The Daycare Sisters

In this episode, we get honest about the year we couldn't get it together. We talk burnout, mental load, brain fog, longer hours, and the pressure to do it all as a home daycare provider. If you run a home daycare or family child care program and you have felt forgetful, stretched thin, or like you are the only one struggling to keep up, this one is for you. You are not alone. The comedian Bra...

Running a home daycare is one thing. Running one while raising twins, managing a first responder husband’s schedule, and figuring out policies as you go? That’s a whole different conversation. In this episode, Brandee sits down with Danielle, a certified early childhood educator and private home daycare owner in Ontario, Canada. Danielle has been running her daycare for five years, including throu...

In this episode, Brandee and Erin get personal about their hysterectomies - one sister had hers in 2022 and the other is heading into surgery the day after this recording. They cover years of being dismissed by doctors before diagnosis, the four types of hysterectomy, what recovery actually looks like, and the hard truth about taking time off when you run a home daycare. If you run a home daycare,...

In this episode, Brandee interviews Courtney, a legally unlicensed home daycare provider in Wisconsin who has built a large following as a daycare content creator. They cover what legally unlicensed care actually means, screening families before interviews, and balancing daycare with family life. If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this honest conversation will help you take yo...

In this episode we talk about what summer really looks like when you run a home daycare, from weaning kids off naps to saying goodbye to families and finding free things to do. If you run a home daycare, a family child care program, or you work with young children, this one will help you get through the end of the year and head into summer feeling a little less alone. KEY TAKEAWAYS- Summer in home...

Brandee sits down with Krista, "Krista the babysitter," who left center work after years of burnout to run her own in-home daycare, where she now earns more and chooses her own families, hours, and rules. https://www.facebook.com/KristaTheBabysitterhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kristathebabysitterhttps://www.instagram.com/kristathebabysitter/If you run a home daycare or family child care progr...

We cover how to manage multi-age groups in a home daycare — infants, toddlers, and preschoolers all at once — including how to set up your space, plan around the babies, and teach different ages at the same table. If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this one is honest about why multi-age is one of the hardest parts of the job, plus the real benefits of kids growing up together....

Brandee talks with Emily, a family daycare provider in Australia, about what home-based childcare looks like outside the United States. Emily shares how she started her family daycare, what licensing and provider support look like in Australia, how safety rules affect her home, and why she focuses on nature, community, preschool independence, excursions, and Christian values in her program. She al...

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 episo...

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, pl...

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...

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: • R...

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: ear...

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 conversatio...

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 hel...

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...

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 lo...

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, t...

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 a...

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_homedaycare We 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 reg...

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 actu...

In this episode, we cover what really happens during a baby’s first week at daycare, from the challenges no one talks about to what providers and parents can realistically expect. If you run a home daycare or are preparing to send your baby to one, this episode will help you understand the transition, reduce stress, and set better expectations for everyone involved. Key takeaways -Starting a baby...

We talk about what it’s really like leaving teaching to run a home daycare business, including the transition from the classroom, daily life as a provider, burnout, and balancing your own kids while caring for others. If you’re a teacher thinking about starting a home daycare or already running one, this episode gives you a real, honest look at the challenges, expectations, and rewards of making t...

In this episode, we talk about what it is really like to run a home daycare while raising your own kids, including boundaries, money mindset, and the realities no one talks about. If you run a home daycare or are thinking about starting one, this episode will help you understand the challenges, expectations, and mindset shifts that come with mixing business and family life. Key Takeaways Running a...

https://www.tiktok.com/@mamajacquedaycareIn this episode, we talk with a home daycare provider who turned a bad childcare experience into a 13-year career. We cover starting a daycare, managing family life, handling policies, and what it’s really like long-term. If you run a home daycare or are thinking about starting one, this episode will help you understand the reality of the job, the challenge...