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Home › MI › Falmouth › Busy Bees Daycare
State records list this provider as Closed. Review the inspection and enforcement history below, and confirm the current status on the official state source before enrolling.
6617 S Cedar St, Falmouth MI 49632 · License #DC570398152 · Center · Center
Not published by the state. Owners can add hours via profile claim.
When they operate
Ages served
R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self- control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.
I completed an onsite inspection at the child care facility on 3/30/2022. During that time, I interviewed child care staff members Helena Snider and Nicholle Parsell, and licensee Amber Gage. I first entered the infant room where Ms. Snider was caring for three infants. We first discussed if at any time Ms. Snider has been told to take away a child's blanket or mat when they are fussy. She stated that she is typically always in the infant room and that they are all under twelve months of age, so they sleep in cribs without blankets. I also asked Ms. Snider if she ever witnessed another caregiver take away a child's blanket or mat for being fussy and she stated absolutely not. The infant room did have highchairs in the room, so I asked Ms. Snider if Ms. Gage ever told her to leave children in highchairs when they are being fussy. Ms. Snider stated that she has never been told by Ms. Gage or anyone else at the center to discipline children, specifically to leave them in a highchair for the day. 2 Ms. Parsell was caring for four toddlers in the toddler child care room during my onsite inspection. She stated that she has started recently and, in her time working there, she has mostly worked in the toddler room. She has worked in the infant room on occasion. The toddler room did not have highchairs. The toddlers sit at a small child size table for meals. Ms. Parsell stated that she has never put a child in a highchair for discipline and has not observed anyone doing so. I was able to observe Ms. Parsell getting the toddlers ready for nap time and she was laying out cots. Each child also had their own blanket. Ms. Parsell stated that she has never refused a child their blanket or cot due to behaviors nor had she been told to do so before. I spoke with Ms. Gage about all the allegations. Ms. Gage was visibly upset and stated that many of these allegations have already been investigated in the past and that she feels there is a previous staff member that is harassing her by making these allegations. She stated that only positive forms of discipline are used in the center. At no time would an infant, toddler, or preschooler be placed in restraint of any sort because they were fussy. Ms. Gage stated that she has never told a child care staff member to take a blanket or mat away from a child and she has never witnessed this be done at her child care center. While at the facility I observed the preschool children laying down for nap on mats and blankets.
Child care staff members do not use positive discipline methods; they place children in high chairs for the day when they are fussy. In addition, they remove blankets and mats from children when they are fussy. The child care facility dilutes the bleach water that is used to sanitize required services. Child care staff members in the infant room, prop infant's bottles. The child care center only provides water to the children.
Disposition: Substantiated
A toddler was observed dressed in winter clothing and strapped into a high chair for four to five hours. Child D (three-month-old, female) was observed sleeping in a car seat for four hours. Child care staff member Ms. Erial Lown was observed feeding infants by propping bottles on Boppy pillows.
Disposition: Substantiated
Child A (4-year-old, female), B (4-year-old, male) and C's (2- year-old, male) Father was wrongly removed from the child information card, baring him access to his children. Staff at Busy Bee's would not speak with Child A, B and C's Father regarding concerns that he had. Child A, B and C's Father was denied information regarding his children while in child care. Child A, B and C's Father was unable to reach staff at the child care for multiple days while his children were at the center.
Disposition: Substantiated
A child care staff member was not providing appropriate care and supervision when screaming at an infant.
Disposition: Substantiated
Generated from this facility's specific inspection record
Data synced from Michigan MiLEAP, Child Care Licensing Bureau on Jul 9, 2026 · Source records · Report an error
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8179 · R 400.8179 Program. (7) When awake, use of confining equipment for infants must be minimized, not to exceed 30 minutes at a time.
