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Does that make a difference? My wife is pregnant and we will need childcare while we work starting when the baby is 6 weeks old. The day care provider is out of her home. She seems nice, has references, but no online reviews.
Check the rules. While it may have changed, in my state, you first have to licensed with state before you could apply for any type of local "license" or permission to operate in your local area.
So, are you sure that this person is following the legal requirements of your state?
Now, if she is only going to be caring for one child (your child) she may not need to licensed by the state (of course, it depends on the state) and how you feel about taking your child to an unlicensed child care provider.
There are the rules and there is what matters. Those are not the same thing.
It may be that in your state this is legit or not, you need to check your state law if you care about the rules.
What matters is whether or not you are happy with the provider. Do you like her? Do you trust her? Have you deeply checked her references (ie, you are sure they are from actual clients and not just friends)? Best of all, do you people that you independently know and trust speak well of her? What is the "vibe" of the place when you go there during her operating hours? Is that the vibe you want your kid in? Those are the things that matter, regardless of what the government says.
Where I am, a state license is needed. I doubt a town or village business license counts. It's also possible she has few enough kids that she doesn't need a license.
Starting at 6 weeks old? Wow...I would be really really careful. "She seems nice" doesn't cut it in my book. A baby so young is still quite fragile. Please do plenty of research, thoroughly check references, and make sure she is fully licensed by looking into your state requirements.
I stayed with a neighbor (who my parents paid) while my parents were at work for my entire childhood. No license required (not enough kids) and everything was fine. HOWEVER, my parents knew the neighbor very well and trusted them completely.
If you don't already know this person, be really careful, and get to know them now.
I teach preschool. I would absolutely never use any daycare that was not licensed by the state. The state ensures, if nothing else, that the environment is safe and basic safeguards are in place.
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