The Daycare Sisters

Running a Licensed Home Daycare in Her Basement

Brandee talks with Alexa about running a licensed home daycare completely out of her basement. Alexa shares how her basement daycare setup helps keep her family space separate, gives the children a dedicated childcare area, and creates an easy flow to the backyard through her walk-out basement. They also talk about daycare licensing, food program visits, caring for infants through kindergarten, play-based learning, summer hours, parent communication, trial periods, daycare toys, provider support, and the mom guilt that can come with running childcare from home. Alexa on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexa.tomair [https://www.tiktok.com/@alexa.tomair] Key Takeaways: * Alexa runs a licensed home daycare from a dedicated basement space. * Her walk-out basement connects the daycare area to the backyard outdoor play space. * Keeping daycare downstairs and family life upstairs helps separate toys, routines, and personal space. * Alexa can care for up to 10 children and also participates in the food program. * She has shifted from structured curriculum toward more play-based learning. * Her summer schedule gives her Mondays and Fridays off to spend more time with her own kids. * She recommends new providers avoid comparing their beginning to someone else’s finished daycare space. * She believes the provider matters more than the size of the space or the toys in it. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:40 Licensing and Food Program 01:56 License Categories by State 02:58 Licensed vs. Unlicensed Ratios 03:42 Kids and the Home Daycare 05:31 Managing Teens and Sleepovers 06:25 Summer Hours and Days Off 07:14 How Parents Responded to New Hours 07:58 Transitioning from Center to Home 08:47 Ages Accepted and Preschool 09:36 Curriculum and Play-Based Learning 10:27 Working at a Daycare Center Before 11:00 Sick Days and Closing Policies 12:04 How Parents Pay 12:46 Handling Parent Conflict 14:07 Provider Community and TikTok 15:31 In-Person Events Before COVID 16:45 Long-Term Goals as a Provider 17:51 Education and Starting the Business 19:26 Mom’s Daycare Next Door 21:34 Not Being Competitive with Other Providers 22:16 Having a Support System 23:23 Mom as a Backup Sub 25:06 Balancing Kids’ School Events 28:01 Mom Guilt 30:33 Treating Daycare Kids Like Your Own 33:22 Having an Assistant or Sub 34:50 Infant Ratios and Sanity Rules 35:55 Favorite Toys and Equipment 39:56 Best Daycare Space Recommendations 43:53 Nugget Couches and Knockoff Comparison 47:12 Felt Boards and Magna-Tiles 49:54 Parent Wish List on Facebook 53:00 Parents Showing Appreciation 55:55 Advice for New Providers 58:28 Finding the Right Families 59:08 Trial Period in Contracts 61:00 What Providers Wish Parents Knew 62:47 Infant Sleep Challenges at Daycare 64:29 Outro #homedaycare #healthyparenting #daycarelife #inhomedaycare #childcareprovider #Musclemat #magnatiles

