Hi there!

I will be starting a home daycare in a few weeks, and by August I will have 2 12-month-olds as well as my daughter, who will be 15 months. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I have a couple of questions and concerns and would love some tips and advice for any or all of them if you have time:

1. How do you get 3 little ones down for a nap at the same time? I'm afraid one will start crying and wake up the other ones. Or maybe they need to be rocked to sleep, but I'll only be able to rock one at a time. I have a small home, so they will all be napping in the same room.

2. What do you think is best: playpens, those really low daycare cots (I've seen them on daycare supply sites) or mats?

3. Do you prepare meals the night before in case they don't nap well and you don't have time to do it during nap time?

4. How do you stay on top of the cleaning, especially after meals when there's food all over the floor and dishes to do?

5. I'm worried that this will be a huge adjustment for my daughter and heard that there may be jealousy issues. Has anyone experienced this, and do you have any advice?

6. For meal times, what is best: booster seats, high chairs, or a low table and chairs? Has anyone found low chairs with arms? I feel they'd be safer for this age group.

Thank you so much in advance. I've already got some excellent ideas for other questions from older posts, so I'm looking forward to hearing more great ideas.