Ms. Snider disinfected the diaper changing area when I was in the room observing. I asked Ms. Snider how the bleach water is made. She stated that Ms. Gage in charge of it so she is not really sure. Ms. Parsell stated that she did not know how the bleach water was made at the center. Ms. Gage and I tested the bleach bottles throughout the child care center. Some of them were too potent with bleach and she diluted them while I was at the facility. Ms. Gage and I discussed that some of the water bottles were recently bought and were a bit smaller so that is why the measurement was off. Ms. Gage will test the bleach solution each time it is made to insure it is the correct amount of bleach for sanitization.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: physical safety. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8325 · R 400.8325 Sanitization. (1) All tableware, utensils, food contact surfaces, and food service equipment must be thoroughly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use. Multi-purpose tables must be thoroughly washed, rinsed, and sanitized before and after they are used for meals or snacks. 4
I observed the infant room for a duration of time, Ms. Snider fed one infant a bottle while holding him in the rocking chair. I asked how the older infants in the room are fed their bottles. She stated that some of them can hold their bottles by themselves, so they may lay next to a child care staff member on the floor and drink their bottles. However, some of them still like to be held so they hold them. Ms. Parsell stated that she has never propped a bottle up for an infant to drink. She stated that she has not worked enough in the infant room to state whether another child care staff member has propped a bottle up to feed an infant. Ms. Gage stated that several months ago there was a child care staff member that was propping bottles and that child care staff member no longer works for the center. She stated that they have worked super hard with the current staff members to make sure this no longer happens at this child care facility.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8330 · 1 R 400.8330 Food services and nutrition generally. (20) Bottle propping is prohibited.
Ms. Snider in the infant room indicated that the children in her classroom still take bottles, so they are given water in sippy cups as they get old enough. She does not have children in her room that are old enough to drink milk yet. Ms. Parsell stated that she gives the children water at some meals and milk at other meals. Many times the milk is served at snack and breakfast, while water is served at lunch. Some of the children do not like milk so they are just given water. While at the child care facility I looked in the kitchen to see if there was milk in the refrigerator to serve to the children after Ms. Gage stated that the children are served milk at the center. There was not any milk in the refrigerator but Ms. Gage showed me the trash in which gallons of milk were towards the top. Ms. Gage stated that she was planning to go to the grocery store after work that day.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: nutrition. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8335 · R 400.8335 1 Food services and nutrition; provided by center. (1) Food and beverages provided by a center must be of sufficient quantity and nutritional quality to provide for the dietary needs of each child according to the minimum meal requirements of the child and adult care food program (CACFP), as administered by the Michigan department of education, based on 7 CFR part 226, 1-1-18 edition, (2018) of the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, CACFP, and is hereby adopted by reference. A copy can be obtained at no cost from CACFP at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks. In addition, a copy is available for inspection and distribution at no cost at the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems, Child Care Division, 611 West Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48933.
I was able to observe Vitamin D milk at the child care facility and the child care staff members indicated children are served milk.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: health medication. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8335 · ....... ............................ ................ R 400.8335 Food services and nutrition; provided by center. (3) Infants shall only be served formula to drink unless written authorization is provided by the child's licensed health care provider. .................................... ........
There is no evidence that infants are served water.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: health medication. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8188 · R 400.8188 Sleeping, resting, and supervision. (3) Infants shall rest or sleep alone in cribs or porta-cribs.
Ms. Gage failed to ensure that infants rest or sleep alone in cribs or porta-cribs. Child D was left sleeping in a car seat.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self- control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.
