I was dead set on a nanny for our baby due early next year, at least for the next year but then my husband and I went to look at the preschool across the street from our house, which we were thinking would be perfect post nanny. They take infants though and we both love it; so much so that my husband said he had fun visiting it and wanted to go back it was such a happy place. I've researched other options... My minimum criteria to weed out ones we will and will not visit is it has to be close to home (I office at home), no, or maybe one if any minor violations in their inspections; I looked for accreditation too but didn't limit on it and looked for decent reviews. I was down to just a few places after that. Most of those didn't take infants; the one that did I emailed for some basic info just like I did the one across the street. The response was far different though...no response... I emailed a follow up and the response simply said, call me so we can discuss. How about, thank you for your interest in our school at least?!? Don't put your email up for more info if it's not really option. I know that place won't work for me. Good communication is a must. So I'm not even find in another place we wNt to visit even for comparisons sake, which I thought would be wise.
We both are sold on the place we did visit...naeyc accredited, owner is on site and has two local facilities, most of the 5 year old class has been there since infancy (good sign). I can walk over there anytime. Stellar reviews, etc. The cost is better than a nanny, I don't have deal with interviewing ( I'm picky), taxes, managing an employee, back up plans when they're sick, and only having one care provider. I am not a fan of in home daycare, although I'm sure there are good ones, but I envision a lady with tons of kids and no on else monitoring her.
So are we crazy to go with the first place which checks all our boxes? We are first time parents, 40 years old and neither of us have been in a daycare before but I've done a ton of research and set pretty high standards. Thanks.
Thanks everyone. You were so helpful. Did a little more online research and was still appalled at inspection reports. Went to a teacher parent dinner at the one we had visited before, felt even more comfortable and met a set iof prospective parents who had visited several others as part of their due diligence. I knew for sure that night we were doing the right thing and going with just the one we had visited. Put a deposit down yesterday. Very excited! It's true, when you know, you know.
It sounds perfect. If it's what you're after, why waste time looking for something you've already found- and so close to home? Go for it.
I think when you know, you know. I visited a few, and vetoed them instantly, but when I found the one I loved, I stopped looking.
Normallyi would say look around, but if you only really have one choice and it's perfect Take it!! it sounds like the starts just lined up for you on this one.
If you have found exactly what you are looking for, I see no reason not to use this place. It sounds perfect for your needs.
Be happy that you found the perfect one on the first try!! I would totally run with it!!
We visited about 6 pre-schools and none of them really hit us. We got to one of them and my 3.5 year old said, "Oh, mom, this is my school." I was like - what??? He said, "This is the school I should go to." We were just walking up the front stairs going to see it. No play structures. Nothing. Just a private school with Pre-S through 12th grade. He ended up LOVING it and the teachers were great. In fact, he had 2 teachers for 7 kids. We stayed with them through Pre-K, then changed him to a Montessori in the summer, and then to a public school for K and then home schooled him at his request for 1st grade and still doing that with him and my 3 other kids, while working. ;)
Be flexible. If it feels right, it probably is....but when our needs/feelings changed and we went with it. A moment or a season. It's all good.
Does it have video monitoring? I personally would feel uncomfortable leaving my tiny baby with anyone other than grandparents or someone I knew VERY well without some sort of accountability. After all, they are too little to communicate. I worked the number 1 rated facility in my area with a huge waiting list and let me tell you, when parents aren't around, things aren't always handled the way they should be. Hands aren't always washed after each diaper change, babies are left to cry sometimes (while the workers complain that their mothers must be too attentive to them and hold them too much), and easy going babies are not held very much at all. (You have to think that with a ratio of 3 or 4 to 1, the provider is often in survival mode and doesn't always have the time to give the one on one attention.) My friend put her 3 month old in daycare at a "super" facility WITH video monitoring and it allows her to discuss problems with the staff - which still occur. For instance they were propping her 3 month old - and other tiny infants- with bottles rather than holding them. (Very dangerous because the baby can aspirate on the liquid and babies NEED to held.) She was able to talk to the director and get this corrected. There may not be a video monitoring option. With a nanny you could at least provide your own system to assure your baby was well tended. But it is something to consider either way and beyond that, if staying home the first year isn't an option, you just have to trust your mommy instinct. It's a powerful thing. :)
You know what's best...If this is it, why look elsewhere?
:) Best to you and yours!
If you're fortunate enough to find the right one the first time, go with it.
I don't see why. It sounds awesome and is just across the street! Go with your gut, and your gut is telling you this is the place for you.
We only visited one lady when we were expecting and she was amazing. I wish she hadn't moved because we would have kept her there forever.
it sounds actually like you DID look into others, to me. none of them worked. to top it all off you've already visited and loved it.
i don't see the issue. sounds like a great fit!
