Like Grandma's House, With a License — Home Daycare in Des Moines, IA
Doodlebug Days is childcare the way it used to be: eight kids, one devoted caregiver, pancakes at a big kitchen table, and a backyard worn soft by sneakers — with the training, license, and safety standards today's families deserve.
Small Is the Whole Point
Everything a big center can't offer, by design.
Eight Kids, Ever
Your child is one of eight — not one of eighty. Every scraped knee, inside joke, and milestone gets noticed.
One Familiar Face
The same caregiver at drop-off and pickup, every day, for years. That consistency is gold for little nervous systems.
Real Food, Real Table
Home-cooked breakfast, lunch, and snacks eaten together at the kitchen table — picky eaters welcome.
Siblings by Osmosis
Mixed ages means big kids mentor littles and littles stretch up — the family dynamic only home care gets.
Hours That Fit Real Jobs
Doors open at 6 AM for early shifts, and part-time schedules actually mean part-time.
Licensed & Trained
State-registered, CPR-certified, inspected — the warmth of home with none of the guesswork.
The Same Warm Hello for Eleven Years
Doodlebug Days is run by Miss Renae — early-childhood trained, CPR-certified, and the kind of person who remembers exactly which cup every child prefers. For eleven years, east-side families have handed her their mornings, and she's returned kids who can share, laugh at themselves, and set a table.
Her philosophy is simple: little kids need big love, real routines, and someone who's genuinely glad to see them. At a kitchen table on 33rd Street, that's exactly what happens.
- ✓Early-childhood trained & CPR certified
- ✓11 years, many families on their second child
- ✓State-registered & routinely inspected
- ✓Photos and updates through the day
What a Doodlebug Day Tastes, Sounds & Feels Like
Routines that feel like home — because they are.
1Pancake Mornings
Early birds arrive to a warm kitchen — breakfast together, sleepy chatter, and the day's plan on the fridge.
2Backyard Hours
Swing set, sandbox, sprinkler summers and leaf-pile falls — real outdoor time, twice a day.
3Stories & Quiet
After lunch it's books on the big couch, then naps for the littles and puzzles for the bigs.
Where the Doodlebugs Spend Their Days
Four Easy Steps to a Spot
Home daycares run on fit — for you, your child, and Miss Renae.
Say Hello
Call or send the form — we'll talk ages, schedule, and whether a spot is open or coming up.
Visit After Hours
Come see the house, the backyard, and the setup — evenings work best so the day isn't disrupted.
Meet the Crew
A short morning visit with your child to feel the rhythm and meet the other Doodlebugs.
Ease On In
A couple of half days, then full days — with photo updates from minute one.
Kids Who Don't Want to Go Home
Miss Renae has cared for both our girls since they were babies. She knows them like family because, honestly, she is family now. When our oldest started kindergarten she cried — about leaving daycare.
The difference from the big center we left is night and day. Same eight kids, same one amazing adult, real breakfasts, and a backyard they actually use. Our son finally settled.
As a nurse with early shifts, the 6 AM start saved my career. Drop-off in pajamas, breakfast at the big table, and photos of pancake mornings while I'm at the hospital. Priceless.
Mixed ages was the best surprise — our only child got 'siblings.' The big kids read to the littles at Doodlebug Days, and it melted me every single pickup.
Lunch Doesn't Come Off a Truck Here
Meals at Doodlebug Days are made in the same kitchen the kids can see — oatmeal and berries, cheesy broccoli pasta, taco Tuesdays that little people talk about all week. Menus follow state nutrition guidelines and land on your app every Monday.
Food is care you can taste: kids who eat together at a real table learn to try new things, pass the bowl, and linger over the good parts of the day.
- ✓Breakfast, lunch & snacks included
- ✓State nutrition guidelines, home flavor
- ✓Allergy-aware, always
- ✓Menus posted every Monday
Schedules That Fit Your Family
Full-Time Care (0 - 5 yrs)
Part-Time & Half Days
Before & After School
Infant Openings
Summer Care
Drop-In (space permitting)
What Families Ask Miss Renae
How is a home daycare licensed and inspected?
Doodlebug Days is registered with Iowa HHS, which means background checks, safety inspections, CPR/first-aid certification, and training hours every year — the same accountability as a center, in a home.
What are the ratios in a home daycare?
Iowa registration caps our group size, and we stay under it on purpose: never more than 8 children, with extra limits on how many can be under two. Your child is always one of a few, not one of many.
What happens if Miss Renae is sick or on vacation?
Families get a yearly calendar of planned closures well in advance, plus a vetted backup-care list. Sick closures are rare and communicated by 5:30 AM — honesty and early notice, always.
Do you take infants?
Yes, when a spot opens — infant spaces are the most limited by state rules, so they book far ahead. If you're expecting, reach out now and we'll be straight about timing.
Is there a backyard? Do kids watch TV?
Fenced backyard, used twice daily in decent weather. Screens are almost never part of our day — with eight kids, a sandbox, and a story chair, nobody's asking for them.
How does payment work?
Simple weekly rates, invoiced through the parent app, with Child Care Assistance accepted. The enrollment guide has the current rate sheet.
Ask About Openings
Tell us your child's age and the schedule you need. Miss Renae answers every inquiry herself — usually the same evening.