~Good Thing I Researched~
By Jennifer
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
Valdosta, Georgia
April 1, 2016 6:12pm CST
So today I had someone email me telling me that in order to have children in my care I have to be licensed. If I was not intelligent enough to research before getting that email I would have been freaking out and thinking I was doing something wrong. However, I did check the laws when we got here and I am allowed to watch a child without being licensed.
This person was emailing everyone they saw on CL advertising childcare-she told me that is where she saw my ad.
I emailed them back with the link where I found my info. She emailed back saying you are correct-thank you!
Thank God I do research EVERYTHING! It has come in handy a few times now. =)
16 people like this
18 responses
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
1 Apr 16
Glad you did your research first and I thought you had to have one anyway, than again it could be different there.
3 people like this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
2 Apr 16
@LovingMyBabies Oh I see, so with having more that one you need to be licensed, yeah good job you looked it up then. Would it be different from state to state?
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@kevin1877uk Yes, I am allowed to watch one child. Yeah, when I lived in another state I was allowed to watch 2 children without being licensed. Every state is different, some are tougher about it than others.If I owned my home I could get licensed but since I rent I can't.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@kevin1877uk I don't have to have one unless i watch more than one child. I am glad I did too.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
1 Apr 16
So if you want to watch more than one child then you have to get licensed. Is that a difficult thing.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Apr 16
@fishtiger58 It is very difficult. It's taking college courses, paying for all certifications-which I cannot afford, it's having DCF inspecting your home for safety, and you cannot rent your home-because if something happened on the property people can go after the landlord. I can't get licensed because I cannot afford to and because I do rent here, not own.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Apr 16
@LovingMyBabies So only one kid at a time then. Wow they sure make it hard
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@fishtiger58 They do make it really hard and it's not much about experience at all-which makes no sense. It is all about classes! I have 17 yrs experience working with children of all ages and that should count for something in my opinion but it doesnt at all.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (215428)
• Chile
1 Apr 16
How many children can you have at your care without a licence?
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Apr 16
@marguicha You can only have one child at a time without a license.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
1 Apr 16
That's a good thing indeed. I wonder what that person's intention was in saying that.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@toniganzon Their just being the Craigslist police I think!
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
1 Apr 16
In some states, such as Connecticut, unless they've changed the law, a close relative cannot even provide daycare to a child outside that child's home without a license. My wife's sister had to get licensed to watch our son when he was a toddler. I'm glad FL has a more reasonable policy.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@DWDavis Wow that is ridiculous! Here your allowed to watch any relatives-you just cannot watch more than one child unrelated to you without being licensed. Much more reasonable than Connecticut!
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
1 Apr 16
For sure that's the right way of doing things.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Apr 16
@softbabe44 I have learned from my mother it is always good to write everything down and research everything you plan to do.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85492)
• United States
2 Apr 16
@LovingMyBabies Then she sounds like a nosy know it all. Why on earth would anyone think babysitting sans daycare would need a license?!
Weird how I got all defensive over YOUR issue. 
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@AmbiePam No I just babysit, not run a daycare. I only watch one child so that can't really be considered a daycare. And I don't have to be licensed for that.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
3 Apr 16
@AmbiePam Well that is what friends do, they get defensive for each other! 
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
2 Apr 16
I think you only have to be licensed if you have more then 5 kids. But every state is different and yes i research everything as well.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@Blondie2222 It is different in every state. Here it is one child, North Carolina I was allowed to watch 2 children without being licensed.
@dodo19 (47066)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
2 Apr 16
@LovingMyBabies if you really enjoy something, it's always good to research. In this case, it worked in your favour.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@dodo19 Yeah that is one thing I definitely check because I love babysitting.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159041)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Apr 16
It is smart anyway, to always check the laws in a new area. I would think you had the smarts to do that.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159041)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Apr 16
@LovingMyBabies .....Some don't care about the laws too. They will have to learn the hard way.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@Juliaacv Well I think she was trying to be the Craigslist police and assumed no one knew about the laws. She was basically being a bully in my opinion.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48437)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
@LovingMyBabies Its a good thing that you know your business and could put her in her place, although I'm sure that you did it in a good way.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Apr 16
@amadeo If your watching more than one child at a time yeah you need a license.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Apr 16
@Tampa_girl7 Yeah I was glad I already looked into it months ago.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
1 Apr 16
Where I live you can have up to three without a license.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Apr 16
@irishidid I wish it was that many here but only one is allowed.
@UtopianIdealist (1604)
• United States
2 Apr 16
States have different laws, perhaps this person was familiar with another states law. I am glad the conversation ended well, as some might still argue even being presented the research. It can be frustrating when someone comes out of the blue to accuse one of something...especially when they are incorrect. I like to pretend that these people really have the best intentions, but sometimes it feels as if that is just not the case.
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
2 Apr 16
Every jurisdiction has different rules about licensing. And most places make a difference between in-home daycare (a small number of kids in your own home) and a more commercial daycare setting that would require licensing and inspection.
Glad you were able to clear the question up with minimal fuss!
