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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>What Age Does Your State Consider An Infant ?
blandino 09:05 PM 03-26-2013
In OK we can have 7 children with no more than 2 under the age of 2.

So basically licensing considers anyone under 2 to be taking up an "infant spot". I don't really understand using the age of 2 as a cut off, I think it's pretty arbitrary. To me 18 months makes a lot more sense, than equating the level of attention a 6 month old needs with that of a a 22 month old. If you consider daycare age range, typically we are looking at 0-4 years old - so the regulations state that 50% of the daycare aged population can only make up 28% of your daycare enrollment - which causes an extreme shortage of infant openings. Sorry for the digression, you can tell this is a spot of frustration for me and for parents seeking infant care.

So I was just curious how everyone else's states break down age ranges...
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itlw8 09:39 PM 03-26-2013
infant is under one but we can only have 2 under 2 and considered infant/ toddler. they have to set it somewhere and 2 is it here even if the child has special needs and is at the level of an infant and can not walk.

yes always a short supply and the most calls.

I can have 10 with 2 under 2 or 6 with 3 under 2
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Play Care 02:59 AM 03-27-2013
Originally Posted by blandino:
In OK we can have 7 children with no more than 2 under the age of 2.

So basically licensing considers anyone under 2 to be taking up an "infant spot". I don't really understand using the age of 2 as a cut off, I think it's pretty arbitrary. To me 18 months makes a lot more sense, than equating the level of attention a 6 month old needs with that of a a 22 month old. If you consider daycare age range, typically we are looking at 0-4 years old - so the regulations state that 50% of the daycare aged population can only make up 28% of your daycare enrollment - which causes an extreme shortage of infant openings. Sorry for the digression, you can tell this is a spot of frustration for me and for parents seeking infant care.

So I was just curious how everyone else's states break down age ranges...
It's the same in my state. For *most* children I agree that 2 seems a little "old" for the cutoff and 18 months makes more sense. And of course the majority of the calls are for the under 2's...
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BumbleBee 03:02 AM 03-27-2013
6 kids total

2 under 18 months

2 between 18 & 30 months
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MrsSteinel'sHouse 04:04 AM 03-27-2013
In ohio 6 total, 3 can be under 2. I agree on the 18 mo that is the cut off for the infant pay rate from the state. However, right now I have 4 two yr olds here most days and I would rather have 4 infants!! They are harder!
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Springdaze 04:12 AM 03-27-2013
I think here its 2 under 1 and 3 under 2. we can only have 5 regardless
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LK5kids 04:36 AM 03-27-2013
WI 8 total with 1 child under 2

7 total with 2 under age 2 plus one school age less than 3 hrs. Per day

5 total with 3 under age 2 plus 3 school age

4 total if all under age 2 with two school age less than 3 hours

I agree with two being old for the cut off!
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Meeko 05:10 AM 03-27-2013
I am licensed for 16. But only 4 of those can be under two years.

I get calls daily for infants. We live in an area with two large universities close together. Brigham Young University (about 34,000 students) and Utah Valley University (about 33,000 students)

Our county (Utah County) is one of the "youngest" in the nation with oodles of young couples and babies. About 11.5% of Utah is under 5 years old. CCRR tells us it's just fact that there are way more babies than there are places available.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...US.html?pg=all This an old article, but it's still the same situation.

We have asked about lowering the age to 18 months too. Because of the shortage of spaces for babies, desperate parents resort to illegal daycare places....more of which are popping up.
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Brooksie 05:13 AM 03-27-2013
8 kids total, only 2 kids under 2 no matter how many adults are employed.
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CedarCreek 05:25 AM 03-27-2013
6 kids under 5 are allowed with 2 being under 2.

This is for a registered daycare home in Texas.
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ABCDEFG 05:26 AM 03-27-2013
We can have 3 under 2, if we have 5 under 5. If we have 6 under 5, than we can care for only 2 under 2.5.
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MamaBearCanada 05:35 AM 03-27-2013
2 under 2 years in a mixed group, 3 under 2 if that's all you take. You must include your own in that.
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Texasjeepgirl 05:37 AM 03-27-2013
TEXAS
Infant is 0-17 months..

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EntropyControlSpecialist 05:37 AM 03-27-2013
18 months and younger is considered infant, I believe. I don't care for infants so I'd have to double check.
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williams2008 06:09 AM 03-27-2013
Originally Posted by blandino:
In OK we can have 7 children with no more than 2 under the age of 2.

So basically licensing considers anyone under 2 to be taking up an "infant spot". I don't really understand using the age of 2 as a cut off, I think it's pretty arbitrary. To me 18 months makes a lot more sense, than equating the level of attention a 6 month old needs with that of a a 22 month old. If you consider daycare age range, typically we are looking at 0-4 years old - so the regulations state that 50% of the daycare aged population can only make up 28% of your daycare enrollment - which causes an extreme shortage of infant openings. Sorry for the digression, you can tell this is a spot of frustration for me and for parents seeking infant care.

