Starting a home daycare - need tips

[5 Little Monkeys]

1. Until they are adjusted, naptimes will likely be chaotic. I put them all down at the same time and hope for the best! I don't rock children to sleep but if needed I comfort them or sit in the room until they are sleeping. I slowly cut this out over a couple of weeks. I let them cry it out for the most part but if the crying goes on too long or too extreme than I find other ways to help them nap. Ask the parents what their routine for nap is at home. I now ask parents to prepare their child for group care napping and that means no more rocking them, giving them a bottle, letting them fall asleep in their arms etc.

2. I think for that age playpens are your safest option. I change them over to cots once they are around the 2 year old mark.

3. I do a lot of food prep on Sunday and Monday's. I cook most of the meals for the week so I just have to reheat and I cut up all my veggies and fruit so it's handy to grab

4. When I first started, I did lunch and than put them all to bed and than cleaned up. Now that I don't have any younger than 13 months, I clean them up and send them to the playroom to read stories and than I quickly wash the table, tidy up lunch and do the dishes. This also gives them time to poop before bed! lol

5. I don't have children of my own so I have no personal experience but I would suggest keeping some of your daughters most special toys separate. I think it's important that she knows some things are just hers and she can play with them when dc is over. Find times throughout the day to bond with just her. Maybe put her to bed last or wake her up first and have those cuddle moments for example.

6. When I had boosters and high chairs, I much preferred boosters as I find highchairs take up too much room. I now have a low table (its actually an IKEA coffee table) and the IKEA kritter chairs and even my 13 month old sits at it just fine. I love it!! Chairs with arms would be great but I don't know if I've ever seen those?

Good luck and have fun!!