Organizing My Daycare Better???

If you have a downstairs would it be better to transfere everthing down there and turn that into the daycare and maybe come upstairs to eat?

Instead of using a table for a changing table, just get a travel changing pad and throw that on the floor for quick changes. That will free up the table and save you from sanitizing it constantly (possibly allowing you to move a second table out of the space). Besides, I wouldn't really want to use a table for anything else knowing it was used for diaper changes.

Our daughter's home-based daycare had a long table they used for snacks/meals and crafts and that was located in the play area near the kitchen. Without seeing your configuration, it's hard to know how to position things.

I don't know what your day and routine look like currently, but I would think that transfering them from the basement to the upstairs would be a nice change of scenery. If you are truely nervous about the baby on the stairs maybe get one of those front loading babycarriers that looks like a backpack. It would free up your hands during the walk.

As a parent I enjoy knowing their is a routine and a plan. (Even though most really young kids are play, eat, sleep..) Example of a routine you could advertise would be:

7am arrive in basement/free play
8am upstairs for Books, coloring, table work
8:30 serving breakfast
9am potty, clean up return downstairs
9:30 craft time structured activeties, tummy time
1030 free play
1130 upstairs for cooking/seated activety for little ones (bouncy seat for baby)
1200 lunch
1230 clean up and lay down for nap.
300 return to basement for free play and snack.
5pm pick up time.

Make your upstairs activeties structured and something to occupy the kids as you cook. The baby could have a bouncy seat or a bumbo seat so it is something small and can easily be moved out of the way. And keep a bucket of your activities you planned for that day. That way you get a great routine and still have your space you want in the basement. You also keep minimal daycare activeties in your house so the space is left for your family and their things.

It takes a lot of trial and error and working within your space and it's unique issues. I'm a little confused by saying you use your table for changing. That doesn't sound very sanitary. I hope I misunderstand.

I gave up using a changing table years ago. I learned very painfully that putting the children up at the table caused major pain in my wrists. So now I sit on the floor and change them, wash the entire wood floor area with wet ones and go back over it with a light bleach solution. It's easier, even at 44 years of age to get up off the floor than to ruin my joints picking the kids up so many times per day.

been doing the inhome daycare for 8+ years now....& I'm beginning to feel like I want my home back! For all holidays & family events, I take the time to remove all traces of the daycare out of my "work" space! I have the luxury of doing this because my sons are 14 & 23....& no grandchildren yet (thank you, Lord!).

That said, I use my living/dining/kitchen which is a great room setup. I have a gate which leads down the hall to the bedrooms/bathroom. I do this to keep the kids corralled when I'm busy with diapers, food prep, etc.
1. diapers: I use a vintage dry sink which has a bleachable top. Any sturdy cabinet or dresser works well for this.
2. meals & crafts: my coffee table is an antiq dining table that's been cut down to size. It has a bartop finish so it's bleachable. I use stackable plastic chairs for the kids which even 1y.o.s can use safely with my assistance.
3. craft, learning activ, & electronic toys: are all stored in a cabinet which only I can open. The children know they have to request access.
4. all other toys are stored in a toy chest, the kitchen playset, & 3 drawer cubby.
5. I rotate out the big toys: the ride-ons & the tent, the dress-up table & the washer/dryer combo. I also rotate out the dress-up clothes at my discretion....we do this about 1x week (or less). The doll bed stays in the room fulltime, as does the kitchen playset.
6. Naptime: the older children use sleeping bags for the pallet. The children <2 use packNplays.

For me, the most important part of my setup is not doing steps & having a bathroom accessible. According to state rules, I cannot wash my hands in the kitchen after diaper changes....I have to use the bathroom. It's a pain, but ....oh, well. So this makes me concerned that you are doing diapers in the kitchen & on a table which is used for other activities. I sincerely hope that you change that system!

I do like the idea of the baby's bed right there with you, but at some point - the noise level will affect sleep. What other arrangements can be made?

& as for the lack of space, I insist that the kids pick up after themselves after each/every toy or game rotation. Before meals, they also have to clean the entire space. They do this while I am doing food prep. For naptime & at the end of each day, the toys are all put away & the big stuff is lined up...either against the walls or along furniture. Having cabinets & toy chests really helps this process. Hope all of this helps!