How many toddlers 12-24mths do you normally care for, and feel comfortable handling?

[momof4inpink]

Just curious to see what other dayhome providers have in regards to the number of toddlers they care for. I currently run a "Private" dayhome which is in Alberta. I have well over 20yrs childcare experience. I used to run under the whole 6 or 7 child ratio (including your own) regulations that fall under the liscenced dayhomes., I feel that I no longer need or want to include my 8 & 9 year olds. I also have a 2yr old

Just would like to hear some feedback and experiences please

[Lou]

2 under 2 for me!

[mom-in-alberta]

I will only do one child that isn't walking yet. At one point last year, I had 4 under 2 in my care, but all were walking and most had good vocabulary for little ones. They were also not all full time, only one was and the rest were part timers.
Admittedly, though; those days were crazy!! I would likely stick to two under two also. And I am like you, I have a hard time "counting" my older boys. They are 8 and 10, and really don't need me unless the house burns down, LoL.

[playfelt]

Between the one year mat leave and full day JK all of my kids fall into the aged 1-3 catagory. The under age 2 rule is a misnomer in a sense that to me if you want to pin point infant to toddler it would be between 15-18 months. By then they walk, follow simple instructions sometimes such as come here, sit down. I have 4 kids of my own although they are all out of the house now except our youngest who has special needs and will always be a "toddler" in our midst. I have always taken on my allowable 5 daycare and any age mix works for me.

When I was living in London I cared for a toddler that would have turned 2 in November and her mom gave birth to triplets in early August. So for that span of time she had 4 kids under 2 and 3 under a year. She sent most of her help away except for a bit of feeding help. Left the older one with me till Christmas mostly till she got her strength back and then she took care of all 4 of them herself. I visited often - always enough babies to go around - and saw her setup and routine and that showed me that it can be done. It isnt' so much the age of the children as much as it is the needs of each age group and how you are set up to handle them. An efficient diaper changing place makes it go a lot smoother than having to grab each child's bag and set them up etc. Feeding the same. If they are all eating the same foods then you make batches of food not having to cook three different things or prepare it three ways - puree, chopped, whole depending on group.

My point is don't discount any child just because of their age. As far as safety goes in an emergency any child under 5 isn't going to react they way you need them to so again a child that sits and waits for me or someone to get them can be safer than one that runs and hides and ignores my pleas to come.

Also realize they develop quickly so a non walking child might be walking within weeks of starting and that can vary as some walk at 9 months and others 16 months.

I would prefer to have them all as close together as possible but do try to watch my birth dates so there are at least two groups leaving for school a year apart - some summer/fall birthdays and some with winter/spring birthdates which means they don't all leave the same year.

I am losing three this summer either moving or school and anticipate filling the spaces with one year olds (ideally starting a month apart between July and October) and I will have two left in care - turning 2 end of Sept and turning 3 beginning of Nov.

[jodaycare]

I am in Ontario as well. Currently I have 2-18 mth olds, 1- 2 yr old, 1- 22 mth old (only comes 2 days a week) and an almost four year old. I love the little ones.

[jec]

I'm in Ontario and I have 2 eighteen month olds and 1 one year old.

[Spixie33]

Right now I have 1 who is 16 months and in two months I will have a 1 year old starting. I know the first few months will be tough with two under 2 but once the one year old turns 15 months or so it will be smooth sailing.

when I started (2 years ago) I had 3 under 2 and they were all only a month or two apart in age. It was craaaaazy busy some days

[fruitloop]

Right now I have 4 under 2. 2 of them are walking and 2 are not. In Sept. I will have 5 that are 2 years and under. I like this age group!

[Dayhome Mamma]

I'm private as well and I have a 12 mth old, a 14mth old, a 16 mth old, and a 20 mth old, and an occasional 3.5 yr old. plus my own two kids, 2 and 3yrs old. I don't take care of them all on my own though! I have two assistants-one for the morning, and one for the afternoon so that they don't burn out themselves! I didn't go the registered route because I prefer having all the ages close together....it actually runs smoother for me and makes more sense in catering the toys, activities and schedule to fit that age groups development (i had previously had more varied age groups and felt SO exhausted trying to cater to all the different mentalities and developmental stages!) and its the age group I know best so I feel most confident about dealing with them. It has also been a crazy year transitioning a new munchkin in what seems like almost every month since January when I felt I was ready to fill my spaces up. My plan was to take in an amount of kids that I could be able to handle on my own if need be, should my assistant be unable to make it, and I have had to a few times and it makes for a very hectic day because of the youngest one who does not walk yet. I find that once they are walking though, it makes it so much easier. Just another month or two away for this littlest one....I feel that I could handle it but just choose not to as I don't want to personally be that busy every day on my own. I'm all about the quality of life. Which makes me have to sacrifice a big chunk of my money to my assistants but I have an easier day because of it and I'm happier for it so I feel its totally worth it.

[sunnydays]

I agree with the others who have said it is managable to have many kids under 2. Mine are all under 3 (4 daycare kids and my own daughter who is almost 2). In September I will start the fifth daycare child who will be 11 months (the others will then be between 18 months and 3 years). I agree with what Playfelt said...there is a big difference between a 12 month old and an 18 month old. I am more likely to draw a distinction there instead of at 2. By 18 months they are walking well (usually), able to follow some intructions, understand a lot if not most of what you say and can talk a bit (or a lot depending on the child). I had three 12 month olds at the same time this past winter and they are all becoming toddlers now...it is easier in some ways but harder in others. I have to say having three 15-16 month olds at the park keeps me hopping...teaching them to stay in one area, not to climb play structures that are too tall, etc is tiring, but I know that a couple of months from now they will know the rules and it will settle down a bit. It is nice having them all close in age.