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daycare in Tampa?
Anyone have any recommendations for daycare in Tampa? The areas could be Westchase, Town n Country, or Carrollwood. I will be taking a leave from work for the fall semester and going back in Jan. (this is next school year) so the baby will be about 6 months at that time.
Most of my friends at work who have kids didn't put them in daycare til 1 year or had family watch them so I don't have any recs yet for good places that take babies.
I looked at Storybook Ranch but the reviews online weren't great, unfortunately because it looks cute and they take babies. There is a La Petite Academy by my house that takes babies - it's on Humphrey if anyone has any experience with that particular one.
Would love love some recs. I heard some of these places have long waiting lists so I don't want to screw myself by waiting too long.
Re: daycare in Tampa?
It's not really near the Post Office... it's right next to the Village Inn on N. Dale Mabry, just north of Waters.
Oh OK, there's one on Paula in Town N Country near the post office and the library. I thought maybe Humphrey was a small side street next to it, but now I know where Humphrey is. I also didn't realize there were different locations of La Petite, but now I see. Next week I'm going to start looking at day cares just in case I come across a job during the week that is more conducive to pumping than bartending on the weekends is. The La Petite on Paula will be the first place I check out as my friends are very happy with their kids there. No experience with the other one though, good luck
Do you know where Lake Mag Elementary is? I don't know if you are against church daycares or not, but they have a church right next door. We checked out their daycare when Aiden was about 6 weeks old and I really liked it. They separated the mobile babies from the non mobile babies and they let you come in and have lunch with them if you want. When we took Aiden to see it, he started to cry and a lady in the office knew right away it was not one of the babies they had (so they must know them well). We didn't end up sending Aiden bc my mom was able to watch him last min but I was very impressed with the walk through.?
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I would also stay away from Kindercare. It was?awful?when we went for a walk through. ?
Good luck in your search!?
I love my crazy child!
My Bio
I don't have any recommendations for your area, but I think the best thing to do is to visit and then trust your mommy instincts. You'll know what feels right to you and what just doesn't.
Just as an example, there was one place that I visited and I hated it, but it's wildly popular. And the place is fine, it just isn't the right fit for me. I didn't like it because I don't like the idea of toddlers in uniforms, and they were hesitant about my schedule because (at the time) I wanted to keep Lily home with me on Mondays. They were concerned that she'd fall behind in the curriculum. (She was a little over a year at the time.) I know two moms who bring their kids there, and they love it. One liked it because it had more structure. To me, it was too much structure. I'm not saying you shouldn't bother with hearing recommendations, just that they might be looking for something different than you, kwim?
My silly Lily is almost 4.
Thanks for the rec, I think I do know where that is. I'm definitely not against a church daycare as long as they don't do any kind of religious activity with the babies - which I'm pretty sure they don't. I actually went to a Methodist church for daycare when I was a baby until I was 2 or 3 so it's not a big deal to me or my family obviously
I will definitely check that place out!
I do konw what you mean and I'm sure that my own teacher insticts will lead me to certain decisions, but I'm overwhelmed and don't even know where to start so I was hoping some recommendations would at least narrow it down.
Thanks! I work near TnC so actually I could check that one out as well. It might actually be more convenient to have a daycare near me job as opposed to my house anyway.
Have you searched the state's licensing website? You can pull up reports/violations and check hours/class room ratios, too.
http://dcfsanswrite.state.fl.us/Childcare/provider/
I take DD to Children's Nest in Northdale. So far, so good. I have some personality differences with her 2 y.o. teacher, but I know that's more me than the woman being a good teacher. I like the director.
This is a good point. Aiden's preschool is 45 min away from where we live and it can be a big PIA some days if I need to be home instead of at school. But a good point to think about!?
I love my crazy child!
My Bio
I also found having day care near home easier if you need your husband to drop off or pick up from time to time. I loved having DS at the day care in the building where I worked in DC, but DH and I worked an hour apart and about 45-an hour form where we lived (but In opposite directions. It was a huge pain if I needed to stay late at work or had an appointment or was sick and needed him to handle DS.
My silly Lily is almost 4.