Daycare Dilemmas

We have always known that our baby would have to attend daycare; what we didn't know is how hard chosing a daycare can be.  Here is a brief description of what we found...

Daycare #1 Playhaven (Construction Zone): This daycare had a decent infant room, but surprisingly seemed to be missing kids in the older age groups. The building needed renovations and they informed us that the daycare was going co-op to pay for these renovations.  Overall, the whole co-op thing seemed weird to us and we really could care less about owning a part of a daycare center.

Daycare #2 Campus for kids (Cult for kids):  This daycare is run by a church.  So before going to the daycare, we decided to attend a church service.  After 5 minutes, we decided it was too cult-like for us.  We are just too traditional and don't get into dancing and screaming out during church services.  Since we don't want our child brainwashed, we decided not to tour their daycare.

Daycare #3 Bright Horizons ($$$$$)  This daycare was awesome.  The infant room was wonderful and they even had cribs on wheels ready to go in case of a tornado or other need for evacuation.  It was also obvious that the classrooms for the 2-4 year olds were set up similar to my moms first grade classroom which I consider to be a good sign.  My only complaint was that there was no gym.  The catch...$$$$$.  This place is by far the most expensive place we looked at.

Daycare #4 Little Explorers (The Learning Farm)  This daycare is a child's dream.  There are tons of animals both inside and outside of the facility.  There was even an expecting llama!  They have a great curriculum for the children and a wonderful facility.  Waitlist: 2 years.  Can anyone explain how there is a 2-year waitlist for the infant room when you can't get on the waitlist until you are pregnant?  Who are the infants in the infant room if their parents were on this waitlist?

Daycare #5 LaPetite (Child Abuse)   This place made me cry.  It was so horrible I felt like taking the little ones with me when I left.  The facility was dirty and the teachers had no control over the classroom.  Our response was a "HELL NO"! We left there as quickly as possible.

Daycare #6 Monkey Business (Home away from home) This is an in-home daycare in our neighborhood with 2 adults and 8 children. If I ever run an in-home daycare, I will set it up exactly the same way.  And when the owner referred to me as Miss Stacy, I felt right at home.  Also, this place is significantly cheaper.

THE DECISION:  Our baby is pre-enrolled at Bright Horizons ($$$$).  We will be starting there and are on a waitlist to go to Monkey Business (Home away from home) when there is an opening. We are also on the 2 year waitlist at Little Explorers (The Learning Farm) and hope to get our child in at age 2...assuming we still live here!

I never thought it would be so hard to not only pick a daycare, but to find one with an opening.  I wish all expecting parents the best of luck in making this difficult decision.