The Daycare Sisters

In this episode, we reflect on 20 episodes of The Daycare Sisters Podcast, why we started it, and how isolating home daycare can feel.We talk about provider loneliness, building community, what surprised us about podcasting, listener feedback, interviews with other providers, and why conversations between daycare providers matter. If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this episode is a reminder that you are not doing this work alone.Key takeaways-Home daycare can feel isolating, especially when provider meetups and trainings have moved online.-The podcast has become a way to connect with other daycare providers and feel less alone.-Listener comments, shares, and interview requests have helped make the podcast feel real.-Daycare providers need community, encouragement, and honest conversations about the work.-Brandy and Aaron are looking for more topics from listeners, including home daycare rules and managing multi-age groups.00:00 Intro00:53 Episode 20 Milestone01:23 The Muted Mic Fail02:04 Why They Started the Podcast05:51 Provider Isolation After COVID06:57 Their Childcare Background08:42 What They Hoped the Podcast Would Fill09:31 Remembering the First Episode10:03 When It Started Feeling Real12:12 Doing Interviews for the First Time15:23 When a Guest Promoted the Interview16:08 When Strangers Started Sharing17:05 Where the Podcast Is Going18:14 What Has Surprised Them Most19:25 Why Providers Feel Unseen21:09 The Daycare Stories Nobody Else Cares About28:53 Favorite Topics So Far29:32 Burnout and the Podcast's Biggest Fail36:10 Feeling Seen as a Provider36:47 Learning From Younger Providers38:26 Real Self-Care vs. Bubble Baths40:24 Setting Hard Boundaries on Hours42:44 Closing in Summers for Your Own Sake45:34 Burnout and Mom Guilt47:36 Missing Kids' Appointments and Field Trips49:56 Scheduling Surgery Around Daycare54:02 Going to the National Conference in Chicago56:27 Upcoming Topics and Listener Requests58:28 What They Want Listeners to Know59:38 None of Us Are as Alone as We Thought60:20 Thank You and Outro#healthyparenting #homedaycare #daycarelife #inhomedaycare #childcareprovider #daycaresisters

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

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

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

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

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

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

We break down exactly how new daycare providers can find their first families—even if you’re starting with no clients, no reputation, and no referrals.

We cover simple, realistic strategies that actually work—from yard signs and local visibility to networking with other providers and using social media.

If you’re starting a home daycare or struggling to fill your first spots, this episode will help you get noticed, build trust, and start enrolling families.

• Yard signs are one of the fastest ways to get local visibility
• Most first clients come from proximity and referrals
• Networking with other providers can bring you overflow families
• Social media helps build trust before families contact you
• You don’t need everything perfect to get started

00:00 Intro
00:30 Sickness going around the daycare
03:45 Sick kid story: chaos after nap
08:00 Handling daycare emergencies alone
10:10 Mouse nest found on the playground
13:30 Getting chickens: 20 chicks incoming
17:30 How new providers can find families
18:00 Yard signs and location tips
20:30 Reaching out to other daycare providers
23:45 Networking on TikTok and Instagram
25:30 Provider nights out and in-person trainings
28:40 Online trainings vs. in-person trainings
31:00 Using Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
40:45 Google Business Profile for daycare
42:30 City Facebook pages and Nextdoor app
44:50 Friends, family, and word-of-mouth referrals
47:00 Teachers as a referral source
49:05 Flyers, business cards, and bulletin boards
50:00 Website vs. Facebook page for new providers
51:20 Paid ads: worth it or not?
52:00 Open houses and seasonal marketing ideas
54:50 Interview every family when starting out
56:40 Build a waitlist even when full
57:50 Financial reality for new providers
60:10 Why TikTok networking has been valuable
61:20 Finding providers in the same life stage
62:40 Outro

#homedaycare #daycareprovider #daycarelife #childcarebusiness #inhomedaycare #earlychildhood #daycaresisters

We talk with Megan, a former kindergarten teacher who turned burnout and motherhood into starting her own home daycare business.

In this episode, we get into the real experience of running an in-home daycare—what it actually looks like day to day, the challenges of balancing work and family, and the emotional side of being both a provider and a mom.

