https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:41:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2816008 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:25:19 +0000 FaithFertility 2816008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: My best friend! She goes to her church, and her daugter and niece went there and I was always amazed and all they did and her love!!!! So minute I got PG with DD I held a spot, I thank God for her every day!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2816006 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:13:13 +0000 Jennibenni 2816006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all for the responses! I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner, I was taking in all of your viewpoints and thinking about my own feelings after the visit. I really did not feel it was the right place to leave my baby but I wondered if I should just give it a try. While I was waiting for call back from her references, I got a call that a spot had opened for DS at a center and he is starting there next week! I feel very comfortable with this decision, thanks for all of your input. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814477 Thu, 05 Apr 2018 09:18:29 +0000 josina 2814477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS has attended 3 in-home centers.<br /> The first she had a separate entrance into a basement that was entirely devoted to the daycare and was really nice. It was in the country so she had lots of area for the kids to play outside, the kids were almost always outside when we picked him up.<br /> I had a back-up daycare that was on the main floor of a house, she had babygates up to divide the spaces but it was pretty cramped for space. DS did not like it here, I think too many kids and not enough quiet space.<br /> Our current daycare which we love is in an older home that is not impressive at all, it's in the basement and is in the family's main living space, but she is super clean and organized. My kids are rarely sick because she sanitizes everything. She runs a strict schedule, everyone naps and is happy, there is lots of outside play space.</p> <p>I would be most concerned about cleanliness and safety (no pools, dogs, kids can't run out onto a street). And then what kind of schedule she sets for the kids and activities, etc.</p> <p>ETA: I live in a rural area so there aren't many options! When DS was born centers were full, there is one we could probably get into now but the convenience (close to home) and price of the in-home wins out for us. And we love her, so there's that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814476 Thu, 05 Apr 2018 09:14:37 +0000 snowjewelz 2814476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I so agree with you. I so wanted to love the home care because it was SO much cheaper, but it's worth paying and arm and a leg now at a center where I get peace of mind for myself. And that's not to say that the home care is not safe! I just do so much better with concrete structure, specific policies, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814445 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 22:19:11 +0000 Hypatia 2814445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: How did you find this unicorn?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814411 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 20:18:56 +0000 FaithFertility 2814411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennibenni: DD and DS go to an in home sitter she is certified and licensed </p> <p>Her home is medium sized and we walk up the side of the house to her back yard which is gated with a 6ft chain link fence<br /> We enter through the back porch/ florida room area which has toys and outside chairs there is a sliding glass door that leads to the back room that is converted into a class room with a kidney table chairs rug and walls that would model a center<br /> It is bright and colorful<br /> The kids nap in that room and babies nap in her dinning room if need be..less noise and in PNP<br /> It is an amazing set up and we are so blessed to have her<br /> They watch no TV... play outside and in sun room... She had a play structure but last hurricane took that down :(<br /> She runs just like a center had kiddos on a curriculum and has 6 kids 2/6 are my DD (3) and DS (17 months)<br /> She does crafts water play paints you name it..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814407 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 20:02:42 +0000 Hypatia 2814407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My priorities would be no TV/movies and lots of time outside. Crafts or hands on play experiences (water table, etc.) would be a big bonus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814363 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 16:27:03 +0000 Pollywog 2814363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My home daycare uses an in-laws suite of their house for kids over 6 months. There are three rooms: a play room, a nap room, and a mud room/meal room. Then there's a huge fenced in back yard. Kids are only allowed upstairs if they are infants (and on different schedules) or if they are doing an activity like cooking. </p> <p>I looked for light and for the amount of activities available. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814361 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 16:23:44 +0000 gingerbebe 2814361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennibenni: I would say with childcare, just trust your gut. It doesn't really matter what the environment is - childcare is about fit. I also live in an area with tough childcare choices. </p> <p>There were NO openings around us and we miraculously got DS1 into this in-home daycare highly recommended by our friends who had used this family for years and years. They had like 20 years experience, made homemade food for the kids, took them outside to the park, were bilingual with Spanish, the home was set up fine, and my son always seemed perfectly happy there....But it just didn't fit my expectations of what his childcare situation should look like. We went with it because we really had no options, but we ended up having to pull him abruptly about 6 months later for a separate issue and then got him into our current daycare.