WWYD if daycare was out of ratio?

CHI-06

When I dropped DD off today there were already 8 kids in the room and 2 teachers...the ratio should be 4 to 1.  I didn't really know what to do and I did still leave her there.  Just got to work now and thinking of calling the director?  She will probably just give me some excuse or say they'll send someone else in there but how would I really even know?  Usually there are only 8 kids total in her room...

Angela814

What time did you get there?  I found with our previous large center, there was usually a big group in one infant room until enough children arrived to separate rooms.  Usually with infants there is a max of 8 children per room I think, so as soon as that 9th child arrived, the older infants were moved to their room.  There were often times when we arrived just as they were moving to the next room.  I don't think it would hurt to call the director and ask about their policy.

CHI-06

There is only one infant room...the next room up is toddlers 15mo+

I dropped her off about 8:30am.  Maybe one of the kids was from the toddler room though?  I don't know...

dogmommy4now

Have you all had your children in daycare since after maternity leave?  We are TTC and this is the one thing I struggle with, as we both work full time.  I am very nervous about leaving a child that is too young to speak and tell me if something bad happens.  Can you please share your experiences?

Taylor44

This has happened at my DC before.  My DC staffs the rooms on the expected count at 9:00, but they also report their room numbers when someone arrives.  So when we arrived they called on the loud speaker that they now had 9 kids.  Honestly, I didn't stay to make sure another teacher arrived.  I like my DC, and I have no reason to believe they didn't rectify the ratio.  If you are concerned, I would just ask the director to review the policy with you.

molldoll71

If this is the first time it has ever happened and you have no other issues with his school - I wouldn't even think twice about it but if it has happened before or you have other things nagging you - I would call the director and ask what their policy is.

madhatter2003

this has happened at ours occasionally in the mornings. I'm usually the last drop-off and they are usually in the process of splitting the rooms up.  I know my DD still loves to go 'visit' the infant room as well sometimes so it's possible it was one of the toddlers over there.

But definitely call just to put your mind at ease   

Tygerli11y

I'm a little confused. Isn't 8 kids to 2 teachers still a 4:1 ratio?

CHI-06

Tygerli11y:

I'm a little confused. Isn't 8 kids to 2 teachers still a 4:1 ratio?

8 kids already in the room plus mine =9 kids to 2 teachers

jlw2505

Honestly, I don;t think its a huge deal at that time of time.  I know kids don't always get dropped off at the exact same time at my center so there are always a different number of kids and the staff come in based on the average time of drop off and leave like wise.  I know the directors always walk around from room to room and help where needed.  I would be worried if that was the case when you showed up mid day but it could just be that someone was running late or something.  If you see a pattern of this, then talk to the director.

tosababy

You could call the director now.

My m.o. (a couple of times when the teacher hasn't been making the move to call right away) is to say something right then and there.  Then they call the office and someone comes down. 

mrsmikey

I think at most centers it's somewhat common for that to happen first thing in the morning and last thing in the afternoon.  They try to staff based on when kids normally come and leave, but we all know that always changes.  At my center they also move kids around to meet ratios until more teachers come in.  I've never felt the need to say anything, b/c I've never been there when I though the teachers couldn't handle the number of children they had, and I knew it was probably only for a few minutes.

But, if you are concerned, I would just speak with the director to see what their policy is and how they deal with these situations.  Unfortunately centers can't afford to keep a full staff on from opening until closing, so they do the best they can during those early/late hours.

mrsnewlywed2005

ditto mrsmikey.  that happens quite a bit in the mornings during drop-off when kids arrive at various hours.  it doesn't bother me bc they'll call for backup w/in a minute or two of the drop-off. 

Luckystar2

mrsnewlywed2005:

ditto mrsmikey.  that happens quite a bit in the mornings during drop-off when kids arrive at various hours.  it doesn't bother me bc they'll call for backup w/in a minute or two of the drop-off. 

Ditto.  We've never seen ours out of ratio, but I trust my center that they wouldn't leave it out of ratio for more than a minute.  I know at ours they are constantly checking the ratios.  When I pick DD up, often times the assistant director is stopping in to check how many kids are in there and they are deciding if one of the teachers can leave for the day.  I know and trust them and know they really respect the ratio thing, so if the 9th kid got dropped off I'd expect that within a minute the ratio would be back to 4:1.  Our center does have the older kids come into the infant room in the early morning and late afternoon when the numbers in the infant room are low.

tiff16

I work at dd's daycare.  They start the day in 1 room and open rooms depending on when more kids and teachers arrive.  I wouldn't worry too much.

costfords

This happened one morning when I dropped dd off.  Thankfully the director literally works in the front entry so I could stop and talk on my way out.  She said that the ratio in the infant room is 4:1 or 9:2.  That means that by law they can have one more child in there when you double the child:teacher ratio.  Hopefully that makes sense to someone.  Anyway, it was happening when dd was moving up to the next room so I glad to see that she was moving out!

To make me always feel comfortable with my day care, I talk to just about everyone there.  DD's current teachers, her past teachers, the next room teachers, the director, even the cooks.  It makes me feel better that everyone is happy and completely concerned about the happiness of every child in the center.  And because of their attitude, they are very happy to answer any question that I have. 

 Don't be shy, ask questions.

pnstirling

Sometimes a baby from the waddler room will be in the infant room when I arrive w DD. ?They will just move the waddler back to the other room. Maybe that is what happened.