Would you be comfortable with this at a daycare?

[Zeebs]

I absolutely agree with that, however, I think there should be a staff member in the room. I worked at a child development center in college. We had to be at ratio (i.e., children couldn't be without an adult) anywhere we were in the building (classrooms, gymnasium, restrooms, etc.) or outside. That included when the children were asleep.

ETA: We went about our regular routines when DS napped, and that kid can sleep anywhere! He's dozed off quite a few times in the hustle and bustle of WDW and slept through FOTLK!!



Your child (and top priority) sleeping in his own crib at home is not the same thing as your child being one of x infants (where he could be the last priority) sleeping in a closed off room at daycare.

I am sorry, but if your child is at daycare do you not have to accept that he/she will not be the top priority? If you want him to be top priority you would have to keep him/her at home. (I am not saying this to make any slurs in any way to people who's kids are in day care but as an observation of the situation)

Daycares are dealing with more than 1 child, they will always be prioritised in the manner they can get the most out the quickest. Won't they?

Could a worker please let me know what the fire evacutaion proceedure is at your Daycare I would be interested to know.

Kirsten

 

[Zeebs]

FWIW the area where the children slept was connected to the main room. It was not down the hall or anything. In the event of an emergency we were likely closer in proximity to those kids than a parent going about their business while their baby sleeps at home.

I can't speak for other centers, but the evacuation process where I worked involved putting the babies in cribs and wheeling them out. It was the safest way to get everyone out at once and it provided a way for the babies to be "contained" once outside. Any baby that happened to be sleeping would not be likely forgotten or harder to get to than a baby strapped into a swing in the main room. If anything they are better off because they are already in the crib.

I get that you know your home. But understand that the teachers are given specific instructions as to what to do as well. Every daycare I worked at also had two exits from the main rooms -- one of which lead directly outside. Most homes do not have those kinds of escape routes.

Ah someone beat me to it and explained it before asked.

Cheers Kirsten

 

[dayzemair]

I'm in WA and here you have to have visual of the babies at all times. I worked in a daycare that had a separate room for cribs with only an audio monitor and when licensing came around they made us add a big window on the door because there was no visual prior to that. I would at least insist on that, if there is a large window on the door I would be comfortable, if not, I wouldn't. All the other daycares I have worked at have had the cribs either in the same room as the play area or in an only slightly sectioned off area, not in a separate room with a door.

If you decide not to go with those daycares because of this I would be sure to let them know that that is why, then maybe they will address the issue.

Good luck choosing a daycare, such a big decision!

 

[mlynn]

I worked in a preschool for a few years. We weren't really that big. We always had a teacher/aide in the rooms with the kids.They were never alone even when sleeping. We only had 8 kids infant to 4. But we got them all on the same sleep times. As the kids woke up we would move them with another aide into the other play room.
I can see using a monitor at home. But when you work in a preschool it is alot different. 8 + kids in a room need to have an adult present at all times.
During the time the kids sleep we would get projects ready for the next day or wash toys. Also take turns going to have lunch.

 

[redrosesix]

I am sorry, but if your child is at daycare do you not have to accept that he/she will not be the top priority? If you want him to be top priority you would have to keep him/her at home. (I am not saying this to make any slurs in any way to people who's kids are in day care but as an observation of the situation)

Daycares are dealing with more than 1 child, they will always be prioritised in the manner they can get the most out the quickest. Won't they?

Could a worker please let me know what the fire evacutaion proceedure is at your Daycare I would be interested to know.

Kirsten

Not sure how it's done in daycares but I have friend who works in an infant unit in the children's hospital here. For evacuation, she has to wear a special apron with pouches on it -- 6 I think -- to put the babies in. but that's just for the babies that don't have to be connected to equipment, although she is also supposed to be able to push 2 iv stands as she walks.

Just the thought of the practice runs (with dolls) makes me giggle a little.

 

[kevschickee]

I am an assistant director for a family daycare system and I see nothing wrong with this. As long as they are safe in cribs they should be fine. Also as long as they are following the back to sleep program they are dong what they can to keep it safe. I can't see having to pay a teacher to sit in a room with sleeping babies. As long as they pop in the babies will be fine.

 

[connorlevismom]

So many different opinions on this subject, that is great. That is what I wanted fron this thread. I can see everyone's perspective and while we are not comfortable with it, I can see how others are.

