Anyone in Iowa...I have a question

Does anyone know what is required to start your own at home daycare?

http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/Consumers/Child_Care/ChildCareMenu.html

look around that site.

Hey thanks!

no prob. usually it has to do with how much space you have and how many kids you plan on having, and different ages have different adult-child ratios. and it depends on if you have outside play equipment.

Really? Do they have a max number of children you can have at a time?

Quoting Kakes [*HBC*]:“ Really? Do they have a max number of children you can have at a time?”

umm it depends on age. you could probably go to dhs and ask for a licensing book to look through as well.

General Ratio Requirements
Preschools determine their ratio on the basis of the age of the majority of the children. Centers
determine ratio on the basis of the ages of all the children served. When there is no majority of any
age group, staff on the age of the lower group. For example, if a group consists of five three year
olds and five four year olds, determine the ratio based on the three-year-olds (1: .
A combined age group may be accomplished in a segregated program room or in a general-purpose
program area. Combinations of age groupings are allowed for, but not required, in child care centers.

Given the vulnerability and care needs of children under age three, staff ratio must be maintained for
their age group when they are included in a combined grouping. Remember, infants must be cared
for separate from the other children except for very limited periods of time, maintaining their staff
ratio.
When combining age groups, consider the amount of time spent in a combined group, the person
needs of the children, and the safety considerations of younger children when combined with schoolage
children. Be mindful of the fact that too large of a group may impede the activity level,
interaction, and overall development of the children.
In addition, the larger the group, the more stress this places on staff in trying to meet individual
needs, coordinate group activities, and provide for overall supervision. Higher stress levels of staff
are associated with inappropriate responses to situations, abuse due to a loss of control, and high staff
turnover.
Depending on the developmental stage of an individual child, it may be appropriate to include a child
aged 18 to 24 months in with other children who are two years of age. If this is done, the child must
still be staffed at a 1:4 ratio until the child’s second birthday. Do not routinely place children under
18 months in rooms or groups of children who are two years or older.
A program area where children are present must never be left unsupervised by an adult. A person 18
years or older must be present in every child-occupied program room.
Other than the exception allowed for at the beginning and ending of a center’s hours of operation, at
least two adults must be on duty whenever seven or more children three years of age and older are in
the child care center. (Two adults are always required by ratios for children birth through age 2 if
seven children of either of those age groupings are present.)
Examples for Determining Ratio
Program room by age:
Children under 2 (1:4) 9 X X X X X X X X X 3 staff required
2-year-olds (1:6) 15 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 3 staff required
3-year -olds (1:  10 X X X X X X X X X X 2 staff required
All in one program area:
Children under 2 (1:4) 9 X X X X X X X X X 3 staff required
2-year-olds (1:6) 15 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 2 staff required
3-year-olds (1:  10 X X X X X X X X X X 2 staff required
To provide care to these 34 children, seven staff are required.

Age of Children Minimum Ratio of Staff to Children
Two weeks to two years One to every 4 children
Two years One to every 6 children
Three years One to every 8 children
Four years One to every 12 children
Five years to ten years One to every 15 children
Ten years and over One to every 20 children