Reputable Day Care in Irvine or surrounding area
Hi everyone! I am 32 weeks pregnant (almost there!) and have been advised to start looking at daycare options NOW. I thought it would be way too early, but according to a lot of moms, good day cares have long waiting lists and that I should start touring and doing my research now. I'm going to be a first time mom and am pretty new to the OC/Irvine area (moved here in April from LA). So I honestly have no idea where to start looking or which day cares to start calling. I plan on going back to work after 12 weeks and am seriously considering putting my baby in a reputable day care with other children since I'm not sure I want a nanny coming to my home.
If anyone has any tips/suggestions/day cares to call that you trust in the Irvine or surrounding areas - I would LOVE to hear from you.
I hope all of you are doing well and thanks for your help!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Natalie H on -
Ok this sounds weird but tutor time has infant care and they have video monitors and you can log in and see your baby during the day!!! http://www.tutortime.com/our-schools/infant/ I have heard amazing things about them!
My best friend has her daughter at KinderKare in Mission Viejo and they love love loved it! She took her out only when she had her second child and decided to stay home with the kiddos.
These 2 are in home daycare facilities.
I was refered to this place, and I took a tour, but it was too far for me to drive. but it was SOO cute! http://littlesproutschildcare.webs.com/aboutme.htm
And this was place was refered to me also and I am interviewing them soon, but i am only looking for 3 hours at the end of the day, so that is my challenge!
http://alphablocks.synthasite.com/home.php
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Permalink Reply by Dianna on -
Hi Jennifer. Hope all is well. You are getting close now....it will be no time before you wake up a MOM!! How exciting!!
Well, I haven't gone back to work, but was planning on going back several months ago. Since I worked in Irvine I looked at so many places there and the best place I found was Kiddie Academy in Irvine off of Jamboree. Not only was it close to my work, I found that the place was really clean, had a good curriculum and the instructors seemed caring and interested in helping the children. I went there on a few occasions to talk to the director and take a look at the classrooms and routines. Since I was a bit stressed about leaving my child with a stranger and honestly concerned about a caretaker not doing her job or not treating my child properly, I was happy to hear that they have video cameras. Once enrolled, you are given a password which allows you to access the live video online. Although I might not have used this a lot, it was comforting knowing that it was there.
Take a look at their website. http://educationaldaycare.kiddieacademy.com/irvine/welcome.html
Good luck in your search. You'll find the perfect place for your little angel :)
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Governski on -
Thank you Natalie and Dianna for the suggestions - they all sound like promising places and I'm going to take a look at all of them to see what I like best.
Just curious - how much did they run per week? Did you see a trend in weekly prices for all the good day cares or can they range greatly?
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Permalink Reply by Kelli Meisner on -
Jennifer, my sitter is really good and does it out of her house and I really like her. She is in Irvine over by the Market Place. If you want her information please send me a message.
Natalie- I looked at Alphablocks and it was okay but she has so many rules and wants 13 paid holidays a year and takes a two weeks of vacation a year. My sitter is in the same location as them and she is just starting out so she just has my baby but like I said I really like her and thinks that she does a good job with Riley and really works with him and reads to him and does things for his age level. If you want her information send me a message.
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Permalink Reply by Natalie H on
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Hi Jennifer. Tutor Time and KinderKare run about $900-1200 for full time. Both the private in homes where about $600-800 .
@Kelli this sounds awful, but actually that is what i liked about them. I own my own business and I totally can respect the fact that they too want to run a legit business with benefits for themselves and they need to create those benefits, but the nice thing is she was super flexible with the times I needed, The other one wouldnt let me drop off or pick up during nap times (which I can understand but would not work for my schedule)
I would LOVE your sitters information!!! I will send you a message right now!
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Permalink Reply by Kelli Meisner on
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Natalie, I totally understand the need to run a ligit business but she had holidays that most people don't normally get off like Columbuis Day. I was just going to have a problem with what do with my baby on the days that she decided to have off and I was still going to have to work. I don't think that it is wrong to take the resonable holidays off during the year such as Thanksgiving, Fourth of July and those type of holidays. I also don't have a problem with my sitter having to take a vacation once a year. But I don't think that I should have to pay for time off that she is choosing to take because daycare is not cheap and I have to either take the time off work or find someone else or even pay someone else to watch him, so I end up paying double. I also understand that when you choose an at home daycare you sometimes run into those types of problems as opposed to taking them to a place like Kindercare. I was not sure if you knew that she took those many holidays off. It is totally great that she is able to set her daycare up like that and is able to get those holidays off and benifits but it just did not work for me.
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Governski on
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Hi Kelli,
I just requested you to be my friend since it won't let me send you a message otherwise. I would love to get your sitter's information so when you get a chance, could you please send. Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Dawn Lam on -
Kelli,
Would your sitter be willing to watch babies on emergency basis (day rate)....I had to stay home today because my mom cancelled and my mother in law is out of town....I need a "back-up" plan....taking a day off just cuz I don't have a sitter is so stressful, especially since I am a teacher.
Kelli Meisner said:Jennifer, my sitter is really good and does it out of her house and I really like her. She is in Irvine over by the Market Place. If you want her information please send me a message.
Natalie- I looked at Alphablocks and it was okay but she has so many rules and wants 13 paid holidays a year and takes a two weeks of vacation a year. My sitter is in the same location as them and she is just starting out so she just has my baby but like I said I really like her and thinks that she does a good job with Riley and really works with him and reads to him and does things for his age level. If you want her information send me a message.
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