Childcare in My Home?

I only want to add that you need to have a plan in place in case you get sick or for whatever reason can't watch them. My sister had a lady who was doing childcare in her home and she was pregnant. She had told my sister that her mother would watch the kids when she was in the hospital but that didn't pan out and my sister ended up putting the kids back in a child care center. If the lady was sick, she would also not watch the kids and had no back up. Not very convenient if you're a working parent.

B.,

I do the same thing, so my first piece of advice is look up the laws in your state. NC says that I can have up to three children in my care at a time (not including my own) before I need to get a license. If you get a license, it is quite an ordeal, so I decided to make sure that I never have more than 3 in my home.

I found my kids by posting fliers up in the neighborhood and around town. I tried a lot of local churches, but none were willing to let me put them up.

I LOVE having the kids at my house. My son has friends to play with, and believe it or not, I find I still get a lot done around the house. I am blessed to have fairly flexible people that I baby-sit for (I watch 1 little girl M & F, and I watch 2 little boys whenever it works for his mom and I), so that helps a lot.

I offer more flexible hours than a daycare and don't charge nearly as much if they are going to be late. I allow their kids to come "sick" as long as it isn't contagious (i.e. ear infection, allergies, etc.) which also benefits me because they want to use me over a daycare! I do not make any sort of food...it is all bring your own. The little girl I watch has a peanut allergy and God forbid I accidentally would give her something...it's just easier to have mom and dad bring it. The other thing that I require is that they allow their children to become a part of my schedule with my son. If I have to go to the grocery store, they need to be okay with their child going. All of my parents love that I incorporate their children into my life, and are fine with them going places with me.

I hope this helps a little, and good luck!

Each state has different laws.
A parent, can claim you on their taxes... if you are licensed. If you take "cash" under the table, and are not licensed, they cannot claim you.
It takes a lot of research... what the laws and requirements are...

You also need to have or find online, "contracts" that stipulates your services and the parents need to sign off on that.
There are legalities to be aware of.
And have a "release of liability" as well.

If possible, watch friends kids... instead of stranger's kids... get experience that way and its more flexible.

Also, it is often expected that the babysitter is CPR certified etc.

You have to have/decide what ages you will watch? What routines/schedule the kids will have, food? Do you provide that or the parent. Do you have a place for a baby/toddler to nap? Is your home baby-safe and proofed? Will you "school" them or just be a babysitter?
From what hours? Full-day, all week, or part-time? Think of YOUR schedule and your own child's needs when you figure that out. And the amount of time you actually want to baby-sit, versus having time to yourself and just your kid(s). What will you charge if a parent is late in dropping off or picking up their kid?

What about days-off or holidays? Will you charge per hour or a flat monthly rate? How much per child? What about siblings? Or charge per age of the child?
How will you get various kids to nap? What time?
Will you accept sick kids?
How will you handle injured kids on your premises? First Aide certification?

Lots of details to think about... and research. Research online, and in your state agencies.

I used to babysit. I spent a LOT of time researching it and checking the legalities of it. And creating my own "contracts" and rules.

All the best,
Susan

I'm in KS and a stay at home mom and run an in home daycare I LOVE it!! I'm so glad I lost my job and get to do this now. First contact your local health department they should be able to give you info. I had to go to our local health department and take do an informational class that gave me all the info that I needed. There are two different things you can do here Registered which I did I can only watch 6 kids including my own or Licensed which I believe maybe 10 kids. It seems like a lot at first but it does get easier as you get further into it. Do DO make up a contract with everything from rates (and break it down from full day to half day to before or after school etc.) sick policies, vacations, what parents have to provide. I make my parents usually have there own backups for when my kids or myself are sick. GOOD LUCK and GOD BLESS

According to the bottom 2 links below you can watch up to 6 children (Type B home) in your home before you are required to get a license or (Type A home) you can have 7-12 children in your home. There are some qualifiers though, if you have any babies the number goes down.

I would say go ahead and get the license because that is where a lot of kids come from. I had no success from my advertising and I just stopped doing it, nearly all my children in my Child Care Center came through the State and you cannot get any payment from them if you are not licensed. It is a regular paycheck and lots of times an individual will write a hot check and then you never see them again after you tell them the check bounced.

It appears to watch children in your home in Ohio is quite easy.

This may be the link that gives you what you need to comply with to be licensed.
http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/file.asp?id=56133
or this one
http://emanuals.odjfs.state.oh.us/emanuals/GetDocument.do...

Ohio states home page pertaining to child care.
http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/page2.stm
Another page talking about the different types of providers.
http://www.occrra.org/ohiolaw.htm

Check your homeowners insurance. Home daycares are usually not allowed. If something happens to one of those kids in your care and on your property, you could lose everything. Please consider this. Good luck!

Look inot your state and local childcare borad I know that Ny has one so should OH. Get their guidelines and make sure that with out too much trouble you can follow them. As far as kids to watch start with poeple you know spreading the word or you make flyers and hang them up locally by your home. I was thinking about starting something simiular but due to space and our pets I could not. I t sounds very rewarding hope that it works for you.

SH answered it pretty well. In addition, you need to think about the liability of having the children in your home. I'm in CA, so I'm sure the laws are different in OH, but the licensing laws here are pretty strict. Your home has to be childproof, which entails more than just using gates and childproofing cabinets. Licensed homes here can sign up for a food program in which the daycare is reimbursed for food used for the children. I work with subsidized childcare, so if your city/county has programs like these you will have parents whose childcare is paid for by the state. Most of these programs are through social services. Contact your local licensing office and they will be able to give more information.