New parents...Would you be interested in an "infants only" daycare?

Question

I've been thinking of opening a daycare for a long time now, and think I may want to specialize in infant care. In visiting our local daycares, I feel that the infant classes aren't as important and tend to get left in the dust of the 2+ aged children. Would you be interested in a daycare for your 6+ week old-24mo? I realize that it may be inconvenient to have to search for a new daycare at that time, but previous to this, they would have all the focus of the staff, optimal care and age appropriate developmental education for the first 2 years of their life. This would give them the best imaginable foundation, second only to being one on one with you, their parents. What are your thoughts or feelings on this?

I agree with and understand where Faith is coming from. The best care would definitely come from a mother or father or another family member, but lots of families don't have that option. My daycare would be middle ground...while not as perfect as a parents care, it would definitely be a step above any other daycares, who don't specialize in infant care.

I don't want to give too many details but I guess I should have that the infants would be separated according to age and developmental levels. I would also like to have private quiet areas where mothers could come and nurse their baby on their breaks if they wanted to.

I'm in the Atlanta area. I've also thought about equipping the daycare with video monitoring...do you like this idea? Would it give you more peace of mind?

Answer 1

Good question, I'll have to think it over. Ill be back.

Ok, first off I think it is a great idea. Babies need a different kind of care then toddlers and up do. I think a nursery where the babies are the main focus would be wonderful. I do not have the luxury of being a stay at home mom, I am the bread winner and primary care giver. I would love a place for my son to go where it was all about the babies not the toddlers. If you have ever been to any daycare, you will see the main focus on the older babies and toddlers who can be more interactive, and the infants recieve basic care. No stories, no playtime, no arts and crafts (and yes babies can do arts and crafts) but there is not time for this when the focas is being demanded by 12 2 year olds. I dont care how many teachers they have, someone is always left out. However, I think you could take this 1 step further. It will be a pain to find another daycare at the toddler age, most fill up quickly and will fall far short of the care the parents and infants have come to know from you and your facility. Maybe you could go in with a friend or family member who can take kids when they age out of your program. This way you can ease the burden on parents the following year and not jsut drop older babies. Maybe the facilities could be next to each other? This way the older toddlers get the care they need and deserve as well, but still seperately. I wish you were in my area! (are you?)

Darn!! Oh well. Yes video camreas would be wonderful, as well as the mother baby area. This is such a wonderful idea! Don't give out too many details, like you said, because I know people will snatch up your idea and make it their own. Be careful, and good luck!

Answer 2

I have my child in a center that has separate rooms for infants (6 weeks to 14 months or so), wobblers (14 months to 30 months), etc. I absolutely wouldn't put my child anywhere that didn't have this kind of setup. The infant rooms also have a ratio of 4 kids per teacher, and it's usually better than that. I like that the kids are transitioned to wobblers at 14 months, because by that time, they're playing rougher, they're bored with the baby toys, they don't nap as much, and they need new experiences that wouldn't be appropriate for the babies.

My suggestion to you would be to specialize in this very young age group, unless you can provide a separate classroom (and teaching staff) for the 1-2 year olds. You have a great idea, and with the appropriate staff with you, you'll provide a service that many parents would be grateful for.

Good luck :)

Answer 3

Although I do not believe in day care either, there is a need for the single mothers. Some mothers are widowed, abandoned, or whatever and have to feed their children by working. Now that I have said that, YES I think an infants only daycare is wonderful. In fact, we have several in our town. If I had to use daycare for an infant, that is where I would want my baby. It would allow the caregivers to specialize their care in a certain age group. That is always better.

Answer 4

Yes it is a great idea and better for the infant but I personaly would never used it for this reason alon. I fI am going to put my child in a day care enviroment and have no other choice than that. i don't want to get attached to the staff and after my child hits the 2+ mark of life have to go out and find a new place to provide service. it is hard enough to find a day care that works well for your family and beliefs and then have to go find another just 2+ years after you just got the hang of this one particular one.
I'm sure it would go over great with some mom/dad(s) but I would not partivularly be using this system af child care now of ever in the future do to haveing to find another care center down the road for such a reason when I can find a good center from the start and never hae to take my child out of it.
Plus if you do open a center like this remember state guidelines differ but most state require 2 new borns(under 12 months of age) to 1 adult and (12-24 months) 3 children per adult in a child care facility. That would be a lot of workers you would have to acquirer

Answer 5

Hell yeah! It's so hard to find a good quality daycare for such a young age! I especially would appreciate it because it is so hard to leave anyone with your kids now a days let alone a 6 week old. Unfortunately some of us don't have the luxury to sit at home with our children...we have to work! I think that is a wonderful idea! I know I'll be searching for a good one when my baby is born. You should also make it to where you accept payments from local agencies that assist mothers who are on welfare with their child care payments so that way these children will be in a safe, loving, nutring environment while the mother gets herself together! Good luck 2 U!!!

Answer 6

That would be great in my town. I am in the military we only get 6 weeks off for matrnity leave. Around here it is so hard to find a daycare with infant openings. I don't have trouble finding anything for my 2 year old but i do for my 1 month old. I think something like that would work out great in a military town but if it were a small town i do not think it would work out becuase you then would have to transfor them to a different day care once they are no longer considered a infant. But good luck.

Answer 7

It would be great if you could offer it at a cheaper price. Yeah I agree, even my daughter is 2 1/2 and she doesn't get the class type setting she needs. It would be nice if everyone had the money or family members to not have to go to work. I think most moms would prefer to stay home, but I got a college degree for a reason to use it so I choose to work, I don't think either of my children will lack anything from it. My brother-in-law went to daycare from 6 weeks and is a corporate real estate lawyer making 6 figures, he seemed to do fine.

Answer 8

I don't live in your area but as a working mother I know it's hard to find a good day care for infants, as a matter of fact we don't have anything like that in our area at all. I think it's a great idea! It gives working mothers a chance to go back to work if they want. I hear alot of mothers say they would like to go back to work after having their babies but are unable to find a daycare in the area that cares for infants. You have an excellent plan and I would follow your heart. Good luck!

Answer 9

I think its best to have a day care with children of close age to eachother. Six week old to Twenty four months is too high age difference. Maybe try making it 6 weeks to a year or a year to two years. That was the older kids don't get sick, how they almost always do when a person caring for them doesn't wash the hands after changing a diaper and feeds the older kid. But Good Luck with everything.

Answer 10

When children are under 6 months old there is no such thing as age-appropriate education. The first 6 months the focus needs to be on the needs of the children being met quickly and lovingly so that they develop a good sense of security. Once they are 6 months they need plenty of room to become mobile and develop their gross motor skills. In order for you to offer the best care possible your ratio would need to be one on one. Otherwise there are times that one infant will have to wait on something. So you see, it really is not possible to offer a service that all parents would be happy and secure with. Once a child starts walking, then the focus needs to be on them developing fine motor and large motor skills. They need to become self-sufficient and learn to do things for themselves. My feelings are this, in a perfect world we would have infant care separated into four age-ranges.
1.0-6mos
2. 6-12 mos
3. 12-18 mos
4. 18-24months
Most facilities do not have the space available for such a thing. There is a lot that goes into opening your own centre. Especially for infant care. And if you want to gain more security for parents, you need to be state licensed. That involves a whole new ball of wax!! Good luck!