</p> <p>Can I just tell you that from the minute I stepped foot on the campus, I literally felt a sense of relief like YES, this is what I pictured?? Its a small church-run daycare, the facilities aren't fancy or big, and it isn't this high-end place at all. But in my mind when I imagined daycare, this was it. All of the teachers were so warm and loving, they knew every single child by name, it has a diverse school body (relatively speaking for our area), and DH and I just agreed this is how we both pictured it. We have both kids here now and we're totally happy. It just fits and feels normal to us and now we're on the board of directors. </p> <p>So, even if you have to go with something you don't LOVE right now, keep looking and hopefully you find something that lines up with your gut. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814357 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 16:19:23 +0000 Corduroy 2814357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennibenni: In addition to what others have said I found I really like that my current DCP’s front door opens into the day care space. I can see the kids at drop off and pick up and I know every other parent does too. We went to a place for a while where you could only see the hallway. The DCP brought the kid up to the door. I felt like I had no idea what was going on in that place and we left quickly (for other reasons). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814320 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 15:05:11 +0000 codeitall 2814320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our first in-home daycare... was interesting. It was in a nice home, they had a backyard play area, a room for older kids to play in the walkout basement and a well-lit room on the main floor for the younger kids. She was a very nice lady who hit it off great with my son. All was well. Until it wasn't. She had an open door policy and after knocking and walking in, she was asleep on the couch. Another time, I saw a strange handyman walking around the house while she was talking to her husband in their bedroom, away from any of the kids. We made the choice to pull my son out and stick him with a friend while we looked for another place. A couple weeks later, she closed permanently; her husband apparently had a heroin relapse and the landlord was kicking her out :shocked: </p> <p>After that, we saw 8 different daycare centers/homes. Not only did I focus on the environment, but I really scrutinized the providers carefully. I did checks on the county records to see if they owned their home, checked the daycare licensing records, and quizzed them pretty relentlessly. The only one I liked had decided to shut her home daycare down to launch a center and I didn't like that environment at all.</p> <p>When we finally found our current place, I needed a translator because I don't speak Spanish well enough to have the right childcare vocabulary, but I left knowing it was the right place. Good neighborhood, big windows for light, lots of playtime outside and very physically affectionate, which was quite important for DS. They both had really good credentials, one had been an elementary school speech pathologist, the other a teacher in a primary school. They owned their home and had for years, there were no reports of crime on crimereports.com and we liked them.</p> <p>All of that to say that you really need to focus on both the home and the provider (and their family!). Learn from my mistakes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814311 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:55:43 +0000 Mrsbells 2814311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids have never done an I home daycare but my expectation would be to see well lit, well ventilated space with visible child safety features like gates on stairs and kitchens and outlet covers.<br /> ETA also would love to see that shoes are removed before entering certain play areas </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814303 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:41:22 +0000 crazydoglady 2814303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son has been in three different in-home daycares since 6 months and he is nearing 2.75. </p> <p>A daycare should be a place children want to be. This isn't babysitting, it's full-time care. </p> <p>This is what I look for:<br /> -- ample space<br /> --light and bright<br /> --access to outdoors<br /> --preschool follows a curriculum of some sorts and a schedule<br /> --DCP have strong behavioral expectations and implement teaching expectations<br /> --relatively healthy meals<br /> -- good number of children<br /> -- good vibe<br /> -- clean, orderly, safe </p> <p>So much of it is your gut feeling about a place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814292 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:30:00 +0000 JCCovi 2814292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids go to an in-home preschool. The house is small and it doesn’t look at all like a center. It is well lit though, there is a great outdoor space, and the providers are great. We’ve been very happy with the program but I imagine the small house (that is clearly also a home) would be a turn off for some people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814287 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:24:07 +0000 snowjewelz 2814287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mean, while home daycare cannot be compared with a center, I feel like impressions do matter. I wouldn't want my kids to spend their days in a dark place, </p> <p>Homecare was a big contender and the one we visited, the split level was covered into the daycare and it was bright and clean. It wasn't the most updated/modern but in my head it's more or less what a home daycare would look like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814284 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:20:23 +0000 Truth Bombs 