Starting a home daycare - need tips

[Lee-Bee]

1. Mine all nap in separate rooms, but it sounds like yours are started with a good amount of time in between start dates so you will have time to get each child settled into routine before the next child starts. Unfortunately with group care, at times, children just have to cry as you are out numbered. Think ahead, don't start habits you won't be able to continue when the next child starts (rocking until asleep etc). Help the children learn to settle on their own. In the same room have them as apart as you can, have lots of white noise (fans, noise machines etc). Even the most difficult nappers can learn to sleep in a group setting...it just takes time and patience.

2. Mine all have full cribs, if space is an issue then playpens for cure. Don't add the trouble of teaching a 13month old to stay on a mat when having them settle into daycare!!! Wayyyy too much work for you!

3. I started preparing it the night before. Now that they nap good I make the food at nap time for the next day. So on Monday during nap I make my families supper for Monday which is also lunch on Tuesday. If Monday was a chaotic day and I couldn't make the food then I do it in the evening. I would NOT expect to be prepping food the day of when helping three young children adjust to group care. They need attention and my group still (five kiddos 13-18months) go running to the table when they see me head that way to warm up the food. If I had to actually cook it they would be melting down waiting. They are just starting to be able to self entertain enough to play while I prep the food...but not there yet.

4. After the kids eat they get wiped down and are given their cups. They drink (and play with their cups) while I quickly wash the floor and table. I then set them free to play while I do a good clean up (usually rewash the floor and put stuff away). Do NOT expect them to play while you do the clean up at first...they run right back to you (through the food). I learned that lesson the hard way before I started keeping them in their chairs with their cups.

5. My daughter hasn't started this yet...just try to give lots of hugs and cuddles throughout the day and deal with it as it arises.

6. I have a low table (18" high and 72" long by 30"wide) from a daycare supply store. I also have all kids in Chairies (9"). Four out of 5 kids can now climb into their chairs themselves, I still buckle them in and will for a long time coming as it contains them. They love the independence of their chairs. When I unbuckle them all 5 know how to reach forward, hold the table, push their chair back and stand up. Again this independence is awesome for them and saves me having to lift 5 kids in and out of chairs many times a day.

Stock up on your favorite treats now. I had so much pop and chocolate those first weeks as reward of really, really hard days. You will likely second guess yourself and think 'what have I done' and 'my poor child' but you will soon fall into routine and see how great a job this is and how great it is for your child. My 15month old LOVES having her friends come each day and she has learned so much from them. It was hard at first but is now smooth going for the most part.