https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 17:00:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1443274 Sun, 23 Feb 2014 00:02:02 +0000 yoursilverlining 1443274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it was a rare occurrence, I wouldn't mention it. As long as you trust your daycare, it's likely that they were short staffed due to any number of reasons (especially true this time of year!) and moving floaters around, or that the other teacher had just stepped out of the room for a moment. This is sometimes (rarely) the case for us at dropoff, and I've never considered it "endangering" my child - such is life; people sometimes have to step outside the room for a few moments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1443247 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 23:30:54 +0000 googly-eyes 1443247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I haven't read all the comments, and I'm guessing I might be in the minority, but I wouldn't mention it after only seeing it once, especially based on the response the teacher had when you made a comment. If you mention it now, the teacher(s) might see your earlier comment as digging for dirt.. and they might just start avoiding you as much as possible. I'm basing this off of what I've seen old coworkers do. As crappy as they were for doing it I just wouldn't want to be that parent. </p> <p>Now if this was habitual I would ask the director. Above I was talking about a ONE time deal. If it were happening regularly I would honestly even consider changing daycares. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442604 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 12:36:51 +0000 BSB 1442604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good discussion! Favoriting this post for future reference.</p> <p>@Mrs. Lion: Thanks for that perspective!<br /> @MamaMoose: I like how your DH worded that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442594 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 12:21:16 +0000 dagret 1442594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know about your state, but in my state, the ratios being off, even if a teacher steps out of the room for a moment, is considered a MAJOR violation. I would be worried if they play it loose when parents are in and out of the room, what are they really like all day? My daycare will pull the assistant director and director out of their offices, or even the lunch lady, if the ratios aren't correct. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442522 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 10:44:38 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1442522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just an FYI, if there are multiple ages in the room the ratio goes by the youngest child. </p> <p>Drop off is tricky though. Daycares have to staff based on when they anticipate children arriving...so if 2 kids come in early that they weren't expecting it can throw the whole thing off. They can't have all of their staff there all of the time because it would be more than a 40 hour work week, so they have to try to stagger them the best they can. It isn't a perfect system. That doesn't excuse being out of ratio though...but it could be a possible explanation. Things happen. </p> <p>I would let the first time go, but if it happens again definitely talk to the director. It is their responsibility to make sure they are in ratio at all times. It is a really big deal. If a child was hurt the first thing they want to know is the ratio in the room. And if there are younger children in there, it is even more concerning. Ratios are already too big for what I would consider reasonable for a person to handle, especially when there is only one set of eyes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442516 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 10:39:38 +0000 sunny 1442516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I really like your wording! I will definitely use that next time! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442473 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 09:54:00 +0000 Modern Daisy 1442473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I might see that a ratio is off, but I know it won't stay that way for long is my point. I'm also pretty comfortable with how it's run since there are parents constantly filtering in and out at different times of the day. There is a ton of oversight going on, which is something I like about daycare in general. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442471 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 09:52:28 +0000 Modern Daisy 1442471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare staggers teacher arrival and departure so that on average for the first few and last few hours of the day the ratios might be a little off. But they are really good about covering rooms once they need to if a teacher is late or if kids arrive early or stay late. The director even will fill in when needed. And they have 'floater' teachers that move from room to room giving other teachers a break or filling in as needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442367 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 08:26:10 +0000 MamaMoose 1442367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's too late to say something without it sounding aggressive but you shouldn't hesitate to say something to the director in the moment! Our room is also a 6:1 ratio and any time M happens to be the 7th kid dropped off my husband will mention to the director on the way out that they're ready for another teacher in Toddler 1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442365 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 08:21:52 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1442365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This has happened to us. Our daycare puts all the kids in one room in the early morning. The ratio is for the youngest child there. After the second time this happened I just brought my daughter back up to the front desk and handed her to the front desk director. I told her they were out of ratio back in the classroom and my daughter would have to stay with her until another teacher arrived. Ratios are there for safety and I wasn't going to leave my child somewhere unsafe. We later talked to the director and they adjusted achedulea so the next teacher got in about 15 minutes earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442195 Sat, 22 Feb 2014 00:13:48 +0000 Freckles 1442195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know when i looked up the regulations for my province, they're more flexible during "pick up and drop off" times. But i would just ask the director about the room maximums and how they ensure that they have the right ratios. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442186 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:55:28 +0000 kjpugs 1442186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's completely possible that she had paged for another, or one was in the restroom, or something like that. Considering it was corrected when you got back, that's a good sign to me. I am wavering between if you should say something - not in an accusatory way but a concerned/question way. OR- if you should wait, observe, and if you see it again ever, say something. I think it just depends on your comfort level and your relationship with them, I think. You are right to wonder/worry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442181 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:40:33 +0000 kiddosc 1442181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our director has always been super receptive to any concerns we bring up. I wouldn't hesitate to have a conversation with the director whenever you feel something isn't right. They are responsible for your child and should care about your concerns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442177 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:36:23 +0000 NurseMommy 1442177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally say something. That's endangering my child. E ratios are there for a reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442146 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:21:11 +0000 sunny 1442146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: She just kind of mumbled "Yah". Maybe the a few of the other kids had just shown up right before me and they hadn't paged a 2nd teacher to come and help yet? </p> <p>@CupQuakeWalk: There definitely wasn't someone else there. The room is small enough that you can see the whole thing and I was there for at least 10 minutes because I was sticking labels on my LO's cups.</p> <p>@skibobrown: @mediagirl: Ya I think I'll wait and see if this happens again. If so, I'll email the director and just see what she says about the room being a 6-1 room. I'm not going to mention the legal limit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442128 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:02:57 +0000 mediagirl 1442128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Say something to the director first. If it happens again, report it. This happened twice to me and I reported it to the director the second time. She jumped on it immediately. I also noticed recently around the same time I commented on that, someone made a report to the state about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442090 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:34:19 +0000 skibobrown 1442090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you're worried about it, you could just mention to the director that you've noticed the ratios being higher than what they're supposed to be and wonder what's going on. I probably would mention it to the director if I saw a situation like that more than once. One time, and I'd give them the benefit of the doubt that someone just stepped out of the room, or there was an emergency. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442086 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:32:51 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1442086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe there was a teacher there?<br /> I know in our daycare, sometimes there will be 1 teacher to a room while the other steps out to possible take the trash out or take care of a child who needs help in the bathroom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442084 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:31:16 +0000 wonderstruck 1442084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What was her response when you said that? I'm just wondering if it's possible there was a second teacher who just stepped out of the room for a moment or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-parents-if-you-saw-an-illegal-ratio-at-daycare-would-you-report-it#post-1442083 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:28:26 +0000 sunny 1442083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This morning when I dropped off my LO at daycare, I noticed that there were 9 kids in the room (including her). The daycare promised me that the ratio for her room would be 6-1 (its even posted on the room information outside the door), but I wasn't sure what the state max was so I just kind of said "gosh, you have a lot of kids in the room all to yourself this morning hmm?". </p> <p>I realize it was a little passive aggressive but I didn't want to say something like "hey don't you know the school promised me that the max in the room would be 6-1". However, I just looked up our state regulation and the legal max is actually 7-1 for her age group (12 months - 29 months). </p> <p>I ended up having to go back to daycare an hour later because I forgot to bring her milk, and by that time there were only 7 kids in the room. </p> <p>Should I mention it to the daycare owner or the director that there were a lot of kids in the room this morning? I don't want to be threatening and I don't want to get her teacher in trouble. We just started at this daycare a month ago. However, I don't think they should have more than the state mandated # of kids per room. </p> <p>Would you say something? How would you say it? </p>