I'm curious and slightly worried about how to work everything out.We practice AP, gentle discipline, co-sleeping, and other "crunchy" aspects of parenting. Do you ever get chosen or turned down based on your parenting beliefs. How will it affect children who are parented much differently?
I lay down with my own son to put him to sleep now that he has weaned due to the pregnancy. I am worried that it will be difficult for him to sleep on mats or cots with other children around and me not able to lay down with him. How do you all manage sleeping?
I am not comfortable with CIO, CC, or most forms of sleep training and that's part of my reasoning for not taking infants. But, how do you get children ages 2-5 to sleep. Do you rub their backs, sing, what?
What problems have you encountered with your parenting methods working out logistically while providing care? I'm really just curious for other people's experiences and obstacles and how they work things out on a day to day basis.

I'm sure you'd find a wide variety of opinions here, but I think it's quite possible to combine the "crunchy" aspects you describe with family child care. And if you get chosen or turned down based on those beliefs, thank goodness. It'll be much easier for everyone if you find like-minded families. The families in my program definitely veer toward the crunchy side of things. (For example, I'm pretty sure 90% of my kids have co-slept to some degree or another, which--to read some of the other posts here--is completely appalling and unforgivable to many providers. To me, on the other hand, CIO is appalling.)

(argh; wrote a too-long reply. Will cut and paste into another reply...)

I've been teaching for 20 years, in public school, private child care, and at home. In all those settings, we patted/rocked/sang...whatever the kids needed to go to sleep. Pretty soon you figure out who needs what and how to work the logistics.

When I added my own daughter to the mix, I combined treating her like the other kids and giving her some extra mama-attention. For ex, during the work week she naps in the room with the other kids, but on the weekend in her room (in ours when she was younger). Until she was 2 or so, she'd sleep a while with them, then wake up in the middle of nap. I'd take her to the couch and we'd snuggle for the other half (she'd sleep; I'd read). I also sit with her first to sing/pat her to sleep. (Usually helping another kid with my other hand at the same time.)

I think this job is a pretty good match for my parenting philosophy. We are so lucky I can be with her all day!