Lit'l Bit Home Childcare

Regulation 7.2.2: The FCCP shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division for any new individuals, sixteen (16) years of age or older, residing in the FCCH or present more than five (5) times in 365 days during the FCCH's hours of operation as required in the rule 2.3.7.2 of these regulations.

“Mark Sutton has been residing in a camper behind the garage where the child care program is located. Both the provider and [name] were notified of the need for [name] to be fingerprinted on June 19th 2026 and this has still not been completed. Corrective Action: Mark Sutton must immediately complete fingerprinting and cannot be present at the home during child care hours until fingerprints have been taken and the record has been cleared. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.2.6.5: Sanitizing of the following items shall be done on the following schedule: Before and after each use: * Food preparation surfaces; and * Dining tables and highchair trays. After each use: * Eating utensils and dishes At the end of each day: * Food preparation appliances; * Plastic mouthed toys; and * Pacifiers.

“The microwave was visibly soiled with old food and liquid spills that had solidified. Additionally, there were green visibly fuzzy mold spore clumps the size of dimes present on the tray, walls and top of the microwave. When the door was opened there was an unpleasant smell and a fly flew out of the microwave. A staff member stated that the microwave had been used to prepare food for children the day before, despite the unsanitary conditions. Corrective Action: Immediately clean and sanitize the microwave. Add a cleaning schedule to your daily planner and identify who will be cleaning doing the cleaning. Send the daily cleaning schedule to include all types of cleaning to the licensor. This license is suspended until all corrective actions are satisfactorily completed. (During the suspension period the provider expired their license prior to completing corrective action.) Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.10.3.1.6: The outdoor play area shall be free of dumpsters, uncovered trash cans, highly flammable materials, standing pools of water and other hazards. The FCCP shall inspect the outdoor play area before children begin to play to make sure there are no hazards present such as, but not limited to, animal feces, litter, adult tools, or other items that might injure a child.

“An unmanned electric lawn mower was plugged in and propped upright against the side of the porch inside of the fenced in play yard with the blades accessible to children. There are several large boxes stacked in the play yard that reportedly hold a new pavilion or roof. These boxes appear to have been rained on and present for some time outside, as the lawn was mowed around them. There were three rusted gallon sized paint cans stacked approximately 12 feet from the entrance of the program. There were several large boxes which reportedly held solar panels leaned/against the walk way to the play area. There was a large white unstable shelf leaned on its side against the side of the house. Corrective Action: Immediately remove the lawn mower from the fenced in play yard and store the equipment where it is not accessible to children. Remove all hazards spread throughout. Ensure that you are reviewing the play space and the areas where children walk are free of debris, hazards and clutter. This license is suspended until all corrective actions are satisfactorily completed. (During the suspension period the provider expired their license prior to completing corrective action.) Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.10.4.5.1: The FCCP shall ensure that the FCCH, its furnishings, and toys are kept in a clean and orderly condition.

“The floors in the kitchen and dining areas were visibly soiled with dried and sticky food residue. The diaper changing table pad was visibly soiled and stained brownish/yellow. Corrective Action: Immediately clean and sanitize the program's floors and clean or replace the diaper changing pad. Create a plan that addresses when the floors and bathroom equipment will be cleaned and by whom. Send the plan to the licensor. This license is suspended until all corrective actions are satisfactorily completed. (During the suspension period the provider expired their license prior to completing corrective action.) Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.10.1.11.1: The FCCP shall ensure that the use of tobacco and tobacco substitutes (including e-cigarettes), alcohol and illegal drugs is prohibited at the FCCH (both indoor and outdoor environments used by children) when children are present and also in any vehicle used to transport children for program purposes.

“Upon our arrival to the program and exiting our vehicle, in the program's parking area, cigarette smoke could be detected. An individual, later identified as a household member, was smoking on the porch, which adjoins the play yard. Corrective Action: Immediately stop the use of any tobacco products during child care hours. Ensure that all household members are aware of this requirement. Let your licensor know how this will be addressed in the future. This license is suspended until all corrective actions are satisfactorily completed. (During the suspension period the provider expired their license prior to completing corrective action.) Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.10.4.4.1: The FCCP shall ensure that the FCCH has at least one (1) bathroom equipped with one (1) properly functioning toilet and hand sink.

