By Greg Miles

The fastest way to find out about the home daycare licensing regulations for your state is to contact your states licensing agency who will put you in contact with your local agency. They will put you in touch with the relevant licensing agency who will normally mail you a package containing all the information you need plus application forms and a document with regulations. They may also be able to tell you whether your home daycare requires licensing or just registration. Alternatively, you can contact the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education to find out information about your states home daycare child licensing regulations.

Here is a list of some organisations that you may contact for information about home daycare licensing:

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education 1-800-598-KIDS (5437)

National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Toll-free: 1-800-359-3817 Local: 801-269-9338

Some of the things that Licensing agencies and organisations do may include:

- Regulating child-care operations to protect childrens health, safety, and well-being while in care. This helps reduce the risk of abuse, injury and communicable disease.

- Performing background checks on home daycare providers.

- Inspecting and monitoring child care facilities and programs.

- Providing technical assistance to home daycare providers to ensure that they are meeting minimum standards of care.

- Informing the public, such as childrens families and parents, about care and about child-care operations.

Home Daycare Licensing has various advantages for daycare providers. Being licensed will help you portray a professional image. Your customers will trust you and view your day care with credibility. Also, it will be easier to market your day care business if youre licensed because the licensing organisations and child care interest groups will list your center for free in their directories of care providers. Parents often consult these organisations when looking for home daycare services.

Copyright © 2007 Greg Miles. Click here to get a complete business package to help you easily and quickly start your own profitable Home-Based day care business: http://www.businesstartupsguide.com/daycare/ or visit The Start-up Guide online.

By Sarah Veda

The first option is in-home child care, meaning a sitter, or nanny who comes to your home to watch the child. This is by far the most expensive option, but it has many advantages. Your child will be at home, and will have the full attention of the nanny. In addition, your child will be exposed to fewer illnesses, and you will not have to transport her back and forth on your way to and from work. The main disadvantage is that you have no real backup if your nanny gets sick or wants to take vacation. Another thing to consider is your feelings if your child develops a very strong bond with the nanny. More than one mother has been hurt by the sense that the baby is more comfortable with the nanny than with her.

The second option is a small home daycare, meaning you find someone who will keep your child in her home, perhaps with her own children or one or two others. This is a good option if you want your child in a home atmosphere, but cant afford the full time nanny. This option shares the same disadvantages of having a nanny in terms of no backup plan.

The third option is a traditional daycare center. Traditional daycares are affordable, and there is no need to worry about a caretaker getting sick or wanting to take vacation. A daycare might also be more of a learning environment than home care, which will become more important to you as your child gets older. The main disadvantages of daycares are that your child is exposed to all the germs of all the children. Be prepared for the both of you to be sick for a year. The other disadvantage is the numbers of children being cared for. For example, in most states, the law requires one caretaker per eight babies. Now, I dont know about you, but I could not effectively care for eight babies alone. So, if you decide to use a daycare center, be sure to ask their caretaker to child ratio. Look for one with about five babies per caretaker.

Choosing your babys childcare arrangement is one of the most important decisions youll make. Even after youve chosen a care option, be diligent about ensuring that your child is receiving the best care. Drop in unannounced at odd times of day to see whats going on. Dont be afraid to ask questions, and let the caretaker know whats important to you. Its critical not only to your childs well being, but to your own piece of mind.

Sarah is a 41 year old wife and mother of two boys and one girl. She spent many years as a manager in the corporate world, and gave it up to be a stay at home mom.

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