In-home Childcare Question - Garland,TX

I started an in home child care in 2000 when i had my first child. i now have 3 children. i can give you lots of tips, and hints. my email is ____@____.com and you can find my facebook if you have one. I dont have much time right now, and lots to tell you, but you can email me ?'s. or ill write back later
S.

I would suggest putting them on a schedule. The six week old will only eat and sleep, and not need much other attention. Good luck with everything

Your job fired you for being pregnant?? It's not time for a daycare, It's time for a lawyer or two. Sue their dumb butts and retire.
As for the daycare, babies will cry and sometimes just to cry-as mom of 5 I should know. Just run the checklist-fed, burped, diaper changed, not too cold or hot- and then hold them when you can. In those 5 kids is a set of twins. I managed to figure out how to hold 2 at a time. It can be done. God's blessings on you

I can't help you re. the new baby, but you probably should say no to that and keep your adult to child ratio low.

And I TOTALLY agree with the other poster re. getting an attorney and going after your former work place. At least talk to someone to see if you have a case with the information you have. I worked until 2 weeks before my due date, so unless you were a pole dancer (and even then, there are probably some guys that find pregnant women REALLY sexy), or they had legitimate reasons and for some odd reason used it as an excuse, that business has NO legal right to fire you.

Good luck in all you do!

I am so sorry about your loss- I have gone through 4 miscarriages and they are not fun in any way.
As for advice with more than one baby- well- there will be time when they will all want to be held at once! I would just sit on the floor and play with them. The other two will be older by the time the really little one comes. Make sure you have a baby swing!YOu don't have to hold them all the time(although- I'm a cuddler too and I love to hold babies!)You'll have to rotate a feeding schedule for the littlest- put that one down for a nap before you try to get the others down but you should be able to feed the older two at the same time if they are eating baby food by then- just have them in side by side high chairs(or I just used boucer seats). If they fall asleep better when you are holding them- it would be wise to invest in a baby backpack. I prefer the kind with a frame- they are easier to get on and off by yourself and more sturdy- this would be for the older ones. They were wonderful for my kids! And sometimes it was the only way I could get things done or get them to fall asleep!
It will be hectic while you get used to it- but I think you will also have a lot of fun with these babies! Good luck!
~C.

Hi K.-

Not sure what type of job you had, but if they fired you because you were pregnant, that is discrimination and a violation of the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. You should file a complaint with the EEOC. www.eeoc.gov

You are walking a tight rope when caring for someone elses children. When I had to work and leave my little guy, I wanted him to be happy to get to the caregivers and happy to come home at night. We had one lady who obviously loved my son dearly but she cuddled him so much that at pick-up time he cried to stay with her. So I was forced to find another sitter. She got deprived of his presents and he got deprived of her loving care. But a working Mom has enough other stress. So do be careful that you give them what they need but also what your Mom's need.
You will do them a better service if you can teach them to entertain themselves. Make sure they are OK physically, but can enjoy alone time. Picking them up all the time teaches them that crying gets you picked up.
My Gran told me once to never teach them something that you will need to break them of later.

Good luck to you and be sure to check into insurance to cover you in case of a problem. I say that not to scare you but so you will be prepared.

First off - I am sorry for your loss. I miscarried twins in January and its a heartbreak that I will never get over.
Second- Ive been running my own in-home child care for 2 years now, and I love every minute of it. The key to any successful child care is SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE! keep a schedule. It takes the kids a little bit of time to get used to it, but when they do it will help you keep your sanity. All of the kids follow the same schedules here, the only diff is, the little babies have 2 naps (one in the morning and one in the afternoons) while the older ones just have an afternoon nap. Yes they cry, and they will eventually want to be held at the same time, but you can sit on the floor, play with them, cuddle them, surround them with toys and music, and it all works out :)
However,I would follow the advise of one of the other ladies here - and do a trial basis first. You never know how many you can/cannot handle at once. Always do a 2 week- 1 month trail, and make sure the moms realize and understand why.
Good luck with your child care and good luck with any future kids! My husband and I are expecting our 2nd in a few short weeks- a true blessing after our miscarriage :)

