DHSS MO
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OFFICE OF CHILDHOOD

GROUP HOME AND CENTER INSPECTION REPORT
Facility Information

BALLOONS, BEARS & BABIES, INC.

001927062

(314) 381-8697

6307 WINDHAM AVE
ST LOUIS
MO  63120-1523

BALLOONS, BEARS & BABIES, INC.



 

SIMON-WHEELER, TWANDA

TWANDABBB@AOL.COM

Incorporated

LAUREN A LEON

6 WEEKS - 12 YEARS

30

GROUP HOME AND CENTER

5 CHILDREN UNDER 12 MONTHS; 8 CHILDREN UNDER 24 MONTHS
 
Inspection Information

05/20/2026

9:15 AM

10:12 AM

UNANNOUNCED

COMPLIANCE MONITORING

2513845154


DocumentDocument-Date
DIRECTOR'S QUALIFICATIONS 12/01/2004
LOCAL BUILDING APPROVAL 11/18/2025
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 01/09/2003
SAMPLE WEEKLY MENU 01/09/2003
LINES OF ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY 01/09/2003
POLICIES 01/09/2003
SAMPLE FORMS 01/09/2003
DISCIPLINE POLICIES 01/09/2003
DIAGRAM/INDOOR 10/17/2002
DAILY SCHEDULE 01/09/2003
CHILD CARE PRACTICES 01/09/2003
DIAGRAM/OUTDOOR 10/17/2002
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION 08/14/2003
APPLICATION 08/30/2019
STAFF SHEET 11/18/2020
CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING 11/13/2024
SANITATION INSPECTION 07/16/2025
EQUIPMENT LIST 11/18/2025
FIRE/SAFETY INSPECTION 08/12/2025
ANNUAL DECLARATION 11/18/2025
LISTING OF CHILD CARE STAFF/HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS 11/18/2025
LOCAL ZONING APPROVAL 11/18/2025

Overlap Start TimeOverlap End TimeOverlap Submit Date
  3:00PM   5:00PM   2/17/2005



Inspection determined facility to be in compliance with licensing rules.
Compliance Licensing Rules
Open Violations: 3
NOTE
The licensee is responsible for compliance with all licensing rules, including but not limited to the rules listed on this compliance report form.
Attendance at Time of Inspection
Total Staff 2
Total Children 6
StaffChildClass AgeNote
1 1 INFANTS AND TODDLERS LaQuita Howard, caregiver, present with one child in attendance, aged 5-months-old.
1 5 MIXED Twanda Wheeler, director, present with five children in attendance, ages ranging from 2-years-old to 4-years-old. Two of the children were 2-years-old.

Compliance List
5 CSR 25-500.032 Organization and Administration
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.042 Licensing Process
Not Observed
5 CSR 25-500.052 Annual Requirements
Violation
 Provider Comments
Violation
The facility is owned by a legal entity that currently shows as dissolved on Missouri Secretary of State's website.
Licensing Rule Reference
5 CSR 25-500.052 Annual Requirements (2) (D) states: Documentation as required by the Missouri Secretary of State and state law to verify the legal entity is in good standing, if a group child care home or child care center is owned by a legal entity.
Correction Required
The facility shall submit evidence that the legal entity is in good standing with the Missouri Secretary of State and state law.

Correction Verification
Submit Documentation

Compliance Date

Violation
The Family Care Safety Registry check was not conducted for LaQuita Howard, Melody Simon, and Twanda Wheeler within thirty (30) days prior to the anniversary date.
Licensing Rule Reference
5 CSR 25-500.052 Annual Requirements (2) (C) states: The child care provider shall conduct a Family Care Safety Registry check for all child care staff members within thirty (30) days prior to the anniversary date as printed on the license.
Correction Required
Required Family Care Safety Registry checks shall be conducted for all child care staff member(s) within thirty (30) days prior to the anniversary date.

Correction Verification
Submit Documentation

Compliance Date
4/29/2026
5 CSR 25-500.082 Physical Requirements of Group Day Care Homes and Day Care Centers
Violation
 Provider Comments
Violation
The facility's outdoor space was not safe for children's activities as evidenced by one piece of siding with sharp edges was present in the outdoor space.
Licensing Rule Reference
5 CSR 25-500.082 Physical Requirements of Group Day Care Homes and Day Care Centers (6) (A) 4. states: The play area shall be safe for children's activities, well-maintained, free of hazards such as poisonous plants, broken glass, rocks or other debris and shall have good drainage.
Correction Required
The outdoor play area shall be clean, safe and well-maintained as required.