We cover:

• Work-life balance in home daycare

• Mom guilt and missing important moments

• The reality of being a solo provider with no breaks

• Burnout and how she manages it

• Licensing, contracts, and policies

• Finding clients in a small town

• Advice for new and current daycare providers

If you run a home daycare—or are thinking about starting one—this episode gives you an honest look at what to expect and how to navigate it.

⏱ Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:19 Running Daycare in Her Basement
01:56 Keeping Daycare Separate from Home
03:38 Husband's Support & Daughter's Role
05:02 Mom Guilt & Missing Appointments
06:23 Daycare vs. Stay-at-Home Expectations
07:50 It's Okay Not to Do This Forever
09:08 Structure vs. Flexibility After Teaching
12:23 No Breaks as a Solo Provider
13:42 Avoiding Burnout: What She Does
16:47 Finding Joy in Nap Time
18:54 TikTok's Impact on Daycare Providers
21:23 How TikTok Helped Her Start Right
24:37 Getting Clients in a Small Town
26:20 Part-Time Care & Enrollment Challenges
26:48 Licensing Requirements & Age Limits
28:35 Burnout and Age Groups That Don't Fit
31:00 Boys vs. Girls in the Daycare
34:00 Overstimulation Tips for Providers
36:00 What Kids Should Know Before Kindergarten
41:47 Curriculum Approach at Her Daycare
43:26 Her Hours & Friday Early Close
45:00 Holidays, Sick Days & Closing Without Guilt
48:22 Two-Week Trial Period Explained
50:43 Annual Contract Update Strategy
53:07 Daycare Contracts: Then vs. Now
57:07 State Inspections Aren't Scary
60:31 Where to Find Her on TikTok

#daycaresisters #daycareprovider #daycarelife #daycare #homedaycareowner #homedaycarebusiness #homedaycare #inhomedaycare

We break down the real differences between home daycare and child care centers, including cost, flexibility, scheduling, and what actually matters when choosing care.

If you’re a parent or daycare provider, this episode will help you understand your options and choose what works best for your family or business

Key Takeaways

-Home daycare is typically more affordable than centers

-Centers offer longer hours and more staffing flexibility

-The “best” option depends on your family’s needs, not a universal rule

00:00 Intro0:38 Milestone and Alexis Shoutout1:21 Week in Daycare Life3:07 Mother's Day Craft Planning4:45 Home Daycare vs. Centers7:26 Perks of Working at Centers9:46 "Daycare" vs. "Child Care"12:26 Location: Key Factor for Parents13:41 Why In-Homes Fill Up Fast15:26 Pricing: In-Home vs. Center18:09 Why Options Matter for Families20:08 Center Staffing and Hours22:19 Infant Spots and Waitlists24:02 Infant Ratio Rules Explained26:48 In-Home Emergency Closures30:11 Closing for a Family Emergency34:26 Building Your Backup Care Plan35:50 Licensing Differences by State38:55 Mixed Ages in In-Home Care41:22 Structure vs. Play-Based Daycare48:15 Staff Turnover vs. Consistency52:30 When Kids Crave More Structure53:19 Preschool Timing Debate65:44 ParentAware Ratings Explained70:00 Red Flags When Choosing Care72:20 Interview Questions to Ask76:00 How Kids Show They're Happy80:17 Outro

#homedaycare #healthyparenting #daycaresisters #inhomedaycare #childcareprovider #daycarelife

We talk with a former police officer who hit burnout and made a life-changing decision... starting a home daycare.

She shares what burnout really felt like, how she made the leap into childcare, and how she eventually found balance again by setting boundaries, changing her schedule, and building a daycare that works for her life.

If you run a home daycare or are feeling overwhelmed in childcare, this episode will help you rethink burnout, boundaries, and what balance can actually look like.

Key Takeaways:
• Burnout doesn’t end just because you change careers—you have to change how you work
• Boundaries are the key to finding balance in a home daycare
• You can adjust your policies and schedule as you grow
• Balance comes from building a business that fits your life

#policeofficer #inhomedaycare #childcareprovider #daycarelife #daycaresisters