So I was just curious how everyone else's states break down age ranges...
It's also the same for my state.
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Blackcat31 06:19 AM 03-27-2013
birth - 12 months is infant
day of 1st birthday to 24 months is toddler
day of 2nd birthday to 5 is considered preschool

School age is any child who is 5 yrs old on or after May 1st before Kindy attendance, even if they do not enroll until the next year.

For example, I have a DCB who won't turn 5 until August 25th but is considered school age on May 1st, even though he is only 4 because he will be Kindy eligible for the Fall.

My ratios are no more than 4 under age 2 and of those 4 no more than 3 shall be infants.

Depending on the ages of the kids in care, a second adult may or may not be required. For example, if I have 5 preschoolers, I can have more under 2 kids.

If I have more than 5 preschoolers then that changes the number of under 2's I can have.
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jenn 06:24 AM 03-27-2013
Kansas allow 3 under 18 months (in a home setting with one adult).
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blandino 06:31 AM 03-27-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
birth - 12 months is infant
day of 1st birthday to 24 months is toddler
day of 2nd birthday to 5 is considered preschool

School age is any child who is 5 yrs old on or after May 1st before Kindy attendance, even if they do not enroll until the next year.

For example, I have a DCB who won't turn 5 until August 25th but is considered school age on May 1st, even though he is only 4 because he will be Kindy eligible for the Fall.

My ratios are no more than 4 under age 2 and of those 4 no more than 3 shall be infants.

Depending on the ages of the kids in care, a second adult may or may not be required. For example, if I have 5 preschoolers, I can have more under 2 kids.

If I have more than 5 preschoolers then that changes the number of under 2's I can have.
See I like how your rules at least differentiate between an under 2, and an infant. For us there is no differentiation, and I just find that absurd. A cut off at 12 or 18 months I would understand.
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MCC 07:11 AM 03-27-2013
If I am correct (slightly confused by this at the moment) We can have 4 under 2 if that's all I take. If it's a mixed group the children are given points.

newborn-16 months = 4pts
16-24month = 3pts
24-4years = 2 pts
4+= 1pt

I have to be under 16pts/provider.

If anyone else is in Virginia and can confirm this that would be great.
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blandino 07:28 AM 03-27-2013
Originally Posted by MCC:
If I am correct (slightly confused by this at the moment) We can have 4 under 2 if that's all I take. If it's a mixed group the children are given points.

newborn-16 months = 4pts
16-24month = 3pts
24-4years = 2 pts
4+= 1pt

I have to be under 16pts/provider.

If anyone else is in Virginia and can confirm this that would be great.
I really really like that system !
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MCC 07:43 AM 03-27-2013
Originally Posted by blandino:
I really really like that system !

Yeah, me too. It seems really fair, and is manageable. I only take kids under 4, so it allows me to have a good amount of kids, and still keep them all young.
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Country Kids 07:43 AM 03-27-2013
Infant-six weeks to 12 months
Toddler-12 months-3 years
Preschooler-3 years-Through completion of Kindergarten

We are also only allowed 2 children under the age of 2. I think that is fine and just right for providers. I think anymore then that and you aren't able to take care of the individual needs of the wee ones.
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wdmmom 07:43 AM 03-27-2013
Iowa is confusing. We can have 5-16 I believe depending on how you are licensed.

As for younger ones:

No more than 4 children under 24 months.. No more than 3 may be 18 months or younger in age.

Providers own preschool age children are included in the total count.
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MarinaVanessa 09:33 AM 03-27-2013
I'm in CA. Infants are 0-2 years here also. I'm licensed for 8 and can have:

8 kids if 2 are infants, 4 are 2+, 1 is age 6 and attending kindy and 1 is 1st grade or higher.

6 kids if 3 are infants+ and 3 are 2+ years

4 kids if they are all infants 0-2 years

My kids count towards my ratio
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Unregistered 11:49 AM 03-27-2013
I'm in MA and licensed for 6. Without an assistant I can have 3 under 2 if 1 is at least 15 months old and walking unassisted (for evacuations). With an assistant, I can legally have up to 4 under 2, none of them need to be walkers.
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Crazy8 11:59 AM 03-27-2013
an infant is under 12 months. I think when I first started it was below 15 months. 12-24m is considering a toddler.

Our rules are confusing, because you can have certain # under 12 months, certain # under 2 years.

Our max limit is 5 kids but depending on their ages you may be limited to just 3 (under 12m) or 4 (under 24m). I'm always jealous of those of you with higher limits!
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