Home Daycare Ratio in Moco

[Anonymous]

Our home daycare provider in MoCo is about to take on a new set of kids and I think the ratios for the new set is going to be off. There will be two teachers caring for eight kids total. Below is the make up of the incoming class:

- 2 babies under one year old
- 5 kids between one and two years old
- 1 three year old

I am having a hard time finding the rules for this. I thought there could be a max of 4 kids under two in this situation. Any insight?

[Anonymous]

If they are licensed I am sure they know what they’re doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they are licensed I am sure they know what they’re doing.

+1

[Anonymous]

No, this does not sound like it complies with the MD regs as far as I understand them, but I thought it was only 2 kids under 2.

https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/child-care-providers/family-child-care-providers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, this does not sound like it complies with the MD regs as far as I understand them, but I thought it was only 2 kids under 2.

https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/child-care-providers/family-child-care-providers

OP says there is an assistant so they can have 4 children under the age of two - I’m assuming the other three OP mentioned are actually 2 so that would be allowed.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. This is OP. No, it is my understanding that there will be 7 kids under two and
1 kid over two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. This is OP. No, it is my understanding that there will be 7 kids under two and
1 kid over two.

That wouldn't comply. Maybe the rest of the under 2 are close to 2 so they think itll be ok. That is a lot of little ones though!!
Our in home limited to 18+ only (which is not helpful for many) but that way they were always within regulation.

[Anonymous]

That is way too many infants. In Maryland , an infant is defined as under two. Even if she had an assistant under her license that would give her a maximum of four children under two.

As far as I’m aware there is no license in Maryland that allows seven infants in an in-home daycare with just two providers. It’s possible that some kids will be on alternating days. Can you find out what kind of license she has? I’m also licensed and can try to answer your question but you need to check to see what her license allows. But whatever it is it’s certainly not seven.

[Anonymous]

Family Child Care Home – A provider may care for up to eight children with no more than two under the age of two. The provider’s own children under the age of six are counted within the group of eight.

Large Family Child Care Home – A provider may care for between nine and 12 children with no more than four under the age of two. The provider’s own children under the age of six are counted within the group of nine to 12.

[Anonymous]

She could ever only have a max of 4 infants (children under 2 years) and that is only if she is a Large Family Care home or if she has a Additional Adult, which is not the same as having an assistant. Just having an assistant does not mean she can watch 4 infants.

The only way I can see her watching 7 infants is if they stagger their schedules, like some are MWF and others T TH, or am pm, but never max more than 4 at the same time. 0 overlap.

Most in home daycares are only licensed for 2 infants, even with assistants. Her license should be on display somewhere that you can easily read it. Or, you can look her up on check ccmd.

[Anonymous]

Wow Maryland is strict! I just looked up VA and they do a point system so each caregiver can only have 16 points and 16 months and under is 4 pts. 16m - 24m is 3 pts and 2 years and up 2 points. This is the much more difficult to get state licensing for family day centers. Infants can have a 1:4 ratio so it would be fine in VA.