Good Home Based Daycare in Irvine?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Britney on July 16, 2012 at 9:33am

Hi Vy,

I don't know of a home daycare in the area but I am looking into doing a nannyshare with another family. From other friends who have done it it's usually around 1k each (1 nanny, two infants). I'm pregnant now so wouldnt' be looking to do this until end or March or so. I live in Newport Coast and work in Irvine I have one older son who will be in full day kindergarten this fall. If this is something you may be interested in please let me know.

Thanks, Britney

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Amy C on August 1, 2012 at 9:12am

Hi Vy,

I researched the in home day cares in Irvine about a year and a half ago so my experience is not recent, but I just had a look at the list online and it doesn't look like it has changed much.  In my experience, most cost about $50-60/day.  I visited about 10 of them after narrowing them down on the phone to the ones with openings.  When I went in, I just asked if they were licensed and checked it and checked on what they were feeding the kids.  I was more interested in the feeling I got from the caregiver and if the other kids looked happy.  I hope that helps.  I have detailed notes at home so please message me if you want more information on a few specific ones.  I actually ended up going with a friend from OCMommies who was staying home with her son and it worked out so, I don't have any personal experience with the day cares themselves.  However, there were three that I loved and would definitely be comfortable leaving my daughter in their care.  Good luck with the search! Amy

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kerstin on August 1, 2012 at 9:04pm

Hi,

have you checked care.com? I just started looking for day care options a few weeks ago and found a lot of listings on this website. They also have background checks and references listed, so you don't have to do all the work yourself.

Good luck with your search!

Kerstin

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kim Baker on August 4, 2012 at 7:50am

Hi Vy,
I go to one in turtle rock. Mehri is 1300 a month but he hours are 8 to 4:30 for infants and until 5 for toddlers. Lauren Loves it. Even though the hours are not ideal! The day care is amazing. The kids are well taken care of. If you want more details, just email me at kimvbaker@hotmail.com. I believe she has openings

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vy on August 4, 2012 at 8:46am

Sorry for the delay in replying. 

@Britney - We are looking for something sooner than that, but thank you very much. If we don't end up finding anything then she'll just stay where she is at. Interesting though, I have never heard of a nanny share before until this site.

@Amy I'm not sure how to message you directly, but let me look around.

@Kerstin I have looked at care.com briefly, but I was checking here for an open discussion on personal recommendations. I will look again in the near future.

@Kim Thank you Kim. However my husband and I both work full time so 5:30 PM would need to be the checkout time. Our current daycare is 7:30 AM to 6 PM, but we usually are able to get the little one out by 5:30. 

Overall it seems like we are hard pressed to beat the $1400/month rate (equates to about $1300 since they provide diapers and food). That is good to know.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Natalie H on August 4, 2012 at 9:53pm

Vy There is a mom Jen G who takes her daughter to "Grandmas daycare" and the hours are 6-6 let me message her and have her post the info up!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Charm on October 1, 2012 at 9:46am

Hi Natali -- I jst read your response regarding daycare. I have a 5 week old and will be returning to work in a few months. Were you able to get info regarding grandma's daycare? Thanks so much.

Natalie H said:

Vy There is a mom Jen G who takes her daughter to "Grandmas daycare" and the hours are 6-6 let me message her and have her post the info up!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cheryl D on October 1, 2012 at 10:12am

Hi Vy,

Are you still looking?  I have an amazing nanny that I'm trying to find someone to share with!  I think she would be OK with $60 per day but the good thing is she doesn't expect to be paid when you're on vacation etc... Let me know if you're interested!  I live in Woodbury in Irvine and we're trying to find someone asap because she just got offered a higher paying job somewhere else:(

Cheryl

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on October 3, 2012 at 11:05am

Hi Amy,

I would love your recommendations! I am currently looking for childcare for little girl by Oct. 29th. She will be 4 months by then. Thanks for your help!! -Stephanie

Amy C said:

Hi Vy,

I researched the in home day cares in Irvine about a year and a half ago so my experience is not recent, but I just had a look at the list online and it doesn't look like it has changed much.  In my experience, most cost about $50-60/day.  I visited about 10 of them after narrowing them down on the phone to the ones with openings.  When I went in, I just asked if they were licensed and checked it and checked on what they were feeding the kids.  I was more interested in the feeling I got from the caregiver and if the other kids looked happy.  I hope that helps.  I have detailed notes at home so please message me if you want more information on a few specific ones.  I actually ended up going with a friend from OCMommies who was staying home with her son and it worked out so, I don't have any personal experience with the day cares themselves.  However, there were three that I loved and would definitely be comfortable leaving my daughter in their care.  Good luck with the search! Amy

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Amy C on October 3, 2012 at 5:52pm

