The Daycare Sisters

The Daycare Sisters
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Running a home daycare is isolating, exhausting, and a lot harder than anyone admits, especially when you can’t afford to quit. The Daycare Sisters Podcast, hosted by two sisters with 30+ years of real in-home daycare experience, says the things you think but never say out loud so you can stop beating yourself up and feel less alone in this job.

  1. 3D AGO

    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

    56 min

  2. 6D AGO

    New Daycare Providers: How to Find Your First Families

    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 Intro00:30 Sickness going around the daycare03:45 Sick kid story: chaos after nap08:00 Handling daycare emergencies alone10:10 Mouse nest found on the playground13:30 Getting chickens: 20 chicks incoming17:30 How new providers can find families18:00 Yard signs and location tips20:30 Reaching out to other daycare providers23:45 Networking on TikTok and Instagram25:30 Provider nights out and in-person trainings28:40 Online trainings vs. in-person trainings31:00 Using Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok40:45 Google Business Profile for daycare42:30 City Facebook pages and Nextdoor app44:50 Friends, family, and word-of-mouth referrals47:00 Teachers as a referral source49:05 Flyers, business cards, and bulletin boards50:00 Website vs. Facebook page for new providers51:20 Paid ads: worth it or not?52:00 Open houses and seasonal marketing ideas54:50 Interview every family when starting out56:40 Build a waitlist even when full57:50 Financial reality for new providers60:10 Why TikTok networking has been valuable61:20 Finding providers in the same life stage62:40 Outro #homedaycare #daycareprovider #daycarelife #childcarebusiness #inhomedaycare #earlychildhood #daycaresisters

    1h 3m

  3. APR 30

    From Teacher Burnout to Home Daycare Owner

    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 Intro00:19 Running Daycare in Her Basement01:56 Keeping Daycare Separate from Home03:38 Husband's Support & Daughter's Role05:02 Mom Guilt & Missing Appointments06:23 Daycare vs. Stay-at-Home Expectations07:50 It's Okay Not to Do This Forever09:08 Structure vs. Flexibility After Teaching12:23 No Breaks as a Solo Provider13:42 Avoiding Burnout: What She Does16:47 Finding Joy in Nap Time18:54 TikTok's Impact on Daycare Providers21:23 How TikTok Helped Her Start Right24:37 Getting Clients in a Small Town26:20 Part-Time Care & Enrollment Challenges26:48 Licensing Requirements & Age Limits28:35 Burnout and Age Groups That Don't Fit31:00 Boys vs. Girls in the Daycare34:00 Overstimulation Tips for Providers36:00 What Kids Should Know Before Kindergarten41:47 Curriculum Approach at Her Daycare43:26 Her Hours & Friday Early Close45:00 Holidays, Sick Days & Closing Without Guilt48:22 Two-Week Trial Period Explained50:43 Annual Contract Update Strategy53:07 Daycare Contracts: Then vs. Now57:07 State Inspections Aren't Scary60:31 Where to Find Her on TikTok #daycaresisters #daycareprovider #daycarelife #daycare #homedaycareowner #homedaycarebusiness #homedaycare #inhomedaycare

    1h 3m

  4. APR 27

    In-Home Daycare vs Child Care Centers

    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

    1h 21m

  5. APR 23

    Burnt Out Police Officer Starts a Home Daycare & Finds Balance Again

    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

    49 min

  6. APR 20

    Maternity Leave Discussion Continued… Won’t You Please Join the Discussion?

    We continue the conversation about maternity leave, sharing real experiences, tough realities, and why this matters for daycare providers and families. We talk about what it is actually like to take little to no maternity leave while running a home daycare, the financial pressure behind those decisions, and why many providers return to work before they are ready. This is not about having all the answers. It is about opening the conversation. If you have experienced maternity leave as a parent or provider, join the discussion. Key Takeaways• Many daycare providers take very little maternity leave because they cannot afford to stop working• Returning to work too soon affects healing, sleep, and bonding with a newborn• Unpaid leave is not realistic for many families in a dual-income household• Daycare providers face unique challenges because they risk losing clients and income• Maternity leave impacts both providers and the families they serve• More support and better systems are needed for working parents and childcare providers Timestamps00:00 Intro00:39 Episode Topic: Maternity Leave01:25 Their Own Maternity Leave Experiences03:46 Returning to Work Too Soon04:07 Financial Pressure on Daycare Providers05:10 Maternity Leave vs. Self-Employment06:32 Seeing Both Sides as Providers and Moms07:57 How Society Needs to Change First08:14 Corporate Backup Care Programs10:04 Research on Maternity Leave Length10:54 Women in the Workforce Statistics11:22 Minnesota Paid Leave Law13:00 FMLA and Unpaid Leave Problems14:01 Dual Income Society and Financial Reality14:33 Paternity Leave Benefits for Families16:00 Teachers and Timing Pregnancies17:06 Dropping Birth Rates18:51 Why People Are Waiting to Have Kids20:40 Pressure on Women to Do It All22:01 Recovery After Surgery as a Provider26:07 Timing Medical Procedures Around Daycare28:20 Working Through Miscarriage29:05 Normalizing Hard Conversations31:47 Income Level and Maternity Leave Inequality33:05 Best Age for Babies to Start Daycare36:16 Infant Schedules and Provider Challenges40:12 US vs. Other Countries on Paid Leave43:10 Minnesota Bonding Leave Controversy50:12 Can Daycare Providers Access Paid Leave53:27 Work From Home and Bed Rest Stories55:25 C-Sections and Complicated Births60:06 Paid Leave as a Safety Net63:11 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action #homedaycare #daycarelife #inhomedaycare #healthyparenting #daycaresisters

