Do You Care for Infants?

[TaylorTots]

Do you care for infants?

If you do, what is your program age limit?

If you do NOT, what starting age do you offer care for?

[Annalee]

Originally Posted by TaylorTots

Do you care for infants?

If you do, what is your program age limit?

If you do NOT, what starting age do you offer care for?

The State requires infants be 6 weeks before beginning daycare in my state. I only take infant siblings at this time. Just too many restrictions when it comes to infants for me. BC has an awesome form about infants I share with clients before enrollment.

[TaylorTots]

Originally Posted by Annalee

The State requires infants be 6 weeks before beginning daycare in my state. I only take infant siblings at this time. Just too many restrictions when it comes to infants for me. BC has an awesome form about infants I share with clients before enrollment.

Oh she does? Hmm... Reopening in the late spring here and I'm debating.

[DaveA]

Same as Annalee I'm licensed from 6 weeks up.

[Jupadia]

Dont tend to take them, but most Canadians if working have at least 12 months of mat leave. I get a couple that may start at about 10 or 11 months. I would take them as young as 6 ish months though if I had a parent requesting.

[knoxmomof2]

I only keep 1 infant at a time and generally only a new sibling. Infants are a lot of work, unpredictable at times as far as schedules (bottles, naps, etc) and there's a lot of risk (SIDS) so I don't prefer to take them, but I only keep 4 children and I like to have 1 of each year, so it's kind of necessary at times.

I would have to really be comfortable with the family and desperate to fill a spot to take an infant from a new family though. I've taken as young as 8 weeks old and 4 months old from previous families. For new families, 6 months would be my minimum age.

[CountryRoads]

I do! I personally love having infants. Plus, when they start that young, it's easier to get them on your schedule.

I've had several of my kids now since they were 6-7 weeks old.

[Cat Herder]

I take children birth to six.

Few jobs here offer maternity leave. 3-7 days old is very common in care.

[Ariana]

Canadian here as well and the norm is 12 months, although now the mat leave has increased to 18 months so I am getting more of those requests so not exactly infants anymore.

[springvalley112]

In Alabama we can take them at six weeks of age

[Baby Beluga]

I am the odd one out, and don't accept infants. I am just too worried about SIDS.

I do. Usually, they start at 12 - 16 weeks old.
They stay with me up to 5yo. They know me and my rules as well as their parents. I know them pretty well too. I love it.

[jenboo]

I have an infant/toddler daycare.
I take babies 6 weeks to 24 months.

I am just reopening after a 2 year break. Once we have enough interest, my husband will join me at the daycare. We can take 10 kids under 2 with the both of us.

[gumdrops]

Originally Posted by Cat Herder

I take children birth to six.

Few jobs here offer maternity leave. 3-7 days old is very common in care.

You have babies as little as 3 days old
I would love that as a provider, but would hate that as a mother.

Originally Posted by jenboo

I have an infant/toddler daycare.
I take babies 6 weeks to 24 months.

I am just reopening after a 2 year break. Once we have enough interest, my husband will join me at the daycare. We can take 10 kids under 2 with the both of us.

we must have one adult for every two kids under 2yo.(((

[jenboo]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

we must have one adult for every two kids under 2yo.(((

That's crazy! How would anyone make an income on that.

[Cat Herder]

Originally Posted by gumdrops

You have babies as little as 3 days old
I would love that as a provider, but would hate that as a mother.

Unless parents plan ahead, save sick days and put money aside this is the outcome when you don't have paid maternity leave. Jobs with benefits are becoming harder to find. Many are going to 38 hours or less to avoid them; to be able to stay competitive with imports. Most healthy women are functional by day 3 postpartum.

I re-opened my daycare 3 days after giving birth (c-sections), too (twice). With $5800 out of pocket (upfront) per birth and $1500 per month bradycardia/apnea monitoring cost, even with insurance, (plus normal monthly bills) it simply made sense. I was as young, strong and healthy as I was ever going to be (24-26).

Many of my clients find themselves in similar situations if they don't have family willing or able to share some costs.

Originally Posted by jenboo

That's crazy! How would anyone make an income on that.

I have three adults here. So I can have 6 infants plus 7 toddlers.

[hwichlaz]

I take 0-school aged...
and I'll keep school aged if I raised them.

I prefer to get a newborn that stays with me until they outgrow me around 2nd grade.