It's really nice that you don't have to get too many children into your care and stress yourself out with a lot of children. You have a good plan to start slowly but ideally I like to have all children start with me at a very young age so that they learn my rules and are not coming in at an older age with bad habits learned at another daycare.

However, I did just accept a 2.5 year old boy this summer who was treated badly at a daycare centre and he turned out to be wonderful and I just started a new 1 year old boy who is doing nothing but screaming nonstop, so you just never know!!!

I think you hit the nail on the head. Everything about our business is a leap of faith and the gosh darn luck of the draw! Ok, I always warn that one of the great lessons I've learned is that we are two people: nurterers for the children but strict businesswomen with the parents. Go with your gut, use your instincts, but at the interview ask many questions about the parents ideas about raising their child and make sure it jives with your philosophies. Make sure the child is not uncontrollable and get the parents to make sure their child is on your napping and mealtime schedule before joining your daycare. It's really important.