Well, definately remember this for the future..when you are talking to new parents and explain the age you take, DO NOT deviate from your age limit, 12 MONTHS AND UP. no if ands or buts. that being said, chances are 7 months or 12 this child would be crying no matter what, just you are upset over the age thing right off the bat! so that makes the crying even harder to deal with, at 12 months they definately have more abilities, completely understand your age choice, but at 12 months they still "cry like a baby". I wouldnt know if I would be willing to have a parent inform me that I HAVE TO go by their home sched. if the baby was a tiny infant of course you have to go by the babies needs. period. but when any child comes in to my home not only do I take their care into MY hands because I am the one providing it (with respect to the parents concerns) but I also inform the parents from the start, I not only have their child to care for but a house of others...things need to go by MY schedule or this wont work. I just had a new baby start a few months back and explained to the mother when she was still pregnant the importance of the sched being followed here, she napped her baby (tried) on our sched and also napped the baby in noise every day to make it easier on HER and US!!! yay! parents like that are great! you do need to be upfront with these people right away and if they cant comply you may have to tell them its not working. (for the simple fact of the 5 month gap in your required age limit)