up with the older 2. I also have another 3 yo now and another 1 yr old starting in Jan which I wanted as my youngest will then be 2.

Basically I think balance of ages is the most important so the kids have playmates etc. I am sure I would see a ton of beh and boredom from my 3 yo if she was with babies all day. I also kept it at no more then 3 under 2 yrs old.

[CrazyEight]

I have 3 1-year-olds total, 2 dcks plus my own. I have a double bike-trailer type stroller that fits all 3 of them to do school drop-offs and pickups, and a playpen in each of my older kids' rooms for naps, plus a row of 3 highchairs in my kitchen for lunch. Some things take some getting used to, like trying to get them all on the same schedule, and doing everything assembly-line style, but they entertain each other very well, and a previous poster was right-they don't need alot of craft materials or even alot of planning; they'll amuse themselves with just about anything (my tupperware drawer being the current favourite thing)

Just a question to other posters though - I'm in Ontario and not through an agency, but I was under the impression that even if you're not "licensed" through an agency, you still have to go by the 2 under 2 rule on top of your own kids. Is that not the case? Some of you have 4 kids under 2, for example, and as far as I understood it, even if you're private, you can't have more than 2 that young. I'm not trying to start anything, I'm honestly just wondering. Can anyone clarify this for me?

[Wonderwiper]

CrazyEight....the rule only applies for agency run daycares. All 5 of my dcks are under 2.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I think I'd go crazy with 5 under 2 LOL How do you do it??

[mom-in-alberta]

I love having little ones. :)
When I re-opened, my daughter was 18m and I took in a 16m old, 3.5 yr old, and a 12m old (p/t). The babies still had 2 naps (the older ones just took a shorter AM nap), so it left lots of time to do "big kid" stuff. Now that they are all 2, or almost 2, I long for those quieter days. ;)
Admittedly, leaving the house can be a bit of a challenge. I think it depends on your set-up. I have a large coatroom, and can bring everyone in and dress them assembly-line style.

[playfelt]

I can no longer say all of mine are under 2 - my one finally turned 3 last month. With not starting till a year old and mat leaves causing constant turnover kids rarely get past 3 in my home unless like this one they are the last child in the family and will stay till next summer when they move to the school program.