Oh you have researched enough :) You have looked at other places online and also done a lot of research and are sure in what your expectations are. If this place has such good reviews and you both are sold, then that should be it. You need not look any further. I had seen just one daycare for my son as well. I was very happy with my choice.
But one thing though, if you are expecting personal attention fpr your baby it might not be possible at a daycare. The teachers will be very loving n will take care of the baby well(in most daycares), but if you are expecting them to run everytime the baby cries, do every thing the way you would do at home , it cannot work that way. The ratio is generally 1:4 or sometimes 1:3 , so sometimes the baby will cry for a while until their hands are free.Or maybe stay in a dirty diaper until their turn to get it changed. Some babies want to be held all the time which of course is not possible for daycare teachers.If you prefer one to one attention in the first year, hiring a nanny is a better thing to do. But if not, daycare is awesome! The baby will start enjoying the company of friends as they grow older.
If you have checked them out, they meet your criteria and your momma instinct says it's a good fit...check their references (sometimes due to privacy centers won't give references but you could certainly talk to people as they pick up or drop off). If all seems in order, go with it...that is what I did and never regretted it (with both the in-home care that my daughter did from infancy through 3.5 and the preschool she went to later).
No, not crazy. It seems like you have reached out and looked at other options... I have worked at two child development centers and what you describe sounds great. The NAEYC accreditation speaks loads to me and says that both the directorship/leadership and teachers are on the ball and familiar with developmentally appropriate practice. Ask if you could go in and observe the infant room for a half-hour or so and see if you feel some sort of connection with the caregivers in that space. How do they handle fussy babies? If it all checks out---Go for it!
My opinion is that if it meets your criteria and you love it, why spend your valuable time continuing the search? Daycare (including nannies) almost always includes trade-offs; it sounds like you have a great solution.
My friend who works from home has a nanny, and she misses being alone in the house. Even though the nanny is caring for the kids, she always has others in the house and feels a bit like she is a prisoner in her home office during the day because it throws everything off if she exits and is seen by the kids and nanny.
The place looks great, go for it.
I think it's great that you found a place that you both love. You still may want to check out 1-2 more to just be sure. I felt great about the 1st daycare I chose for my daughter (only one we checked out) and ended up being disappointed.
I would say you are one Lucky Lady and happy family!
Go for it!
Heck, I've enrolled in some without even SEEING it!
Cross-country move? Just give me the paperwork and sign him up.
I know what I am looking for, what I'm willing to pay...and, well, we've loved all the preschools or daycares we've chosen. Just Friday I signed my son up for Kindercare across our street, the after-school program for a short time (to buy time so I can meet my other child's bus). I called and then they invited me for a tour..and the baby had to nap, and I was overwhelmed with so much going on, but I came in anyway, though I would have paid and signed up without seeing it. (It was great, and he can't wait to go, btw).
My only criteria now with baby #4 is that it has a handi-capped door. Seriously. That's huge, if I have to walk in it everyday with 4 kids in tow.
You sound awesome! What a good mom! You're doing great and I can tell from reading this you found a place you are happy with, so go for it!
We have picked our first (and only) center visited three times and have been very happy each time. With my oldest son, I called around to a bunch of places, made an appointment with one and was sold at that visit. We stayed there for 5 years, until he headed off to Kindergarten and we moved. When I had my two younger boys, I met a woman at a PTA meeting who ran a center. I instantly liked her, did a cursory check of her accreditation and reviews, went for a tour and enrolled. We were also there for 5 years. And then with our after-school program, I had three choices. I called each place, did a tour of the one that seemed most promising and have now been there for 9 years, using them for extended-day Kindergarten, pre-school, and after-school. Sometimes you just luck out and find the winner first.
your not crazy. if you found a place, visited it and felt good about it then your good to go. sounds like you have done your research on it. The family I interview with had me in for an interview. we both knew within minutes it was going to work. sometimes you just know. I have been with the family 3 years now. I have in the past interviewed with families and it just didn't click. that click is important. the fact that it is across the street is a super bonus lol. go with it.
I only looked at one pre-school. It was important to me that they pre-school be in walking distance from home and that it was housed in the same building my kids were going to school in. It looked good, and my kids were happy there. That was really all tha mattered to me.
I called a lot of places and weeded out most. We only visited 2 but are still happy with the one we picked after 3 years (first kid graduated and the second kid starts her second in a few weeks). If you are happy then fine, go with it. You can always change later if necessary.
No, it's fine. If you find a place that just totally blows you away, I think go ahead and take it. Looking at any other place would probably just reinforce your decision!
You are so lucky to have a place like that right across the street from you!
