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In-home daycare with mix of toddlers and infant question??

angelrue522angelrue522 member
in Working Moms

So my DS 1 is turning 4 and currently in an inhome daycare where I believe he does not thrive. We are currently looking for a center that offers a preschool program. In the mean time I have another on the way and and will have to put him in daycare as well. My concern is....

In the current in-home daycare there one provider,  5-6 toddlers and one infant ( 3 months ). The little infant is always on the floor on the bouncy seat or on his blanket with all the other toddlers running around like crazy. I have seen some of the younger ones poking the baby and playing with the baby's head at times when the provider was out of the room. I just am so worried the baby would get hit with a toy or stepped on by a child. I cant afford a center with only babies becasue they charge like 180 per week.

Do you think this is normal practice for in home daycares with a mixture of children or do you think the baby should be segregated in a different area? What measures does your in-home daycare take to protect their infants? How can I have peace of mind leaving my baby where there are toddlers all around him?

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Re: In-home daycare with mix of toddlers and infant question??

  • MrsSRMrsSR member
    I'd say something.  When DD was an infant she was either in DCP's carrier or sleeping in a different room with the monitor on.
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  • Cheerio BCheerio B
    Even if that were normal for in home daycares (and I can't believe that it is) it's absolutely not acceptable. The infant should have a SAFE space to roll and learn to crawl without toddlers running around. And if the baby is on the floor the provider should never leave the room. Period. Toddlers shouldn't have free access to an infant, they are too young to understand what they are doing and how it can hurt.
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  • SilliRySilliRy
    I agree with everything PP have said...but also, that's just way too kids! I would not be comfortable with 7 kids and one provider. What happens when DCP has to use the restroom? Thats just dangerous IMO for many reasons.
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  • lujainlujain member
    That does not sound normal or right.  Our in-home daycare provider separates the kids at times for safety.  For example, if an older kid is playing with a toy with small parts that a younger kid could choke on, the older kid plays in a separate area.
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  • QueSrahQueSrah member
    As an infant, DD always came home smelling like perfume and I'm pretty sure it's because one of her DCPs held her for a good chunk of the day while supervising the older kids.  The babies get to watch the toddlers for a good chunk of the day, but babies only get floor time when the older ones are napping or otherwise not around to trample them.  I never had an issue with the type of mixed groups I observed, but I don't think I'd be cool with the provider stepping out of the room and leaving a little one on the floor with older kids.  I don't know how to make you feel comfortable about a situation you clearly don't like.  Is there another in-home you can look at that might be more to your liking and still affordable? 
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  • Jills83Jills83 member

    As far as I know, our in-home DCP wouldn't leave my son on the floor unattended when the other kids are in the room.  She held my DS a lot before he was mobile and would only put him on the floor if she was sitting right next to him or doing tummy time with him. 

    If the older kids were playing with toys that weren't safe for a baby or being extra rowdy, she would put DS in the bouncy and out of the "line of fire."

    She used the bouncy seat a lot, but she would move the seat within her sightline if she had to do other things.   

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  • sabrina69barnessabrina69barnes member

    I wouldn't be comfortable with this daycare. The provider shouldn't be out of the room if the baby is going to be left alone with toddlers. It also sounds like she has too many kids.

    I do at home daycare. On most days I just have DS2 (2), a little boy who is 2, and a little girl who is around 3mo. I NEVER leave the baby alone with the toddlers. The baby is either in a carrier, bouncer, or swing when the toddlers are running around. She gets floor time during their naps, lunch time, and when they are doing an activity. If I have to leave the room to use the restroom she goes in her bassinet which is right outside the bathroom door so I can see her. As she gets more mobile and I have my next LO I will have to modify things but I still wont be leaving babies alone with toddlers.

    I don't think the kids need to be segregated but they should all be getting time to safely play in an age appropriate way. It doesn't sound like they are.

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