To be clear, we did not choose either of these daycares but it was not JUST because of the sleeping room. That was a big one, but it was not the decision maker. Also, neither of them had staff that sat in the room with the sleeping babies and only one had two doors. One the the infant room and the other to the hall. But the one to the hall was kept locked at all times so I am not sure how that would help in a fire. Neither had doors from the room to the outside of the building.

Kristine

 

[luvsJack]

I am an assistant director for a family daycare system and I see nothing wrong with this. As long as they are safe in cribs they should be fine. Also as long as they are following the back to sleep program they are dong what they can to keep it safe. I can't see having to pay a teacher to sit in a room with sleeping babies. As long as they pop in the babies will be fine.

Does the law in your area not say that you have to keep ratio in any room that a child is in? That would be the problem with this set up in my area. The law states very clearly that ratio has to be maintained at all times even when the babies are sleeping.

 

[kevschickee]

Does the law in your area not say that you have to keep ratio in any room that a child is in? That would be the problem with this set up in my area. The law states very clearly that ratio has to be maintained at all times even when the babies are sleeping.

This is what Massachusetts state law says
(3) Supervision During Napping.

The caregiver must supervise children while they are napping
by observing them at least every 15 minutes. A caregiver must remain on the same floor level as
the napping children.
(a) The caregiver must never leave a child awake in a napping room for longer than 15
minutes.
(b) If children are napping in a room with a door, the caregiver must leave the door ajar.
(c) If a baby monitor is used, the caregiver may close the door. The caregiver may use a
baby monitor only when children of the same age group (infants, toddlers, preschoolers) are
napped together.

So in my area this is fine as long as the provider peeks in every few min.

 

[princessmom29]

For those of you who feel the 1:6 ratio is too much, this was my experience with it. I was able to do it without a problem b/c the kids were all on a schedule. They all ate at different times so that was nto a problem, and on the rare occasion that two were hungry at the same time, you can feed two infants at once, just ask a mom of twins. You simply put them in their infant seats and hold one bottle for each child. We played with them as a group fairly often, as we typically had no more than a 3 month age gap in a room. IK could heve 3 infants on the dloor with me having tummy time at once and be giving quality interaction to all of them while the other 3 were napping for instance. Were there times when it was hectic and a child had to wait a small amout of time for something, yes, but you are fooling youself if you think that doesn't happen in your center. It happens everywhere. No one can tend to every baby immediately every time he or she needs something. All of our rooms were connected with half doors that were kept open, and we typically had one "extra person" floating around to help it someone had 3 or 4 crying at once. We did a good job with out kids at a 1:6 and had very little problems. A ration between 1:4 and 1:6 is the norm with centers here, and i feel that my DD got quality care in that environment. She was in a room with 8-10 infants(some only came 2-3 days a week, and some for only half days) and 2 caregivers and thrived because she had quality caregivers who cared about her. To me that is so much more important than ratio. I looked at other caenters with lower ratios that did not provide nearly the same standard of care.

I never thought about it before, but the difference in ratio must account in some part for thw large differences in daycare costs in different areas. I saw on post that said a state requirement of 1:6 for I believe 3 year olds. Here it is 1:12. So it would cost twice as much to staff a daycare with that kind of ratio requirement.

 

[kevschickee]

Wow I couldn't imagine having a ratio like that here. No way would I leave my infant with that ratio.

 

[kevschickee]

For those of you who feel the 1:6 ratio is too much, this was my experience with it. I was able to do it without a problem b/c the kids were all on a schedule. They all ate at different times so that was nto a problem, and on the rare occasion that two were hungry at the same time, you can feed two infants at once, just ask a mom of twins. You simply put them in their infant seats and hold one bottle for each child. We played with them as a group fairly often, as we typically had no more than a 3 month age gap in a room. IK could heve 3 infants on the dloor with me having tummy time at once and be giving quality interaction to all of them while the other 3 were napping for instance. Were there times when it was hectic and a child had to wait a small amout of time for something, yes, but you are fooling youself if you think that doesn't happen in your center. It happens everywhere. No one can tend to every baby immediately every time he or she needs something. All of our rooms were connected with half doors that were kept open, and we typically had one "extra person" floating around to help it someone had 3 or 4 crying at once. We did a good job with out kids at a 1:6 and had very little problems. A ration between 1:4 and 1:6 is the norm with centers here, and i feel that my DD got quality care in that environment. She was in a room with 8-10 infants(some only came 2-3 days a week, and some for only half days) and 2 caregivers and thrived because she had quality caregivers who cared about her. To me that is so much more important than ratio. I looked at other caenters with lower ratios that did not provide nearly the same standard of care.

