Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77047
Between Jan 29, 2024 (the first state visit on record) and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Mary's Little Lamb Academy for 26 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 14 routine inspections and 5 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 11 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.1205 (3 times, most recently Jul 22, 2025).
The state lists Mary's Little Lamb Academy as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri). Programs on file: Before School Care, Meals Provided, After School Care, Snacks Provided, Transportation to/from School. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 26 violations at Mary's Little Lamb Academy, 11 fall under rules Texas weights High and 10 under Medium High; the state sets each rule’s weight by the risk a violation poses to children. How weights work
| Weight | Violations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| High | 11 | 42% |
| Medium High | 10 | 38% |
| Medium | 5 | 19% |
| Medium Low | 0 | 0% |
| Low | 0 | 0% |
Mary's Little Lamb Academy had 26 violations since Jan 29, 2024, a shorter record than most, more than the five-year median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 1.2 per routine inspection against a median of 1.0 — a count of state records, not a rating.
6 rules were cited more than once at Mary's Little Lamb Academy since Jan 29, 2024.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.1205 High | 3 | Each caregiver must know which children they are responsible for, how many there are, and each child's name and age. The caregiver must stay close enough to see or hear what each child is doing, as the situation calls for, and be able to step in when needed. Official rule text Most recent: Jul 22, 2025 · first: Jun 4, 2025 |
| 746.1609 Medium High | 2 | When 13 or more children are in care, a group, even with two or more caregivers, may have at most 10 infants under 12 months, 13 children 12 to 17 months, 18 children 18 to 23 months, 22 two-year-olds, 30 three-year-olds, or 35 children ages four through 13. The limit is based on the group's specified age. Official rule text (single-rule page) Most recent: Jun 27, 2025 · first: May 6, 2024 |
| 746.2417 High | 2 | Each infant's day must include outdoor play when the weather permits, time out of the crib, and no more than 15 minutes seated in a restrictive device unless the infant is eating or being transported. It must also include supervised tummy time and other chances to move, plus activities that engage sight, hearing, touch, and small and large muscles. Official rule text Most recent: Jun 27, 2025 · first: Jun 4, 2025 |
| 746.3407 High | 2 | The center must clean, repair, and maintain its building, grounds, and equipment to protect children's health. This includes sanitizing toys that children put in their mouths, keeping garbage out of children's reach, keeping floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair, and labeling cleaning supplies and storing them away from food and out of children's reach. Official rule text Most recent: Jun 27, 2025 · first: Mar 7, 2024 |
| 746.2805 High | 2 | No child may be treated in a harsh, cruel, or unusual way. Banned methods include physical punishment or threats of it, punishment tied to food, naps, or toilet training, grabbing or pulling a child, yelling at or humiliating a child, and putting a child in a locked or dark room. Official rule text Most recent: Jun 4, 2025 · first: Jun 4, 2025 |
| 746.1613 Medium | 2 | When 13 or more children are in care, the center may reduce the naptime child-to-caregiver ratio by 50% for children 18 months and older, but only if those groups nap together in one central location and the caregivers stay in the napping room or area. Extra employees must be in the building (at least one when one caregiver supervises the nap group, or one for every two nap caregivers, rounded up, when more are needed), and the caregivers must be able to call them without leaving the room. Official rule text Most recent: May 14, 2024 · first: May 6, 2024 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (from Jan 29) | 7 | 9 | 8 |
| 2025 | 5 | 7 | 18 |
| 2026 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
19 visits on record since Jan 29, 2024, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | Inspection | 644 | None |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 5 | None |
| Aug 5, 2025 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Inspection | 569 | 3 |
| Jul 9, 2025 | Inspection | 3 | None |
| Jun 27, 2025 | Inspection | 5 | 5 |
| Jun 25, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 3 | 1 |
| Jun 4, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 10 | 8 |
| Feb 19, 2025 | Inspection | 712 | 1 |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| Nov 26, 2024 | Investigation (self-report) | 1 | None |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 3, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 5 | None |
| Jun 13, 2024 | Inspection | 561 | 1 |
| May 22, 2024 | Inspection | 2 | 1 |
| May 14, 2024 | Inspection | 3 | 1 |
| May 6, 2024 | Inspection | 146 | 2 |
| Mar 7, 2024 | Inspection | 548 | 1 |
| Jan 29, 2024 | Inspection | 1251 | 2 |
High · Jul 22, 2025 · Inspection
There was a four year old child who walked into the office by himself.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jul 22, 2025 · Inspection
There were four out of eight children's files missing emergency contact info.
