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Infant daycare...
a friend of mine is just about to finish her first trimester (YAY!!!!!!!) and has been looking into daycare in the Bensalem/ FAR NE area.... she doesn't post on here and since DH and I are going to TTC soon and live in the same area I figured I'd ask you guys if you had any suggestions... She told me that a lot of the places she called won't take kids under 2 or 3 years old... which is a problem since we each only get 3 months of mat leave. She is looking for somewhere in the $175-200 per week range... I will be able to afford a bit more if necessary when the time comes.
I don't think she's nearly as picky as I will be... Yes I am a bit of a yuppy and would like one of those places that teach the kids at an early age ... maybe it won't make a difference in the long run but the idea of PB laying in a crib or watching tv all day bothers me. (My SIL basically told me I was an idiot for caring if the place had a curriculum for any kid under age 4... I think it is important) I'd rather somewhere that teaches and spends time with them. (we looked at the Teddy Bear Academy but that doesn't take infants)
Any recommendations?
Re: Infant daycare...
My only siggestion would be that at those prices, she shouldn't expect much of anything. Even if she can get someone to watch an infant for that price.
Our daycare charges $213 for two days a week for an infant.
Ditto this. I was going to say that you can find a daycare that will do just about anything, just be prepared to pay for it
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
I'm almost out of the city... about a half mile from the Bensalem border.
Would you recommend Just Children? I'll tell her to call.
Just Children in Bensalem? No, no and no. Gross.
We had our son in Just Children in Holland. It's much nicer. However, he wasn't in daycare until he was 4 so I can't remark about the prices for infants. The employees there were awesome and if we do daycare this time around, we'll go back to JC (Holland).
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
I disagree, you can find a good daycare in that price range in Bucks County. We pay around that and they are fantastic so to assume that a daycare which charges 200 a week is not nearly as good as a more expensive one is preposterous. Just because a center charges more doesn't mean it is of better quality and people.
I would suggest her to contact the Department of Public Welfare in Doylestown, here is the info:
Bucks County
CCIS of Bucks County
70 West Oakland Avenue, Suite 102
Doylestown, PA 18901-4214
Phone: (215) 348-1283
Toll-Free Phone: 1-800-371-2109
Fax: (215) 348-9397
They will provide a very thorough referral list of in-home and center daycares which are certified, whether they are part of Apple, costs, etc. I personally followed that list which is how I found my center, it was a lifesaver to me. Also, to let you know, they won't start doing curriculum until they are older.
Ditto this! I just got a quote from our daycare and it's 249 a week for infant care. We loved it there when our son was there and we have a ton of friends around the area with children there. My son's BFF and his younger brother were in daycare there from 6 weeks up until 1st grade. No daycare is going to be perfect but I completely agree with Nicole that you can find a good daycare in that price range in Bucks. It's also SO true that just because a daycare charges more doesn't mean it is of better quality and has better employees.
Thanks! I will pass this on and use it when the time comes!... I understand that they won't do languages and everything until they are a bit older... I'm just thinking for down the road so I don't have to do this all again in 2 years! and so if we have another one down the road we wouldn't have to go to two places... my co-worker does that and it seems like a nightmare!
You guys have been a huge help.
wait, for real? how is it cheaper in LA? Mind=blown
I would bet if we went full time it would probably be on par with what you pay. But if you go part time, you totally get screwed on the per day price -- our place doesn't share cribs. So it isn't like someone is in his "spot" the three days he isn't there.
It goes up something like $40 for three days, then another $100 or so for the full week. No four day rate, because of what I can only assume is that plenty of people work four day weeks, so the suck them in for the entire week.
I visited a Kindercare near KOP a few weeks ago: $313 a week. Also, I will not need care until October and out of 3 places, we're on 2 waiting lists and the other said "we'll make it work" whatever that means. So, you better start your search sooner rather than later.
DD: 6-24-11
EDD: 9-20-14
My friend works at a kindercare, and she works in the infant room. She says at least 3 days a week, she's the only person in there taking care of 6-7 infants..... so be sure you do your research on the specific location, because all are not alike. G/L!
Sorry of course... what I meant was poor friend because she was probably running around trying to keep up with everything and couldn't... I imagine that would be very stressful for her and it's not like she's profiting from her extra work, the company is... that is really wrong but how would you know that unless you know someone that works at one? of course they are going to tell you that they have the right ratio??
ETA - Larrys- Your daughter is ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, you know it by being a psycho like me and showing up to catch them off guard at all sorts of off hours.
I dropped LO off once and they were off ratio. Granted, it was 9:30, and I know the other person comes in at 10. And three of the kids were sleeping, and the regular teacher called out sick that morning. But I still have a pit in my stomach thinking about it. However I think them being off ratio once in a while is a chance you have to take with day care -- they are employees like anyone else. There is only so much leeway if someone calls out sick.
I will say though that I do think you can general feel for the kind of care your child gets from their attitude. He is always clean when I get him, has never had diaper rash, and is always smiling whenever one of us walks in. So outside of their general stupidity about feeding Baby Numbers, I always felt ok at our Kindercare.
all PA daycares go by a state regulation...i am sure u can google it
i am not positive but i think it is 1 adult to 4 babies under 1, and then 6 1to2 year iolds to 1 adult, and then 8 2to3 year olds to 1 adult...
i looked at quite a few...
http://www.pacca.org/parents.aspx
here it is...and mom's how do you feel about the daycare workers taking smoke breaks outside and then coming into your infant? i had a serious issue with that, which was one reason i didnt put my youngest in daycare...
has anyone had an issue with that? does anyone know if that is regulated? just curious...
The daycare where DS went and where we may be sending LO in the future actually doesn't make appointments. If you want to come in and take a tour of the facility, you are supposed to just come in whenever you want. They pretty much promote you showing up randomly which is something I always liked about it there.
I'll agree with you that sometimes things out of their control come up (like a teacher calling out) which is why no daycare is ever going to be perfect but it is how they handle the situation that is important to me. If it's something that is happening all the time and there doesn't seem to be any changes like in BP's friend's case, then no way, Jose. That wouldn't fly.