Correction Verification
Submit Documentation

Compliance Date
4/17/2026
Violation
The facility did not have a fenced outdoor play area that was on or adjoining the day care property and was accessible without hazard as evidenced by the fence was not in good condition in that the gate that restricts access to the road and the front of the building was detached from the building.
Licensing Rule Reference
5 CSR 25-500.082 Physical Requirements of Group Day Care Homes and Day Care Centers (6) (A) 1. states: A fenced outdoor play area shall be available on or adjoining the day care property. The play area shall be located so it is convenient and the children can gain access to it without hazard. For facilities initially licensed after the effective date of these rules or for the installation of new fences in existing facilities, the fence shall be at least forty-two inches (42") high. An outdoor play area used exclusively for school-age children shall not be required to have a fence. Fences shall be constructed to prevent children from crawling or falling through or becoming entrapped.
Correction Required
The outdoor play area shall be accessible without hazard.

Correction Verification
Submit Documentation

Compliance Date
4/17/2026
Violation
Children were not restricted to approved space as evidenced by one 5-month-old was cared for in a classroom that has not been approved as infant/toddler space by the Division of Fire Safety, Bureau of Environmental Health Services, and the Office of Childhood.
Licensing Rule Reference
5 CSR 25-500.082 Physical Requirements of Group Day Care Homes and Day Care Centers (1) (C) states: Children shall have no access to areas not approved for child care.
Correction Required
Caregivers shall restrict children to approved space.

Correction Verification
Return Inspection

Compliance Date

5 CSR 25-500.087 Fire Safety
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.090 Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.092 Furniture, Equipment and Materials
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.102 Personnel
Violation
 Provider Comments
Violation
Safe sleep training was not completed within the past 3 years for the following staff Twanda Wheeler and Melody Simon.
Licensing Rule Reference
5 CSR 25-500.102 Personnel (4) (A) . states: Every three (3) years, the child care provider, group child care home provider, child care staff members, and volunteers in a group child care home or child care center licensed to provide care for infants less than one (1) year of age shall successfully complete department-approved training regarding the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations contained in the American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on sleep-related infant deaths. The Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment, July 2022, is incorporated by reference in this rule, as published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and available at https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/1/e2022057990/188304/Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths-Updated-2022 or as published in PEDIATRICS Volume 150, Issue 1, July 2022. A copy can also be obtained from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood, 205 Jefferson Street, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480 and at https://dese.mo.gov/governmental-affairs/deseadministrativerules/incorporated-reference-materials. This rule does not incorporate any subsequent amendments or additions.
Correction Required
The director, group home provider, other caregivers, and those volunteers counted in staff/child ratio, shall complete department-approved safe sleep training as required.

Correction Verification
Submit Documentation

Compliance Date
4/20/2026
Violation
The requirements for obtaining 12 clock hours each calendar year were not met. For the calendar year of 2024, the staff listed need the following information: Melody Simon needs 8 hours and Twanda Wheeler needs 8 hours.
Licensing Rule Reference
5 CSR 25-500.102 Personnel (3) (A) states: The center director, group child care home provider, all other caregivers, and those volunteers who are counted in staff/child ratios shall obtain at least twelve (12) clock hours of child-care related training during each calendar year. Clock hour training shall be approved by the department.
Correction Required
Required training hours shall be documented for each caregiver.

Correction Verification
Submit Documentation

Compliance Date
4/20/2026
5 CSR 25-500.112 Staff/Child Ratios
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.122 Medical Examination Reports
Not Observed
5 CSR 25-500.132 Admission Policies and Procedures
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.142 Nighttime Care
Not Observed
5 CSR 25-500.162 Overlap Care of Children
Not Observed
5 CSR 25-500.172 Emergency School Closings
Not Observed
5 CSR 25-500.182 Child Care Program
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.192 Health Care
Violation
 Provider Comments
Violation
Facility did not submit the 2026 annual summary report showing immunization status of each child enrolled by January 15.
Licensing Rule Reference
5 CSR 25-500.192 Health Care (4) (D) states: The administrator of each day care facility shall prepare a record of immunization of each child enrolled in or attending the facility. An annual summary report shall be made by January 15 showing the immunization status of each child enrolled, using forms provided by the department (see 19 CSR 40-61.185). The immunization records shall be available for review by department personnel upon request.
Correction Required
Facility shall submit an annual summary report by January 15 showing the immunization status of each child enrolled.

Correction Verification
Submit Documentation

Compliance Date

5 CSR 25-500.202 Nutrition and Food Service
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.212 Transportation and Field Trips
Compliance
5 CSR 25-500.222 Records and Reports
Compliance
5 CSR 25-600.020 General Requirements
Compliance
5 CSR 25-600.040 Background Screening Findings
Compliance
RSMo 210.115. Reports of abuse, neglect, and under age eighteen deaths — persons required to report — supervisors and administrators not to impede reporting — deaths required to be reported to the division or child fatality review panel, when — report made to another state, when. —
Compliance
RSMo 210.211.  License required - exceptions - written notice of licensure status, when.
Compliance