She Started Her Daycare in 1998

Jenn has been doing daycare since 1998, and she shares what decades in home daycare have taught her about staffing, licensing, parent communication, winter weather closures, burnout, boundaries, and running a child care business from home. If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this conversation will help you think through the real-life side of daycare: how to stay organized, when to close for safety, how to protect your family space, and why boundaries matter when you care for children in your home. Follow Jenn on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jentilfur.074 Key takeaways: Jenn started doing daycare the same year Taylor Swift was born. Long-term home daycare takes systems, staffing, and flexibility. Weather closures, licensing rules, and paperwork are part of the job. Home daycare providers need boundaries with parents, family, and their own home. Burnout is real, especially after decades of caring for children. Timestamps: 00:00 Technical Difficulties 01:12 Intro 01:21 Meet Jenn: 26 Years in Home Daycare 01:30 Licensed for 12 Kids, Running with Staff 02:13 North Dakota's Point-Based Licensing System 04:20 Finding and Keeping Daycare Staff 05:15 How Jenn Got Started: From Cosmetology to Childcare 06:22 How North Dakota Licensing Works 07:36 Paper vs. Online Licensing Systems 08:30 Fingerprinting and Keeping Track of Renewals 10:25 Tech Challenges for Veteran Providers 11:12 Running Daycare Out of the Garage 12:17 Noise, Earbuds, and Provider Hearing Loss 13:49 Surviving Winter Indoors with Kids 15:39 Cold Weather Outdoor Rules and Guidelines 17:16 Jenn's Kids Growing Up in Home Daycare 19:47 Closing for Storms and Snow Days 21:21 Storm Day Policies and Reimbursing Parents 24:04 Getting Paid: Daycare Is Real Work 24:14 Curriculum, Kinder Camp, and DIY Activities 27:58 Taking Infants and Provider Energy Over the Years 28:54 Charging Family for Childcare, Including Grandkids 30:17 Retirement Planning Advice for Providers 32:17 Recognizing and Managing Provider Burnout 34:22 How Newer Providers Set Better Boundaries 36:30 In-Person Trainings and Old-School Networking 41:34 Trusting Staff and Using Cameras 44:17 Being Authentic on Social Media 47:18 Kids Today vs. How We Grew Up 48:12 Teaching Independence and Responsibility 50:53 Teaching Manners and Respect 52:22 Jenn's Famous Monday Mac and Cheese 54:27 Wrapping Up #homedaycare #inhomedaycare #healthyparenting #daycaresisters #daycarelife #childcareprovider

Continuing Her Mom’s Home Daycare Legacy

In this episode of the Daycare Sisters Podcast, Brandee talks with Cattie, a home daycare provider who grew up in her mother’s daycare before eventually taking over the business herself. Cattie shares the emotional story of continuing her mom’s home daycare legacy after her passing while also raising her own children inside the daycare environment she once experienced as a child. They discuss: • Running an in-home daycare without staff help • Balancing family life and business • Daycare burnout and provider self-care • Licensing inspections and regulations • Healthy daycare meal planning • The emotional side of carrying on a family child care business across generations If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this episode offers honest insight into daycare ownership, provider life, parenting, boundaries, and building something meaningful for families. Key Takeaways: • Continuing a family daycare business comes with both emotional and practical challenges • Running a home daycare inside your family home impacts both providers and their children • Healthy daycare meals and fresh food budgeting require intentional planning • Licensing rules and daycare inspections vary widely by state • Many daycare providers struggle to separate work life from home life 00:00 Intro 00:39 Growing Up in a Daycare Home 02:15 Taking Over Mom's Daycare 02:37 Why She Chose Daycare Over a Food Truck 03:07 Daycare Space Setup at Home 05:28 Running Solo Without an Assistant 06:42 Finding the Right Assistant 08:32 Family Life and the Daycare Home 10:04 Comparing Methods to Mom 10:37 Hearing Mom's Voice While Working 11:13 Cooking Fresh Meals for Daycare 12:52 Food Regulations and CACFP 13:20 The Food Program Decision 14:43 Kansas Licensing Process 15:55 Licensing Violations and Grants 17:32 Licenser Inconsistencies 19:22 Provider Shortage and Regulations 20:33 Background Checks and Fingerprinting 22:57 Provider Self-Care and Burnout Prevention 24:07 TikTok Daycare Community 25:13 Running and Yoga for Mental Health 28:05 Working with Strong-Willed Children 31:51 Age Groups and Mixed-Age Care 33:09 Eating Outside with Daycare Kids 34:46 Long-Term Plans for the Daycare 36:26 Drop-In Care and Flexible Schedules 38:27 Military Families as Clients 39:46 Finding New Families via Facebook 41:52 Preferred Ages to Care For 43:26 What Parents Misunderstand About Providers 45:04 Daycare Hours and Rate Evolution 48:36 Advice for New Providers 50:08 Just Start — Don’t Wait to Be Ready 51:08 What Mom Would Think Today 52:30 Where to Find Cattie Online #daycarelife #inhomedaycare #healthyparenting #homedaycare #childcareprovider #daycare