In plain English: Before admitting a child, the center must collect set information, including the child's name and birth date, how to reach the parents, an emergency contact for when parents can't be reached, the people allowed to pick up the child, and permission to get emergency medical care. It must also record the child's special care needs, any allergies with a food allergy emergency plan if needed, and permission for transportation, field trips, or water activities if the center offers them. Official rule text
Medium · Jul 22, 2025 · Inspection
There were less than 24 hours of training for seven out of eight employee files.
In plain English: A caregiver's 24 hours of yearly training must fit the ages of the children in their care and cover set topics, including at least six hours on areas such as child development or guidance and discipline, and at least one hour on preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect. At least five of the hours must be instructor-led, and caregivers of children under 24 months must also have one hour on shaken baby syndrome, infant sleep practices and SIDS, and early brain development. Official rule text
High · Jun 27, 2025 · Inspection
There was an infant seven months old in a bouncer for 25 minutes.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jun 27, 2025 · Inspection
There were 16 children between the ages of 16 months to two years old with one caregiver. This was corrected when a second caregiver entered the room.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Jun 27, 2025 · Inspection
Two children were not strapped in correctly to a highchair. This was corrected when the caregiver properly strapped in the children.
In plain English: The rule requires tables and chairs used by children to be "safe," easy to clean, and the right height and size for each age group. If the manufacturer requires straps on a chair, they must be fastened whenever a child uses it. Official rule text
High · Jun 27, 2025 · Inspection
There was a child aged 8 by himself in a classroom.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Jun 27, 2025 · Inspection
A teacher was using bleach on the floor where children were playing. This was corrected when the teacher put the bleach away.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jun 25, 2025 · Investigation (report)
There is sufficient evidence to support the allegation that personal devices are being used by caregivers.
In plain English: Caregivers must know and follow the state minimum standards and supervise children at all times. They must not be pulled away by tasks unrelated to caring for children, such as paperwork, janitorial work, or personal use of phones and other devices, and must pass along each child's information and parent instructions to the next shift. Official rule text
High · Jun 4, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a caregiver aggressively grabbed and pulled a child by both arms and then again by one arm.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jun 4, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a caregiver did not comfort an upset infant when the infant was left upset and crying while the caregiver ignored the child.
In plain English: Infant care must include regular care by the same caregiver when possible, individual attention such as talking, playing, and holding, comforting infants who are upset, and prompt attention to feeding and diapering. The area must be kept free of objects infants or toddlers could choke on, and an infant may never be left unsupervised. Official rule text
High · Jun 4, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that good judgement was not used when a caregiver lied to a child’s parents and the DFPS investigator, as well as falsified an incident report regarding how a child received an injury
In plain English: Every center employee, including staff not counted in the child-to-caregiver ratio, must show competency, good judgment, and self-control around children and treat them with courtesy, respect, and patience. Employees must make sure no child is abused, neglected, or exploited in care, and must report suspected abuse or neglect to the state. Official rule text
High · Jun 4, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a child was placed in a crib as a form of discipline and made to remain in the crib for more than 30 minutes.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Jun 4, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a 16-month-old infant was left in a crib on numerous occasions for more than 30 minutes.
