Infant Care Options
At the request of a reader, I’m reposting this topic to see if folks have some new suggestions and/or experiences to share;
It’s time to revisit the childcare options available for infants in our neighborhoods. This is always such an intensely personal decision. We’re not here to say what type of care is right for you and your child, just to share info. I found it incredibly difficult to find infant care so good luck to all those who will soon be making that decision! Click through to see some suggestions and to add your own.
One route is to have a full or part-time nanny or to share a nanny with another family. We used a nanny placement service for our first part-time babysitter, and then used online resources to find second one for ourselves. You can now easily do criminal and background checks online, so doing it myself wasn’t too bad.
There are a handful of folks who offer care in their homes for their infants, you need to contact them well in advance of needing them as they book early. Pauline Hillsman on Leicester watched our daughter from 15 – 24 months. She was incredible. Her house is always spotless, and the kids are always happy. She takes children 6wks to 2.5 years. Mrs. Brown, near Crossroads Coffee also watches children in her home. In the fan area, there is Mrs. Babb’s who I’ve heard good things about.
There are a few centers that also watch infants; Tuckaway Ellwood, Minnieland,Goddard are among some of the options.
For children two and older consider these in addition to the centers above: Forest Hill Presbyterian (for which I’ll give a personal recommendation, our daughter has gone there for several years, it’s low-key and provides a warm, learning environment), Second Street Presbyterian.
Please add your recommendations in the comments. Thanks!
@HillsHeights not the lady I saw at the corner of Staples Mill/Glenside/Hilliard holding a sign that said “child care provider”…
Had a nanny the first year. Looked at all the daycares at 12 months funding nothing that we felt comfortable with. A now drive out to Primrose everyday. Options in the city are really substandard. Pauline, while very nice, told us that she wasn’t trained in infant CPR because the fire station was close by and want interested in taking it despite it being free. Deal breaker. (Editor’s note: Pauline has reached out to me with the following. “I have taken an Infant CPR and Child Safety Class at Henrico Doctors Hospital. I always mention this when speaking with parents. I also mention how fortunate we are to have emergency stations and hospitals in very close vicinity in case of an emergency. I have never had to call on any of them, though I hear from families who have, they are very reliable.”)
We recently looked into childcare for our newborn. We loved Pauline’s and agree it was spotless and a home-like environment. We ultimately went with Tuckaway at Ellwood House for the more structured care that will work its way into toddler development care. We also loved A Blooming Child’s Petite Academy in Jackson Ward. Melissa Terranova has a wonderful center that she recently expanded from an in-home care service.
I recommend the Goddard School at the corner of Robius and Huguenot. Our son has gone there since he was 15 months, before that we went to an in-home person and after that situation, Goddard has been nothing but sweet calm. The problem we had with the in-home person was no oversight, she came recommended but was very sensitive and set in her ways and wasn’t really staying up with the AAP recommendations in terms of screen time. With the Robius and Huguenot Goddard you almost always have two teachers in every classroom so if you are tempted to cut corners, there’s another teacher there to see it. Also the woman who is the on-site owner is a mom and former head teacher so she knows what it takes to be a quality pre-school teacher.
I have a son at Forest Hill Presbyterian. We have been very happy with the center, so I can recommend that option as well.
I will be looking for infant care soon. Is there any way to share Pauline and Mrs. