Looking for Feedback on Kindercare for Infants

Hi! I'm on the opposite end of the question as I've worked at both day care, preschools and now am a nanny. I have an AA degree in Early Childhood Education and continued my education after that.

I worked at a great day care center and I loved the staff and kids alike, but that being said, I wouldn't leave my own children there til the kids could communicate and talk.

I would strongly - extremely strongly - recommend AGAINST placing an infant in a day care setting no matter how nice or how pricey it is. The MI state ratio for infants is 1 caregiver to 3 babies. That's like having triplets and I don't know anyone who has had triplets that doesn't have extra help those first few months.

I'm writing waaayy more about this than you want and I'm not doing so to offend anyone who has their child in a day care center that is their choice, but as someone who has worked the day at a day care center it may be a tad different than what you would think.

The thing I would highly recommend is to ask the day care center if you can sit in on the infant room all day long to observe (don't help because that won't give you an honest idea of what it is like). I highly doubt that they would allow you to do that, but that is the best way to get a realistic view of how things would really work.

My take on day care - condensed since I keep typing (I feel strongly about this can you tell!) - is that you can have the best teachers in the world but aren't highly educated and they have to go by state guidelines and they are outnumbered. When there are three babies screaming they are going to try to deal with one at a time meaning your little one may be crying for longer than you would prefer and sure isn't going to get the individual attention you want.

The other aspect of this is that the caregivers change (they say they won't but they do...ask the workers based on ratios in other classes and the such). That makes a difference because you want your infant to develop trust and feel secure. Since they are more apt to change caregivers, your child will not get the benefit of having the same person and even if they have the same person for the first shift, they won't for the second shift. Your baby may have 4 or so different caregivers in the course of one day.

What I would highly recommend is to have a nanny or a home care provider who will come to your home. They may be more expensive but well worth it in the long run. Your child won't have to leave your home and will be surrounded by his or her own toys, belonging and in the comfort of his oer her own house. Your child will be able to have lots of individual attention and the schedule that you desire for him or her. YOu also will have someone who knows your baby.

People worry about interaction but studies will well back up that stability in having one primary caregiver who is able to provide your baby with security is the best. Interaction with other kids can be arranged with playdates and the such and when the baby is older, he or she can play wtih the neighbors.

I would suggest that you take lots of time now to interview nannies, place ads at the local colleges/universities and attempt to find an in your home caregiver who will stay wtih your baby and provide quality care.

Another option would be to go to enannysource.com or nannies4hire.com or christiannanny (or something like that). The family that I nanny for found me at enannysource.com . I highly recommend that.

I'll be praying that you find the best care possible for your baby and that you are confident in whatever choice you pick.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email me!

C. - every center is different. Maybe if you indicate which specific Kindercare center you are looking at, you'll get a better response.

My boys stay home with a nanny, but I did look at MANY different day care centers along the way. I'm not sure where you'll be in Rochester Hills, but there was one center I liked - Kiddie Academy - that might be near you. It's off Livernois. One to check out.

I have a few others in the Troy area I liked. If you're interested in those, send me a private message and I'll send you the info.

http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/brs_cdc/sr_lfl.asp

Go to this site. It will show you the records of the daycares - violations, etc. Now note some violations are as simple as parents not giving the daycare up to date vaccination records.

This helped me a lot when searching for a day care. It gave me peace of mind. Pick a few daycares and visit. You will know right away if the center if for you. One thing that was important to me; security. My day care in RO does not let anyone in. You have to ring the bell and they have to know who you are to get in. Parents are not allowed to let other parents in. That is huge to me.

Make sure the infant room does not allow people in with shoes; so simple I know. All daycares have to adhere to certain state standards and get inspected. You just need to find one where you feel your child will be taken care of.

Above all get references and call them!

My 3 year old daughter goes to a Kindercare in Farmington Hills - as the other posters stated, each location is different (so are prices). I searched the MI web (previous poster provided link) and then I visited several different daycares - you will know when you have found the right one. Home care is nice but not necessarily more germ free than daycares which have to follow stringent rules. My daughter has been in daycare and homecare and they were both wonderful.

Do your research and you will find what is best for you and your child. Good luck.

I am in the same exact situation! I just visited the KinderCare on Middlebelt in Farmington Hills and fell in love with the place! I seriously spent an hour in that baby room with the director and the teachers. All the babies were happy and it was obvious they are really cared about. I actually had to call back after I left to find out the prices because I didn't even think about it. I just knew I wanted my son to be there with those people who I know will take great care of him.
My best suggestion is to go to the daycares and don't think about cost. I think you can walk in and you know its right or you want to get out!

We had our daughter in the KinderCare out in Shelby Twp. They were amazing! In the beginning, there were 2 big reasons we went with them. The first is that there is an electronic combination lock on the door, so not just anyone can wander in. The second is that they were the only center in the area that responded to any of my requests either over the phone or internet. I would reccomend them to anyone.
As my daughter got older, each transtion was smooth and she loved that she got to go to "school" and see her friends everyday. We also had the option to skip Kindergarten because of everything she learned while at KinderCare. They offer extra programs (for the older kids) in Music, Math, Phonics, and Spanish.
They are a little expensive, but the security they provided was well worth it.
Good Luck!

There is a kindercare 2 blocks from my home... I checked it out for my infant.. I wouldnt have left a strangers dog there..

I could not get out of that place fast enough.

BUT -- every kindercare has differnt staff and management.. so there probablyare good kindercare centers.

I did like Grace Christian childcare (16 mile and john r Troy) I have a friend who has her infant at Babes in Toyland (long lake and ??? in troy) they are happy with it..

Personally I would not put an infant in a day care center.. I would try to keep them in a home environment until they were at least 1 year old... Try to get someone to come to your home or take the babyto a home... There are too many germs in day cares and the kids get so sick so often.