“The bathroom has one (1) self-contained toilet. The toilet bowl itself was filled to approximately 2 inches from the brim with waste and wastewater. The toilet was not able to be flushed. A child used the toilet in this condition while we were present. Staff stated the child, as well as staff members, used the toilet earlier in the day and the day before. The director stated she understood the toilet was to be dumped daily but had not dumped it since September 4th, because the septic was backed up and she was unable to dispose of it. Corrective Action: Immediately clean and sanitize the toilet in the garage. The toilet must be replaced with a toileting system approved by the Department of Fire Safety prior to providing care to children. This license is suspended until all corrective actions are satisfactorily completed. (During the suspension period the provider expired their license prior to completing corrective action.) Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.10.2.1.3: The kitchen and all food preparation, storage and serving areas, and utensils shall be kept clean, sanitary, and free of insects, rodents, dust and other contaminants.

“All of the counters and tables holding equipment in the kitchen were covered in crumbs and bits of food. Corrective Action: Immediately clean and sanitize the kitchen area including all counter tops and tables holding kitchen equipment. Add a cleaning schedule to your daily schedule and ensure that all staff are aware. This license is suspended until all corrective actions are satisfactorily completed. (During the suspension period the provider expired their license prior to completing corrective action.) Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.11.6.5: If more than one (1) child in care has bottles, all bottles shall be individually labeled with the infant's name and refrigerated immediately after preparation by the FCCP and/or staff or upon arrival if prepared by a parent.

“The program has two (2) infants in care that are both served breast milk. There were two (2) labeled and three (3) unlabeled breast milk pouches in the freezer stored together that staff said belonged to two (2) different infants. All bottles were also unlabeled. When pointed out, the director reported being unaware that some of the pouches were not labeled. Corrective Action: All bottles and breast milk pouches must be labeled with each individual child's name moving forward. Develop a process identifying who will be responsible for labeling pouches and bottles moving forward. Send this information to your licensor. Any unlabeled breast milk pouches must be returned unused to the child's family. This license is suspended until all corrective actions are satisfactorily completed. (During the suspension period the provider expired their license prior to completing corrective action.) Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 7.1.2.2: The FCCP shall ensure that at least one (1) responsible adult who has successfully completed and is currently certified in pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR is on the premises at all times children are present.

“When we arrived at the program, a staff member without CPR/First Aid certification was left alone working with children and had been since she opened in the morning. She had also worked alone on previous days. Corrective Action: The staff member must immediately complete CPR/First Aid training. The staff member cannot be left alone with children until the training has been completed. The documentation must be sent and uploaded into their Northern Lights Credential account. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 7.3.2: The licensed FCCP that operates a licensed FCCH shall ensure and maintain documentation that he/she is at least eighteen (18) years of age, is a high school graduate or has completed a GED, and meets or exceeds one (1) of the following qualifications: * At least a Vermont Early Childhood Career Ladder Level Two (2) or Level Three (3) A Certificate; or * At least a current CDA (Child Development Associate Credential) from the National Council for Professional Recognition and twelve (12) months experience working with groups of children grade three (3) or younger; or * At least a Child Care Certificate from Community College of Vermont and twelve (12) months experience working with groups of children grade three (3) or younger; or * At least a Certificate of Completion from the Vermont Registered Child Care Apprenticeship Program; or * At least successful completion of twelve (12) college credits in content consistent with the core knowledge areas identified by Northern Lights Career Development Center (NLCDC) and twelve (12) months experience working with groups of children grade three (3) or younger.

“Daisy Laflam does not meet minimum qualifications for this licensed child care program. A variance was granted for Daisy to finish obtaining her qualifications by August 1, 2026 and was told to reach out to the Division if this schedule was not able to be maintained. The licensee asked for an extension until July 31st and as of the date of this site visit still has not completed educational requirements. Corrective Action: You must complete and obtain the minimum qualifications needed for this position. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 6.1.4.1.1: Toys, materials and equipment shall be varied and available in a quantity that allows all children to benefit from their use, allows a range of choices, and reduces conflicts between children.

“The classroom shelves were bare of any materials at all. The kitchen in the dramatic play area was void of any props. The dress up area had no materials at all. There were no art supplies. There was a fire truck and book on the floor as well as a few additional objects, possibly a plastic yellow drumstick. When asked how long the classroom had been bare of anything to do, the director stated the classroom items were removed prior to three days ago, but less than two weeks, due to the hand, foot, and mouth virus being present in the program. At the time of the visit the director stated that laundered materials had not been cleaned yet, but hard surfaced materials had been disinfected but not placed back in the classroom. Corrective Action: Immediately clean and sanitize classroom materials and place them back in the classroom for children's use. Create a plan that addresses who is responsible for cleaning contaminated materials and when the materials will be cleaned and put back into the classroom. This plan must include a timeline that ensures children have access to developmentally appropriate materials as soon as possible. Send this plan to the licensor. This license is suspended until all corrective actions are satisfactorily completed. (During the suspension period the provider expired their license prior to completing corrective action.) Status: Appeal Period.”