I never thought about it before, but the difference in ratio must account in some part for thw large differences in daycare costs in different areas. I saw on post that said a state requirement of 1:6 for I believe 3 year olds. Here it is 1:12. So it would cost twice as much to staff a daycare with that kind of ratio requirement.

We have a 1:3 ratio and just buy numbers it doesn't happen with the smaller ratios as much. 1:6 ratio is too much IMO I don't care how good of a caregiver you are it is too much

 

[disfan07]

The STATE requirements for virginia are:
Infants 1:4
Toddlers 1:5
2s and 3s 1:10
4s 1:12

In OUR center the ratios we use
infants 1:3
toddlers 1:4
2s 1:7
3s 1:9
4s 1:11

that being said, when they're sleeping only 1 person has to be in the room with them

We have 3 or 4 people in each infant room with no more than 9 kids
We have 2 people in the toddler room with 7 kids and 3 people in the toddler room with 10 kids
We have 2 people in each 2 yr old room with at most 12 kids
We have 2 people in each 3 year olds room with no more than 15 kids
We have 2 people in each 4 year old room with no more than 14

 

[princessmom29]

Wow I couldn't imagine having a ratio like that here. No way would I leave my infant with that ratio.

Some people don't have much choice if they want to keep food on their tables. Some don't have the luxury to stay home and I don't know of any center in the county that has a ratio that does not reach at least 1:5 at some point during the day. There are a few in home daycares here, but they have too few children to be subject to state regulation and you never know what you are getting there.

 

[princessmom29]

The STATE requirements for virginia are:
Infants 1:4
Toddlers 1:5
2s and 3s 1:10
4s 1:12

In OUR center the ratios we use
infants 1:3
toddlers 1:4
2s 1:7
3s 1:9
4s 1:11

that being said, when they're sleeping only 1 person has to be in the room with them

We have 3 or 4 people in each infant room with no more than 9 kids
We have 2 people in the toddler room with 7 kids and 3 people in the toddler room with 10 kids
We have 2 people in each 2 yr old room with at most 12 kids
We have 2 people in each 3 year olds room with no more than 15 kids
We have 2 people in each 4 year old room with no more than 14

Just out of curiosity, ehat are your weekly rates for each age group?

 

[kevschickee]

Some people don't have much choice if they want to keep food on their tables. Some don't have the luxury to stay home and I don't know of any center in the county that has a ratio that does not reach at least 1:5 at some point during the day. There are a few in home daycares here, but they have too few children to be subject to state regulation and you never know what you are getting there.

In home daycares here are regulated like centers so I would trust them here. I am not a SAHM I do work and I would find a daycare with the lowest ratio but that is just me

 

[princessmom29]

In home daycares here are regulated like centers so I would trust them here. I am not a SAHM I do work and I would find a daycare with the lowest ratio but that is just me

The lowest ratio availible to me was 1:5. You either accept it or stay home with the child. I didn't have that luxury, but it never occured to me that it was unacceptable b/c I have never seen a center with a lower ratio.

 

[kevschickee]

The lowest ratio availible to me was 1:5. You either accept it or stay home with the child. I didn't have that luxury, but it never occured to me that it was unacceptable b/c I have never seen a center with a lower ratio.

As parents we do what we have to. In no way am I putting you down or anyone else down please don't think that. I am used to the 1:3 ratio thats all

 

[princessmom29]

As parents we do what we have to. In no way am I putting you down or anyone else down please don't think that. I am used to the 1:3 ratio thats all

I guess that is the point I am trying to make. What we think is ok or not ok is tied to what we have been exposed to, and what is the norm in our area. Around here, 1:5 is perfectly acceptable b/c it is the norm, and within state laws. I think that DD's center did an excellent job with that ratio, and that she got everything she needed, physically and cognitively.

 

[justhat]

Here's the breakdown for our center, but keep in mind it is in Washington, DC, where everything is insanely expensive so it's more that than the low ratios that drive up the price. Our ratios are 1:3 for infants, 1:4 for 2s, 1:6 for 3s, etc. Th graph translated a bit weirdly, but you can figure it out.

Child's Age
5 Days
3 Days
2 Days
On Call

3-12 months
$1,675
$1,295
$865
$90

13-24 months
$1,615
$1,175
$775
$80

25-36 months
$1,465
$1,085
$745
$75

37-48 months
$1,355
$1,025
$695
$70

49 months & up
$1,250
$925
$625
$65