2814284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A small dark place would be a deal breaker for me. My children spend 9 hours a day, 5 days a week at their day care. When we narrowed it down to our two top choices, it was actually the facilities that made the difference for me. One day care was in small dark temporary buildings on the campus of a private elementary school, and the other was in a brand new building that was bright and open. I just said to myself that I certainly wouldn't want to spend most of my day in a dark closed in space, why would I make my kids do it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814273 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:54:05 +0000 Ajsmommy 2814273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids go to an in home. Her home is average sized. We go in through the garage and the door opens into her living area that has a couch and a big chair and then toys in shelving units. She has a baby swing and a play mat out. Then there is a step up and its into her kitchen. She has a table with chairs and that's it. It is bright and tidy. It's not brand new or anything. She has a yard that is fenced and they go out when it is nice. They nap in other parts of the house, babies in cribs/pnp's upstairs and bigger kids in the room off the kitchen in sleeping bags. </p> <p>We felt right at home when we first visited. We knew we liked her.</p> <p>Just to clarify we visited another in home daycare and we KNEW we didn't like it right away. It was same type of house, not too new but not too old, however the room that the kids were in was cramped and had "too" much stuffed in it. You had to walk through their home to get to the kids room and their whole house was cluttered. Not messy or dirty just cluttered. She showed us her back yard and it had piles of wood and a metal pipe sticking up and dogs. As soon as we left this place we called the other one and took the spot.</p> <p>All that to say that you should follow your gut. And if you aren't quite sure, go back again... see if anything changes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814266 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:41:58 +0000 Silva 2814266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We loved our in-home daycare. She lived in the small house with her four children. You entered into a mudroom that had an area just for daycare kids- a nature table, a bench, and hooks for each kid, plus the sign out sheet. Walked into the living room/dining of the house, which was the daycare area. There was a futon and a wall mounted television, but she covered the t.v. with a cloth (no t.v. for the daycare). There was a dining table that I assume her family ate at, but she usually pushed it up against a wall, and then there was a kids table where the kids sat.<br /> The kitchen/rest of the house was gated off. For handwashing/bathroom the kids went into the other part of the house. She had a huge backyard. </p> <p>It was an older home but she kept it tidy and obviously took pride in making sure it was a nice space for the kids. We chose her because her philosophies on education/early childhood were similar to ours, we had solid recommendations for her, and our basics were checked (outdoor time was a priority, open ended toys, no t.v.). Her home felt safe and inviting. I want to stress it wasn't fancy (older carpet, linoleum, that kind of thing).</p> <p>We looked at one that was obviously not for us, the main play area was in the basement. It was only part of the reason it wasn't a good fit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814265 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:38:26 +0000 Dahlia 2814265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is at an in-home daycare. The house is in a good neighborhood, and fairly newish and light. They mostly hang out in the finished basement, although they go upstairs sometimes. In contrast, the center DD was at before (and that we were unhappy with) was in an older building that was falling apart. </p> <p>I wouldn't worry about old, but more the condition of the house. Is there room for the kids to run around when they're older? Is it safe? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814262 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:32:18 +0000 Sams Mom 2814262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The in home daycare my son was in from 11 weeks to 9 months was in a nicer neighborhood. She had baby gates blocking off the hallway and the kitchen. The only places they had access to was the kitchen during meals (eat in kitchen), the living area, dining room, and the playroom (meant to be a study, bedroom, or office) off of the living room. She set up the older kids cots in the living room for nap time, and the babies (max of 3) had their playpens set up with one in her room, one in the guest room and one in her teenage daughters room so they could have quiet since they napped more during the day. It was bright and open. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-expectations-for-a-home-daycare-environment#post-2814258 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:20:34 +0000 Jennibenni 2814258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do you expect a home daycare environment to look like? </p> <p>The long version is we live in a small town with very limited infant care options. Only a handful of daycare centers accept babies under 1, and the ones that do have waiting lists a mile long. Home daycares stay full as well. Our first son didn’t start daycare until 14 months because that was how long it took to make it off of a waiting list. </p> <p>Anyway, DS2 is five months and I got a call about an opening with an in home daycare. I went to visit yesterday and I was underwhelmed. The house was older, tiny, it felt dark inside. I guess in my head I was expecting it to look like a daycare center except in someone’s living room, but I realize that may be unrealistic. </p> <p>My husband is less fazed and said people live in all kinds of houses and it’s the provider we should focus on, not her home. </p> <p>I’ve never visited any other in home daycare so I’m wondering what is “normal”, if anything. </p>