We moved in November 17th and as a February 1st I am licensed! The pre license 2 hours long inspection was yesterday, I was allowed to have 5 infractions (that would need fixed by my 90 day unannounced visit) and they only found 1! I need a more sturdy gate blocking the stairs to my porch outside, the one I was using has been a bit beaten up by my dog. I am so excited to be able to start watching more kids, get food program money and feel legit!

After reading posts on here the last 9 months or so, I had a list of questions regarding rules I wasn't sure about, or to make sure my procedures for things were ok. Yea...almost every question was met by a blank stare. My hours of operation don't really matter. Infants can sleep with blankets. I am allowed to let me 2 year old run around upstairs by himself while I am downstairs with dcks all day???? not going to but I could...scary

The inspector also called my paperwork "Cute" and that is was "Adorable" how organized my forms and files were???!!! I might just be an angry feminist but that is the 3rd state employee to call my professionalism cute this year.

But I PASSED! so I will celebrate getting my license rather than grumbling about sexism grumble grumble

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Same here in Alabama. It's been almost 2 years since I've seen or spoken to my licensing agent. She licensed me and fell off the planet.

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So weird! And a little unnerving. Its not that I think the state should be telling me how to raise or supervise MY children, but I was truly shocked by what they didn't think was a big deal. As a provider I am grateful there a fewer hoops to jump through, but as a parent it makes me a little nervous.

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Inspections sounds so scary for some reasons even if you know your home is clean and safe! Maybe is the fact that our living depends on it.

I had a second inspection one year after the first (I think within the same month). I was told by other providers in the area that they come after a year then every two years.

Congratulation on passing! Celebrate it!

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Licensing only checks my paper work. Nothing else. They only come once a year too

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Inspections are scary. I was a wreck before it. We depend on this business too. I am the main bread winner for our family. My dh has a good job but due to his epilepsy sometimes has to take long stretches off without pay.

I am grateful and happy to have passed I really just hate the word cute for anything other than babies and shoes

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Really?! huh. I guess after my 90 day inspection I only have yearly ones too. I think I was most surprised by the lack of infant sleep rules. I have read some on here have very specific guidelines due to infant sleep.

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I had my initial inspection and then I get one once a year. It's sad. We have tons of rules.... But they only check paperwork. They have never asked to see my diaper changing area or to see kids sleeping or anything.
She literally checks my paper work and leaves.

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Don't worry, it IS coming soon to a state near you!
When I was first licensed it was similar to what you describe. My own kids napped upstairs and could play in their rooms when they were preschool age. My paperwork was a joke I was never cited. Never saw my licensor outside of re-licensing visits, etc.
I'd say it has changed a LOT in the last three years or so.

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I felt the same way when I had my unannounced visit a couple of weeks ago. He was here for only an hour and most of the time we were chatting. I was nervous at first because he had come by twice last month when I had no dcks. After he left, dh said that's it?

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I was curious how that would work, if I didn't have any dcks. I mean if I had closed for a sick day or something... huh Glad it went well for you

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I'm in UT too!

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I believe UT regs are no blankets in a crib until 12 months...that's what I have always followed

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Same here!

That's back when I would get offended that I'd put so much work and time into getting the daycare up to regs, and they didn't even care to check out all my hard work. ....

Now here I am wishing for the old days

You never realize what you've got til it's gone!


Take a look at the bright side.......You are going over and beyond what they are requiring of you by their reg standards. A good way to shine your daycare above the standards of others in your area, and get more business.

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You will get one announced inspection and one un-announced each year . A kitchen inspection every other year. A yard inspection every year.

I don't know where you are at, but I am in south Utah County. I understand from meetings/other providers that things run more smoothly down here that from the SLC office.

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Hi Meeko! Thanks for the info. I am in SLC and their office seems a bit bumpy. And I thought the rule for infants would be like you said, but I asked when they were here to double check and they said there was NO rule , I haven't had a chance to review the regs, I am hoping she was wrong... When I asked for clarification on safe sleeping for infants she said there were absolutely no guidelines other than that they are put in an approved bed (crib/pac n play) but blankets, swaddling, sleep sacs etc are in regulated.

I am going to count my blessings, I would rather be too careful in a less regulated state, than have to deal with the extreme oversight some of you providers deal with.

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While being able to let your 2 year old run upstairs by himself seems crazy... I like that they let you as the parent make the judgement call of when it's okay. The first answer I got in California was that your own children can't even go in 'off limit' areas with their other parent during day care hours until they are 10.
Now the current analysts are handling it the way you describe in my area

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I have been in business since 2004 and I've seen someone from licensing 3 times. I'm in California and my licensing agent told me that what they do for family child care is randomly pull 25% of them into a "raffle" each year and then choose something like 10% of those to visit. I've gone years without an inspection.

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I'm in Utah county too (and new to this board, so I don't know my way around here!).

I find that things are run pretty strictly here. Honestly, if it were any more strict, I'd probably run legal, unlicensed.

My inspectors always ask to see things like my diaper area and to watch me change a diaper (that's at annual announced visit). I always seems to have things to change up after a visit.

The inspectors don't come in if there are no dck here.

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Welcome to the board Yes, I mean there are pages upon pages of rules obviously and it seems we do get more visits than some states. I think the Salt Lake office is restructuring or something, it just seemed jumbled wishy washy.

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Welcome! I used to be the only Utah member (or at least actively on the forum)! Nice to have some more here!

I've been licensed in Utah for nearly 20 years and Oklahoma before that. Utah county licensing reps are pretty good. They rotate and so I have had them all. Linda is my current one.

Joyce Hastings is the training and rules specialist down here and I have known her for about 18 years. She knows the regs inside and out and up and down and is THE perfect person to call is you have any questions at all about the regs. It is better to call her than call your licensing rep.

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