Anyone know the maryland babysitting laws?

[smarie1011]

Hey! I am new to the southern Maryland area! I am looking into opening a in home day care. I have found tons of information bout doing this but, I can't find where it says how many children you can baby sit without having a license? I was just wondering if anyone here might know the answer! How many children can you watch without having a license and how old do you have to be to babysit! Thanks a ton!

Mrs. Russell

[wineo]

Originally Posted by smarie1011

Hey! I am new to the southern Maryland area! I am looking into opening a in home day care. I have found tons of information bout doing this but, I can't find where it says how many children you can baby sit without having a license? I was just wondering if anyone here might know the answer! How many children can you watch without having a license and how old do you have to be to babysit! Thanks a ton!

Mrs. Russell

Call Child Care Administration in Leon or go to the networkofcare.org website

[pcjohnnyb]

If you are babysitting even 1 kid in your own home without a license, you are most likely breaking the law (there is a limit on the number of hours you can babysit in your own home w/o a license per month...I believe it is 20 hours)
If you babysit in the child's home, then you can do it without a license

[MMDad]

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Originally Posted by pcjohnnyb

If you are babysitting even 1 kid in your own home without a license, you are most likely breaking the law (there is a limit on the number of hours you can babysit in your own home w/o a license per month...I believe it is 20 hours)
If you babysit in the child's home, then you can do it without a license

Once again you are injecting your ignorance into a grownup tread. Idiot.

[huntr1]

Originally Posted by MMDad

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Once again you are injecting your ignorance into a grownup tread. Idiot.

This time he's right.

To watch a child that is not related to you, in your home, in excess of 20 hours a month, you must be licensed.

Most you can watch is 8 at one time.

No more than 2 under the age of 2.

Do a search on Childcare Connection on here and you will find a link to the licensing agency.

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by huntr1

This time he's right.

To watch a child that is not related to you, in your home, in excess of 20 hours a month, you must be licensed.

Most you can watch is 8 at one time.

No more than 2 under the age of 2.

Do a search on Childcare Connection on here and you will find a link to the licensing agency.

Actually, the most you can be approved for is 8. There's no guarantee that you'll be approved for that many. Things like house size, yard size, type of car you have, number of kids you have of your own, etc. all factor into the number of daycare kids you get approval for.

[RareBreed]

Speaking as a parent with kids in day-care, once your potential clients hear that you aren't licensed, they probably won't want you to be their day-care provider. I know I wouldn't.

[huntr1]

Originally Posted by awpitt

Actually, the most you can be approved for is 8. There's no guarantee that you'll be approved for that many. Things like house size, yard size, type of car you have, number of kids you have of your own, etc. all factor into the number of daycare kids you get approval for.

As the husband of a licensed provider, I know that. However, I was trying to keep it simple. What I posted was acurate. No need to get into specifics with the OP on this when the rough brushstrokes of the rules will do for now.

[bluesmom31]

Originally Posted by RareBreed

Speaking as a parent with kids in day-care, once your potential clients hear that you aren't licensed, they probably won't want you to be their day-care provider. I know I wouldn't.

My children, ages 19 and 17 were cared for by a non-licensed sitter when the were younger. While I know this was awhile ago, and things have changed drastically, but just because a sitter is licensed doesn't mean they will treat your child any better. I would not have traded the sitter I had for anyone. My children were loved and cared for as if they were her own.

[huntr1]

Originally Posted by bluesmom31

My children, ages 19 and 17 were cared for by a non-licensed sitter when the were younger. While I know this was awhile ago, and things have changed drastically, but just because a sitter is licensed doesn't mean they will treat your child any better. I would not have traded the sitter I had for anyone. My children were loved and cared for as if they were her own.

Just because they are licensed, or not, does not mean they will be better than any other person you choose to pay to watch your children. Having a license, or not, does not mean that you will not do a wonderful job of watching children. With that being said...

Here's my thoughts on licensed vs. unlicensed providers:
As easy as it is to get licensed, and as non-invasive as the process is to keep the license, why would somebody NOT want to be licensed? What are they hiding? There has GOT to be a reason somebody chooses to run an illegal (unlicensed) child care business. To me knowing they are licensed gives me a bit of piece of mind since they, and anyone living in the house over the age of 18, has been fingerprinted and background checked.