Official text of rule 746.2425
High · Jun 4, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a 16-month-old infant was left in a restrictive device for more than 15 minutes
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jun 4, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that an infant classroom was left out of ratio on numerous occasions when a caregiver left the room leave one caregiver alone with six, seven, eight, and nine children at different times of the day.
In plain English: In centers licensed for 13 or more children, one caregiver may supervise at most 4 infants under 12 months, 5 children 12 to 17 months, 9 children 18 to 23 months, 11 two-year-olds, 15 three-year-olds, 18 four-year-olds, 22 five-year-olds, or 26 children ages 6 to 13. The limit is based on the group's specified age as the rules define it. Official rule text (single-rule page)
High · Jun 4, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the DFPS investigation, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a child was not adequately supervised when they were able to fall out of a crib.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Feb 19, 2025 · Inspection
An infant was observed sleeping with a bottle in the crib This was corrected during the inspection when I observed the caregiver remove the bottle from the crib.
In plain English: Caregivers must hold infants up to six months old, and older infants who cannot sit up on their own, while feeding them, and must never prop a bottle. Bottles and cups must be labeled with the infant's first name and last initial, infants may not walk around or sleep with a bottle or cup, the hand-washing sink and diaper-changing surface may not be used for food or bottle preparation, and high chair trays must be sanitized before each use. Official rule text
Medium High · Jun 13, 2024 · Inspection
Two infants were observed not strapped in there high chairs. One out of the two children actually got out of the seat and was standing on top on the high chair. This was corrected during inspection when the caregiver removed all the children from the high chairs.
In plain English: High chairs, swings, strollers, infant carriers, bouncer seats, and similar equipment used for infants must have straps, and the straps must be fastened whenever an infant is in the equipment. Official rule text
High · May 22, 2024 · Inspection
One staff member was observed to be present at the operation without notification of eligibility from the Centralized Background Check Unit. This was corrected during the inspection when the director had the caregiver leave the operation.
In plain English: An operation must get notice from the state's background check unit that a person is eligible, eligible with conditions, or provisionally eligible with conditions before letting that person be at the operation. While waiting, the person may attend orientation or pre-service training only if they have no contact with children in care. Official rule text
Medium · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
During the follow-up inspection a 17 month old infant was observed napping in a classroom with 31 children. The specified age group for the classroom is two. The max number of children that can be present is twenty two. Due to the infant being under 18 months, the nap time ratio can not be reduced by 50 percent.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · May 6, 2024 · Inspection
During the inspection two infant classrooms were grouped together during nap time. There was a total of nineteen infants with three caregivers. The youngest child was eight months old and the oldest child was seventeen months old. The specified age group was fifteen months old. This was corrected during inspection when the infant class moved back to there classroom.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 6, 2024 · Inspection
An infant classroom had nineteen infants with three caregivers during nap time. The youngest child was eight months and the oldest child was seventeen months old. The classrooms specified age group was fifteen months. This was corrected during inspection when the infant class moved back to there classroom.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Mar 7, 2024 · Inspection
Three live ant beds were observed outside on the playground.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jan 29, 2024 · Inspection
It was observed that the outside play structure does not have surfacing. Note: Picture was taken.
In plain English: The area under and around climbing, rocking, spinning, bouncing, or moving equipment, slides, and swings must have loose-fill or unitary (one-piece) cushioning surface. How deep or thick that surface must be depends on the height of the highest play surface on the equipment. Official rule text
High · Jan 29, 2024 · Inspection
It was found that the fire inspection was not completed.
In plain English: The center must have a fire inspection by a state or local fire marshal before its first permit is issued and at least once every 12 months. Centers in public school buildings run by the local school district are exempt, and if no inspection is available the center must get written proof of that from a fire marshal or county judge. Official rule text
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Mary's Little Lamb Academy:
More in ZIP 77047 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Mary's Little Lamb Academy; it is not a rating, a recommendation, or a background check, and may not be used for employment, tenant, credit, or insurance decisions.
Explanations follow the current rules (HHSC minimum standards, revised December 2025).