Hi K.!
First I want to tell you I have been where you are today...my husband and I wanted children so much and after many years thought we were not going to be able to do to his past health issues with cancer...however we had been blessed with 2 beautiful boys we love with all our hearts!! What miracles they are...however in between the boys I had 4 bad miscarriages, what a heart ache!! So please know I am so deeply sorry for you and your husband! Keep your faith, keep praying and hoping!! With that said those children you watch over are blessed...you will have a deeper sense of appreciation for them. I understand about wanting to cuddle them and not have them cry but ...as I have a 4 year old and watch over a little girl that was 1, now I have a 5 yr old, that little 2 yr old girl and my 1 yr old the best advice I have for you...KEEP THEM ALL ON SCHEDULE!!! If you can have them all nap close to the same time it will help you!! Don't get too overwhelmed...Love on them as much as you want, they can never get enough of that!! :) But if you get frustrated everyone pays for it. Believe me they will get on your schedule you set for them and everyone will get what they need with play time and snuggle time too!!
As they all get older they will play around each other and you will have some freedom, just sit back and enjoy watching them interact, it is so sweet!

Truly having children of my own and blessed with a very sweet little girl I watch over...I know there is nothing more important than the care taker of one's child!!
I am so fortunate to be able to be at home with mine and can not imagine leaving them in anothers care but if I had to, you would be the one I would be looking for!!
Love and snuggle them but don't let yourself get too overwhelmed!!
They are blessed to have you!!
Take care as you surround yourself in all that sweetness!!
~ Kim

I would be careful about using slings. They can't all be in the sling either LOL! I use the bouncy chair (the vibrating seat) without the vibrations as a high chair for baby food. When I had 2 seven month old babies wanting to eat at the same time as the 2 toddlers, I put the babies in the chairs side by side to feed them. I also love the exersaucer. The state usually does not allow jumpers, so make sure a jumperoo is allowed. Luckily babies at different ages will have different schedules, so you shouldn't be too overwhelmed. Just remember that babies cry and sometimes you can't please all of them at the same time. They will not suffer if they have to cry for 2 minutes before you pick them up.

Good luck!
By the way, do you belong to a provider group? My group is for providers in Richardson, Plano and Garland.

Sorry about your loss, but you seem to be pouring your love into these little ones. Seeing as they will all be different ages it will be easier than you think.

The 8 month old will be able to sit in a high chair, as will the 6 month old, so you can put them both in a high chair and let the 8 mo old eat finger type foods, have the 6 wk old on your lap and feed the 6 mo old if need be... or have the 6 mo old in seater/carrier.

When I was 18 me and my mom babysat 4 and they were all under 1 and very close in age, and I remember many times feeding them all at once, it works.

by the time you get the little baby the other 2 will actually be 10 mo and 8 mo.

I am sort of jealous... in a good way. I am sure that God will repay for all the good you are doing.

Is this a registered Home Day Care? Tons of training to keep kids safe. I will not care for more then one infant and got one that is the baby from Hell. He was spoiled by a Nanny and at one can do nothing but walk. I am also having issues from the first time mom who treats this kid like he will break. She also can not stand for him to cry. He cried for two days and I kept putting him down then picking him up and telling him if he does not cry he then can stay up and play. He came to me yesterday but this is a challenge. At one he does not even hold a bottle not forced to do normal things.

I would put in my policies that you will give it a trial before you sign the contract. That way you can bough out if you can not handle it. The state allows 3 infants and three over 18 mos and one over 5. No more. Myself I would never take three under 18 mos and regret this new one already. If things do not iron out in the next two weeks he is out. This mom is older and treats this baby like he is not human. A piece of fragile glass. I have others to attend and that is one reason they brought him to me because of other kids and because I cannot devote all my time to him. He needs to learn to be independent.