Hi Stephanie,

I visited Aimee, Narmin, Ellie, Sue, Meggie, Leila, Anna, Melissa, Linette, Feri, Carrie, Sushmat, and Linda on the list.  My favorites were 1. Meggie 2. Feri or Linda 3. Carrie and 4. Melissa.  I have different notes for ages of other kids, all boys, too many kids (a few places had 12+ kids), too structured (like closed at 4:30 and no late pickups, etc.), food program, run down, too much paid vaca (most wanted 1 - 2 weeks... so note for anything more), backup (would be a backup if other sitter was sick), toys (lots), etc.  I didn't want a big daycare since my daughter was 6 months old when I looked.  Some I just didn't get a good feeling from so I suggest visiting the ones with openings to see what kind of feeling you get and how they interact with your child.  Meggie was my favorite because she watched kids that were a similar age, only watched 4 kids total, and interacted well with my daughter.  Feri and Linda reminded me of my grandma.  They were both very sweet, clean house, good toys, not too many kids (3-4), and Feri provided everything but formula.  Carrie was great because she lives near our house, watched 5 toddlers (licensed for 6), would be a backup if your sitter was sick, but she couldn't start for a month after I needed her and already had a vacation planned at the opposite time as ours.  Melissa had a nice clean house with lots of toys, and is a young mom like us.  However, she was very structured about being late and meeting when the kids were there so my daughter didn't meet her in the end since it was at night, and she was also the most expensive.  I hope that helps.  They ranged from $140 - $180 for 3 days a week.  I was looking for 2.5 days a week, but no one would do 1/2 days.  Message me if you have specific questions about a certain place.  I didn't want to post anything bad so I just listed the ones I liked and reasons why.

Stephanie said:

Hi Amy,

I would love your recommendations! I am currently looking for childcare for little girl by Oct. 29th. She will be 4 months by then. Thanks for your help!! -Stephanie

Amy C said:

Hi Vy,

I researched the in home day cares in Irvine about a year and a half ago so my experience is not recent, but I just had a look at the list online and it doesn't look like it has changed much.  In my experience, most cost about $50-60/day.  I visited about 10 of them after narrowing them down on the phone to the ones with openings.  When I went in, I just asked if they were licensed and checked it and checked on what they were feeding the kids.  I was more interested in the feeling I got from the caregiver and if the other kids looked happy.  I hope that helps.  I have detailed notes at home so please message me if you want more information on a few specific ones.  I actually ended up going with a friend from OCMommies who was staying home with her son and it worked out so, I don't have any personal experience with the day cares themselves.  However, there were three that I loved and would definitely be comfortable leaving my daughter in their care.  Good luck with the search! Amy

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Britney on October 4, 2012 at 9:33am

Hi Amy,

 

I would also love to get a bit more information from you on those top two or three providers. I will send you an email

Thanks, Britney

Amy C said:

Hi Stephanie,

I visited Aimee, Narmin, Ellie, Sue, Meggie, Leila, Anna, Melissa, Linette, Feri, Carrie, Sushmat, and Linda on the list.  My favorites were 1. Meggie 2. Feri or Linda 3. Carrie and 4. Melissa.  I have different notes for ages of other kids, all boys, too many kids (a few places had 12+ kids), too structured (like closed at 4:30 and no late pickups, etc.), food program, run down, too much paid vaca (most wanted 1 - 2 weeks... so note for anything more), backup (would be a backup if other sitter was sick), toys (lots), etc.  I didn't want a big daycare since my daughter was 6 months old when I looked.  Some I just didn't get a good feeling from so I suggest visiting the ones with openings to see what kind of feeling you get and how they interact with your child.  Meggie was my favorite because she watched kids that were a similar age, only watched 4 kids total, and interacted well with my daughter.  Feri and Linda reminded me of my grandma.  They were both very sweet, clean house, good toys, not too many kids (3-4), and Feri provided everything but formula.  Carrie was great because she lives near our house, watched 5 toddlers (licensed for 6), would be a backup if your sitter was sick, but she couldn't start for a month after I needed her and already had a vacation planned at the opposite time as ours.  Melissa had a nice clean house with lots of toys, and is a young mom like us.  However, she was very structured about being late and meeting when the kids were there so my daughter didn't meet her in the end since it was at night, and she was also the most expensive.  I hope that helps.  They ranged from $140 - $180 for 3 days a week.  I was looking for 2.5 days a week, but no one would do 1/2 days.  Message me if you have specific questions about a certain place.  I didn't want to post anything bad so I just listed the ones I liked and reasons why.

Stephanie said:

Hi Amy,

I would love your recommendations! I am currently looking for childcare for little girl by Oct. 29th. She will be 4 months by then. Thanks for your help!! -Stephanie

Amy C said:

Hi Vy,

I researched the in home day cares in Irvine about a year and a half ago so my experience is not recent, but I just had a look at the list online and it doesn't look like it has changed much.  In my experience, most cost about $50-60/day.  I visited about 10 of them after narrowing them down on the phone to the ones with openings.  When I went in, I just asked if they were licensed and checked it and checked on what they were feeding the kids.  I was more interested in the feeling I got from the caregiver and if the other kids looked happy.  I hope that helps.  I have detailed notes at home so please message me if you want more information on a few specific ones.  I actually ended up going with a friend from OCMommies who was staying home with her son and it worked out so, I don't have any personal experience with the day cares themselves.  However, there were three that I loved and would definitely be comfortable leaving my daughter in their care.  Good luck with the search! Amy

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bella on October 22, 2012 at 2:14pm

Hi Vy,

I enrolled my 8 month old daughter at Westpark Kindercare, today was her first day.  There a handful of concerns looming in my mind, but depending on how she does, they may be non-issues.  In the meantime, I want to check out other options.  I noticed our girls are about the same age, did you find a childcare home you're comfortable - and happy - with?  And if not, what daycare center is your daughter attending?  Have you explored nannyshare options?  Hope everything is working out for you.

Isabella

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page