I've always counted my own two in my numbers ...as it's what I can handle. I have had them all under the age of 2 and it's busy but I only ever took on what I could handle by staggering starts by xx months. Nine is way too many for me and wouldn't take that many to a park but only my backyard as there is no way she could keep her eyes on all those children- if they were hers or others.

I understand the benefit of regulating home daycares ~ there are many out there that don't follow any type of common sense and or regulations other than their own. They are the ones that give home daycare's a bad name 'babysitters' being one of them
I wouldn't want home daycares to be regulated- I have my own business for a reason, I run it as I want to. I do follow some of the daycare nursery act as in only having 5 children in my care at one time. Having said that, this will be the first year that my youngest will be full days every other day and she will be home 2 days a week which will be 5 daycare kids and 1 of my own. Again, though, it's what I know I can handle comfortably.
I think that it's also accountability of the parents to ensure they know where their children go.
There are some out there that are able to take on that many kids and I think it all comes down to what as a parent you want for your kids.