how much outdoor time is typical in an in-home daycare setting?

[Anonymous]

I am curious as to peoples' experience with how much outdoor time is typical in an in-home daycare setting? My husband and I are looking to find an in-home setting for our infant. We found someone with whom we are extremely happy. The only concern I had was that she said with the different ages of the children in her care (infant to toddler), as well as the lack of a fenced yard, they don't go outside regularly. I am thinking this might not really be an issue for a child up to about age one, but I would think after about 1 year old this might be more of an issue. Any ideas how much time kids in in-home day care might typically spend outdoors? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

i would think it depends on the provider and what kind of facilities there are.

[Anonymous]

My son has been in a home daycare since 3 months (he's 3 now). He'd go nuts without outdoor time! They go out twice a day depending on the weather. In the warmer months often they are outside for an hour in the am and an hour plus after naptime.

I think no outdoor time would be a red flag for me, at least once your little one is walking.

I was so depressed looking for a good provider. I didn't want to settle. Finally, during my maternity leave I found the perfect setup. So glad I kept looking despite the stress. Good luck to you. Where are you at? Maybe someone can recommend a place.

[Anonymous]

This was one of the problems with my in-home provider. We really thought she was very caring, but she lived in an apt and had 3-4 kids of varying ages, so no outside time.

As the PP says, it wasn't really a problem until about 1 year. Ultimately we moved our child at 19 months to a center but I wished we'd moved sooner. I think she was very antsy inside.

If you have no other choice, you can do it for a while, but it really makes a difference when they are older.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has had a FT nanny since she was 3 months old and even at the very young age of about 4 months she was always happiest outside. I remember coming home from a walk with her and how the minute the stroller entered our apartment she would wake up and sensed the difference. When my daughter turned one we started to share her nanny with a baby boy who is about five months younger than her and he also demands the outdoors (even when I and our Nanny think it is freezing out). My husband and I always talk about how thankful we are for our apartment building's lobby because our daughter is happier in the lobby than she is in our apartment with all her toys. I suppose every child is different though.

[Anonymous]

My son was in a share from 18 months and spent hours outside nearly every day. When he was 3-7 months, I had a babysitter for him for 20 hrs a week - the girl spent close to all twenty hours outside (unless it rained).

I wouldn't have had it any other way.