On 12/15/2021 Ms. McPeck stated she usually works in the toddler room. The toddler room is located on the main level of the building and is directly across from the infant room. Ms. Lown usually works in the infant room by herself. Ms. McPeck has observed child care staff members propping infants' bottles. Ms. Gage has yelled at child care staff members for doing this. Child A prefers to sleep in a swing and does not like sleeping in a crib. Ms. Lown is working with him to get him to sleep in a crib. The highchair is Child B's safe spot. Child care staff members have been working to help her feel safe out of the highchair. They would let her sit in the highchair for 15 or 20 minutes and take her out for 20 minutes. She is much more comfortable being out of the highchair now. Child B was never placed in a highchair for five hours with her winter clothing on. On 12/15/2021, Ms. Lown reported that Child D was left sleeping in a car seat from 6 to 7 am when she arrived. When Ms. Lown arrived, she texted Child D's Mother to ask if she could take Child D out of the car seat. Child D's Mother stated that she did not want him taken out of the car seat. Child A cries all the time and it can get overwhelming. On one occasion, she told Ms. Gage that she was overwhelmed. Ms. Gage came upstairs and took Child A down to the preschool room. Ms. Lown is in the infant room by herself and there are between two and four infants in the room with her. She has struggled with having several infants ready to eat at the same time, and there have been times when she has fed infants by propping a bottle on a Boppy pillow while she is holding and feeding other infants. Ms. Lown has been working hard to stagger infants' feeding times so that they do not all want to eat at the same time. Ms. Lown denied that she has ever seen Child B sitting in a high chair for hours. On 12/15/2021, Ms. Beerens works on the lower level of the building and does not have much opportunity to observe the infant room that is on the main level of the building. She has never observed Child B strapped in a high chair, Child D sleeping in a car seat, or bottle propping. On 12/15/2021, Ms. Grainger denied that she has ever observed bottle propping, infants sleeping in anything other than a crib, or a child strapped in a high chair for long periods of time. She does not typically see what goes on in the infant and toddler rooms because she is not on the same floor as they are. On 12/15/2021, Ms. Gage explained that Child B would spend short periods of time in the highchair because that was her safe space. She has never been in the high chair for longer than a half an hour. Child care staff members worked with her to feel safe being on the floor with the other children in care. She is now comfortable interacting with the other children and she does not seek out the highchair as a safe spot. She denied that Child D was ever left sleeping in a car seat for hours at a time. On 01/24/2022, a call was made to Child A's (seven-month-old, male) Mother. Voicemail has not been set up on this telephone. On 01/24/2022, a voicemail message was left requesting a return call from Child B's (twenty-three-month-old, female) Mother. She has not returned my call as of the date of this report. On 02/09/2022, Ms. Lown stated that the incident involving Child D sleeping in a car seat occurred sometime in November. She does not recall the exact date. 7 On 02/09/2022 I interviewed Child D's Mother. She stated she is a former child care staff member. On the date that Child D was sleeping in the car seat, she dropped Child D off at 6:00 am when her shift began. She received a call from Ms. Lown at approximately 10:00 am. Ms. Lown asked if it was ok to take Child D out of the car seat. Child D's Mother stated she was upset that this had happened, but she was not surprised because it was a common practice to leave infants sleeping in car seats.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment. I
There is no evidence that Ms. Amber Gage has physically punished a child by hitting or slapping a child.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. ............................. (3) Non-severe and developmentally appropriate discipline or restraint may be used when reasonably necessary, based on a child's development, to prevent a child from harming himself or herself or to prevent a child from harming other persons or property, excluding those forms of punishment prohibited by subrule (2) of this rule.
There is insufficient evidence that Ms. Amber Gage has utilized restraint in an inappropriate manner. Child care staff members and Child C's Mother reported that Ms. Gage uses a "bear hug" restraint to prevent Child C from harming themselves or others.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8125 · .................................................................................................................................................................... R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.
Ms. Amber Gage failed to ensure that all staff and volunteers provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. Child D was left sleeping in a car seat for at least an hour. ...............
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8176 · R 400.8176 Sleeping equipment. (6) Car seats, infant seats, swings, bassinets, and play yards are not approved sleeping equipment.
Ms. Amber Gage failed to ensure that infants do not sleep in car seats. On at least one occasion, Child D was left sleeping in a car seat for at least an hour.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: physical safety. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8188 · R 400.8188 Sleeping, resting, and supervision. (11) Infants and toddlers who fall asleep in a space that is not approved for sleeping shall be moved to approved sleep equipment appropriate for their age and size. Z
Ms. Gage failed to ensure that infants who fall asleep in a space that is not approved for sleeping are moved to approved sleep equipment appropriate for their age and size. Child D was left sleeping in a car seat for at least one hour after being dropped off by his mother.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8330 · 1 R 400.8330 Food services and nutrition generally. (20) Bottle propping is prohibited.
Ms. Gage failed to ensure that bottle propping was not done. Ms. Lown is assigned to the infant room by herself. To ensure that all infants are fed on demand, Ms. Lown has propped bottles.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: nutrition. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8125 · ................................................................................................................. R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.
Ms. Amber Gage failed to ensure that all staff and volunteers provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. Ms. Lown is leaving children unattended to use the restroom or to change diapers throughout the day.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8143 · R 400.8143 Children's records. (1) At the time of a child's initial attendance, a center shall obtain a child information card, using a form provided by the department or a comparable substitute, that is completed and signed by the child's parent. The center shall keep it on file and accessible in the center.