    1h 16m

  7. APR 16

    In-Home Daycare Advocacy with Alexis

    We talk with Alexis, a home daycare provider and advocate, about what’s really happening behind the scenes in family child care. https://www.tiktok.com/@missalexis_homedaycareWe dive into home daycare advocacy, including licensing challenges, burnout, policies, and what providers are experiencing across the country. Alexis shares her experience running a successful in-home daycare, navigating regulations, and speaking up for needed change in the industry.00:00 Intro and Guest Alexis00:30 Alexis Daycare Background01:00 Part-Time Enrollment Model01:40 Drop-In Care Strategy02:00 Daycare Hours and Schedule02:40 Adjusting Hours for Summer03:20 Balancing Daycare and Family Life03:50 Alexis’ Kids and Daycare Experience04:50 Importance of Separate Daycare Space06:40 Daycare Licensing in Connecticut08:00 Starting During COVID09:00 Filling Daycare Spots Quickly10:00 Infant Care and Age Range10:50 Recommending Pre-K Before Kindergarten11:20 Parent Night Out Events12:20 Events for Current and Past Families13:10 Pricing Parent Night Out13:40 No Sibling Discount Explained15:00 Setting Clear Daycare Policies16:00 Licensing Challenges and Advocacy17:00 Creating a Daycare Coalition18:00 Licensing Inconsistencies Issues19:00 Inspector Rotation Problems20:00 Provider Burnout and Regulations21:00 Stress and Anxiety Around Inspections22:00 Pet Hair Rule and Overregulation23:40 Chick Hatching Daycare Project25:00 Teaching Responsibility Through Animals26:30 Animals and Daycare Rules27:20 Balancing Learning and Licensing28:00 Social Media and Daycare Criticism41:00 Dealing With Online Trolls41:50 Why Alexis Started Daycare43:00 Leaving Teaching for Daycare44:00 Starting a Home Daycare During COVID45:20 Affording Childcare as a Parent46:20 Helping Parents Start Daycares47:20 Supporting Families and Providers48:20 Daycare Community Over Competition49:20 Building a Provider Support Network50:30 Full Circle Daycare Moments51:30 Finding Your Daycare Community56:00 Managing Income Ups and Downs57:00 Financial Reality of Daycare Business68:50 Building Relationships in Daycare69:30 Final Thoughts and Networking70:00 Outro#homedaycare #healthyparenting #inhomedaycare #daycarelife #daycaresisters

    1h 10m

  8. APR 13

    Daycare Tweeners: The Almost-Kindergarten Crew That Will Test You

    We talk about “Daycare Tweeners”—those almost-kindergarten kids who are too big for daycare routines but not quite ready for school. From non-napping and behavior changes to boredom and constant talking, this stage can be one of the most challenging phases for home daycare providers. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin by this age group, you’re not alone. In this episode, we break down what’s actually normal, why this phase happens, and how to manage it without burning out. This podcast is for established in-home daycare providers who feel burned out, isolated, or financially stuck—but aren’t ready to quit. “Daycare Tweeners” are in a normal developmental transition phaseNon-napping doesn’t mean kids don’t need restThis stage often leads to provider burnoutStructure and quiet time are still essential#inhomedaycare #homedaycare #healthyparenting #homedaycareprovider #daycaresisters #daycarelife

    1h 14m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Running a home daycare is isolating, exhausting, and a lot harder than anyone admits, especially when you can’t afford to quit. The Daycare Sisters Podcast, hosted by two sisters with 30+ years of real in-home daycare experience, says the things you think but never say out loud so you can stop beating yourself up and feel less alone in this job.

Information

  • Creator
    The Daycare Sisters
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Daycare Sisters
  • Show Website
    The Daycare Sisters

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