Good luck and sorry for your loss but these babies do fill some of the hole.Also in training we were told to roll that kid over on his back every time he himself rolls over even if it wakes him up and document it. Babies have died crib deaths and since they now put them on backs they have reduced about 50%. Big risk. God Bless G. W

Hi, I have an in-home childcare business. I currently have 3 infants all around 4 months old. One is my own. I am registered with the state. If you are not, you should because you could get in trouble if you are caring for children in your home without being at least listed with the state.

It is very difficult at times when all 3 are crying at the same time. I try to get them on schedules each day so that they dont all need to eat at the same time. Then if there is a day that doesnt happen, I just feed in the order that they last ate. There are times when they cry, but there's nothing you can do about that. You are only human. And believe me, do not try to be Wonder Woman because you will get very stressed and burnt out very quickly. Also it is easy when you work from home to want to clean your house and do the things that you see need to be done. Resist the temptation! Just focus on the infants in your care and when you have a time that they're all sleeping, you sit down for a minute and take a much deserved break.

I rotate them from exersaucer to back time, to tummy time, to bouncy seat, to bumbo seat. That way they dont get bored and fussy because they are being moved around and getting different views of their surroundings.I dont like using swings because they get too used to that motion and want it all the time.

I live in Rockwall. If you have any other questions, just message me on here. : )

I've never cared for multiple babies before so I can't imagine! But it might be a good idea to tour a few local day cares and see how they manage. You should have multiple bouncers, boppys, swings, high chairs, etc. You won't need one of each for each child but it will be good to have several options on hand. I have all of my daughters gently used stuff that I need to sell if you are interested. I'm sure you will find a good routine to make it easier once they all arrive and you get used to each one of them. Good luck.

I am so sorry for your loss. I really don't have advice for you about your question, but I wanted to say that it is against Federal law for any employer to fire someone because they are pregnant. If you want to pursue that, you have a case!

Good luck with your new business venture!

K.,
I currently have a 9 month old and a 22 month old. Let me just say there will be times when you will need to give one child attention while the others cry. It is just inevitable. And, not a completely bad thing for children to cry and not automatically have someone attending to their needs provided they are over 3 months ( children under 3 months tend to develop the most basic of trust and security by having needs met as immediately as possible.). I don't mean leave them crying for hours but take care of what you need to do and then attend to the next child's most immediate need. Children aren't suffering when they cry they are expressing themselves, talking so to speak. make sure you are on the same page with each parents parenting style and I most certainly agree with other rec's to keep them as scheduled as possible. Children function well with structure and schedules because they know what to anticipate and it decreases anxiety and frustration. Even babies. if you run to comfort within seconds , they develop that expectation and it creates anxiety when it doesn't occur. You establish the precidence that if they cry, or "talk" to you, that you will be there, they develop trust and security that way. Love the babies as much as you can when awake and tend to them when needed, but it will not do you or the children any good for you to stress about the children crying all the time. I was notorious for that and my husband who had 2 children from a previous marriage explained it just in that way and we have been able to establish some healthy boundaries that way. You are benfiting the children not neglecting the children.

Lastly, I miscarried our first child as well and it was devestating. I hope you are able to keep trying as I had 2 children (back to back!) after that. Good luck!

honestly, my advice is to say no to the new one in order to maintain the quality of the care you offer.

Im very sorry for your loss. When I need daycare for my toddler son to finish school, I traded off working in infant room where I had four babies under the age of 8 months. I Love babies and I can't stand to hear them cry either, swings were a godsend for me at that time, they were always happy unless they were hungry or dirty. Good luck to you :)

I would adopt the use of slings/child carriers for the care of the infants. The Nesting Place in Grapevine has a large assortment of slings/wraps and can help you make the right choice for your situation. I only had one infant but could not get along w/out my wrap/slings for a day. Make sure you have safe places for each to go: swing, pack n play, gated area so that if you do have to tend to one for a moment the others are totally safe.

I dont run a daycare but I do have 2 little ones that are only 11 months apart. Two of the best investments we made were the sling and our rainforest jumperoo. It is a stand alone jumper(it doesnt have to go in a doorway) that allows the older ones to jump and spin to play with the toys. My son still loves this thing and is 15 months old, plus it keeps him entertained while I tend to my 4 month old.