Ms. Amber Gage failed to ensure that child information cards were completed and signed by parents prior to a child's initial attendance. There was not a completed child information card for Child D. ............... ....... ..................................................... .......
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8110 · R 400.8110 Applicant; licensee; licensee designee; requirements. (8) A child shall be released to either parent or the child's guardian, unless a court order prohibits release to a particular parent. A copy of the order prohibiting release must be kept on file at the center.
On June 3, 2021, I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection. I spoke with licensee designee Ms. Amber Gage and informed her of the allegations. Ms. Gage reported that she did remove Child A, B, and C's Father from Child A, B and C's children's information card at the request of Child A, B and C's Mother. Ms. Gage stated that she was not aware that she needed a court order to not have the children's father listed as an approved person for pickup. Ms. Gage never refused Child A, B and C's Father access to his children as he did not pick up or drop off his children while his name was not on the child information card. 2 Child A, B and C's Father explained that during a meeting he was informed by Child A, B and C's Mother that his name had been removed from the child information card at the child care center. He was never denied picking up his children by the child care as he never tried to pick them up.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8113 · R 400.8113 Program director qualifications; responsibilities. (3) All program directors are responsible for the general management of the center, including the following minimum responsibilities: (b) Administering day-to-day operations, including being available to address parent, child, and staff issues.
Ms. Gage stated that Child A, B and C's Father did make attempts to contact her by phone. However, at the times he called, she was not available. She did speak with him regarding his name being removed from the child information card and explained that after she received clarification his name had been added back to the child information card. She ended the conversation with Child A, B, and C's Father because he began to become verbally aggressive. Child A, B, and C's Father stated that he did not speak to Ms. Gage immediately regarding his concerns, as she was not available when he made attempts. However, he did speak with her. He was informed that he would be placed back on the child information card. Child A, B and C's Father did not express during the interview that any information regarding his children was kept from him. He stated that he has not made attempts to pick his children up from the child care center. 3
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8146 · R 400.8146 Information provided to parents. (3) For infants and toddlers, a center shall provide parents with a written daily record that includes at least the following information: (a) Food intake time, type of food, and amount eaten. (b) Sleeping patterns indicating when and how long the child slept. (c) Elimination patterns, including bowel movements, consistency, and frequency. (d) Developmental milestones. (e) Changes in the child's usual behaviors.
Child A, B, and C's Father stated that he contacted the center to speak with Ms. Gage. However, he was told she would return his call when she was available. Child A, B, and C's Father did not speak with Ms. Gage immediate. Yet, he did have a chance to speak with her regarding his concerns. 4
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: nutrition. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8164 · R 400.8164 Telephone service. (2) During the hours the center is in operation, a phone number known to the public and available to parents to provide immediate access to the center must be provided.
There was a working phone number known to the public and available to parents. ................... ........................................................................................................... .
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8122 · R 400.8122 Lead caregiver; qualifications; responsibilities. (1) Lead caregivers are required only for groups of children who are preschool age and younger. I
Ms. Gage did not ensure that she has qualified lead caregivers assigned to groups of children preschool age and younger.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.