Why Parents Need to Search Early for Infant Care

Infant daycare spots are hard to find, and in this episode, we talk about why. We cover why providers can’t always hold or open spots, how home daycare ratios and licensing limits affect availability, and what parents may not realize about waitlists, cost, and timing. We also share a quick Daycare Sisters community update, meet the new chicks, and talk through the provider side of infant care: early pregnancy conversations, miscarriage sensitivity, formula costs, provider expenses, and why longer maternity leave could make a real difference for families and home daycare providers. Whether you run a home daycare or you’re a parent looking for infant care, this episode gives an honest look at why infant spots fill so early and why providers may not be able to say yes, even when they want to. Key Takeaways • Infant daycare spots are limited because ratios and licensing rules restrict how many babies providers can care for at one time. • Parents often need to start looking much earlier than they expect, sometimes before the baby is born. • Infant care is more expensive for both families and providers because babies require more time, supplies, formula, and attention. • Longer maternity leave could help reduce pressure on families, providers, and the infant care system. #daycarelife #inhomedaycare #healthyparenting #homedaycare #homedaycareprovider #childcareprovider #daycaresisters

Starting a Home Daycare from Scratch After Leaving Corporate America

In this episode of The Daycare Sisters Podcast, Brandy talks with Danielle, a mom of three in Richmond, Virginia, who is leaving a 15-year corporate HR career to open her own home daycare. Danielle shares what led her to child care, what the licensing process looked like, how she is preparing her home, and the behind-the-scenes paperwork that new providers often do not see coming. This conversation also covers Brightwheel vs. paper binders, daycare organization systems, caring for children with special needs, balancing home life with daycare life, finding families, and protecting yourself from burnout as a provider. If you are thinking about starting a home daycare or family child care program, this episode gives a real look at the emotional, practical, and business side of opening your doors. Key Takeaways: • Starting a home daycare means running a real business, not just caring for children. • Licensing, paperwork, training, inspections, and organization systems matter from the beginning. • New providers need realistic routines to protect their time, energy, and family life. • Home daycare can be a meaningful way to support working families while building something personal. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:30 Danielle's Corporate Background 01:40 Why She's Starting a Home Daycare 03:10 Sharing the Journey on TikTok 04:15 The Paperwork Nobody Talks About 04:45 Virginia Licensing Process 06:00 The Licensing Inspection Visit 07:15 Conditional License and Next Steps 07:55 Organizing Kids' Records and Binders 09:00 Brightwheel vs. Paper Systems 10:40 Parent Privacy and Photo Sharing 11:00 Danielle's Three Boys 11:35 Running Daycare With Kids at Home 12:50 Nap Time Challenges 13:35 Her Son With Autism and PreK Plans 14:25 Advice for Providers Taking Special Needs Kids 15:50 ABA Therapy and School Services 16:25 Daycare Space Setup in a Row House 17:40 Husband's Support and Why It Matters 18:30 How Many Kids She's Licensed For 19:00 Virginia's Point System Explained 20:45 Age Ranges and Infant Ratios 21:55 Converting the Entire First Floor 23:00 Boys in Daycare – The Energy Is Real 25:15 Managing ADD as a Provider 26:40 Organization Tools That Help 27:40 Checking the State Violations List 28:35 Avoiding Burnout From Day One 29:40 Having a Space That Isn't Daycare 32:00 Finding Her First Families 33:30 Starting Full With a Waitlist 34:45 Welcome Bags for New Families 36:25 How She Set Her Rates and Hours 38:05 Hiring a Part-Time College Assistant 41:10 Curriculum vs. Play-Based Learning 43:55 What Kids Actually Need Before Kindergarten 45:15 Biggest Mistake: Overspending Early 47:45 Rating Systems and Subsidy Providers 50:10 Advice for Providers Just Starting Out 52:00 Retirement Planning as a Business Owner 53:00 Long-Term Goal: A Sliding-Scale Center 54:25 Where Danielle Hopes to Be in a Year 55:25 Where to Find Danielle #inhomedaycare #homedaycare #homedaycareprovider #healthyparenting #daycarelife #childcareprovider #daycaresisters