On 10/14/2020, 1 received a complaint alleging that an unknown child care staff member was overheard screaming, "Stop. I do not want to deal with you. You can stay over there." The child care staff member was screaming at an unknown infant who could be heard crying. I interviewed the complainant, who reported that he/she was picking up his/her child on 10/13/2020 at approximately 3:00 P.M. and was standing at the desk next to the infant room. He/she heard someone yell, "Stop crying. I don't even want to deal with you. You can sit over there." The individual could also hear a child crying but could not say how old that child might be. The complainant thought that the infant and 2 toddler rooms were combined at that time of day, so the child could have been an infant or a toddler. The complainant was going to go find Ms. Amber Gage, the owner, but Ms. Gage then walked out of the infant room. The complainant denied that the person yelling was Ms. Gage. At the onsite inspection, I interviewed the licensee Ms. Amber Gage, as well as child care staff members from the infant and toddler rooms. I asked Ms. Gage about the procedures at the center regarding combining rooms at the end of the day. They combine the infant and toddler rooms around 5:00 P.M. On October 13th, Child Care Staff Member 1 (CCSM1) was working in the infant room until 4:00 P.M. and Ms. Kaylee Berry was in there until 5:00 or 5:30 P.M. Ms. Gage was also working in the infant room during that time. I informed Ms. Gage of the allegations and she said that she did not remember this incident. She then reported that CCSM1 may have been yelling at her own child (Child A) stating, "She may have been tired of dealing with her own kid." Ms. Gage denied any concerns regarding CCSM1's caregiving, stating that Child A is fussy. She stated that, "She [CCSM1] has her moments where she says her thing, walks away, and lets her fuss for a minute." Ms. Gage stated she is okay with this "only because I know her." Ms. Gage denied that CCSM1 talks to any children like this other than her own, but she stated "She [CCSM1] says it all the time," but she does not usually raise her voice. I informed Ms. Gage that staff must follow all child care licensing rules for all children including their own; Ms. Gage stated she did not know this. CCSM1 has worked at the center for over a year and works from 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. in the infant room. I reviewed the allegation with CCSM1, who replied, "That is insanely shocking to me." She denied that any child care staff members talk to children in such a manner, that she has heard anyone say the things in the allegation, and that she said them. The staff members console children when they are upset. I shared with CCSM1 that Ms. Gage thought CCSM1 might have been talking to Child A and she agreed that she may have said that to her own child, Child A, who she identified as a "horrible self-soother" and who sometimes has to cry it out, stating, "sometimes she's just angry." CCSM1 denied that she has ever talked to any other child in care in that manner. I informed CCSM1 that staff members' children must be treated like all other child care children. Ms. Kaylee Berry has worked in the infant room since the end of June 2020. I reviewed the allegation with her. She denied recalling the incident and denied that staff ever yell at children. Ms. Berry reported that CCSM1 sometimes gets frustrated with Child A, who cries a lot, and may have yelled at her. She has heard CCSM1 tell Child A to stop crying and sometimes leaves her to "cry it out." Ms. Berry denied that she has any concerns with the center or with CCSM1's care. Ms. Autumn Minzey identified that she is the acting lead caregiver in the toddler room, across the hall from the infant room. She denied that she has ever heard any of the infant caregiving staff yell at children, nor has she heard staff get frustrated with their own children. She denied any concerns with the center. 3 Child A and B's Mother r
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.
CCSM1 did not utilize positive methods of discipline when she yelled at her child, saying, "I do not want to deal with you. You can stay over there."
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8110 · R 400.8110 Applicant; licensee; licensee designee; requirements. (6) The licensee or licensee designee shall maintain accurate records detailing daily arrival and departure times for each child care staff member, child care aide, and volunteer.
Ms. Gage did not maintain records of daily arrival and departure times for child care staff members.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8143 · R 400.8143 Children's records. (11) A center shall maintain an accurate record of daily attendance at the center that includes each child's first and last name and each child's arrival and departure time. Electronic records may be used. If electronic attendance records are used, then they must be available to the department at the time of an inspection. If the electronic attendance records are not available during an on-site inspection, then the center is in violation of this rule. A
Ms. Gage did not ensure that accurate daily attendance records are kept and that electronic records are available.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8167 · R 400.8167 Indoor space. (1) The required square footage of indoor space per child must be at least the following: (b) Thirty-five square feet for preschoolers and school- agers.
Ms. Gage did not ensure that preschool-aged children have at least 35 square feet of indoor space per child. When 16 children were present in the blue room, each child only had 32.5 square feet of usable space.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: physical safety. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8380 · R 400.8380 Maintenance of premises. (1) The premises must be maintained in a clean and safe condition and must not pose a threat to health or safety.
Ms. Gage did not maintain the premises in a safe condition when power tools were left in a stairwell.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: health medication. Open / not marked corrected.
R 400.8525 · ................. R 400.8525 Exits. (6) Means of egress shall be maintained in an unobstructed, easily traveled condition at all times that the center is in operation. Means of egress shall not be exposed to inherent hazards of the building, including the heating plant, flammable storage, commercial kitchen, or other similar conditions.
Ms. Gage did not ensure that exits remain unobstructed when she had a door blocked by a tote and a vacuum cleaner and stairs blocked by a chainsaw, extension cord, and sander.
Open Not marked corrected in the state record
Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.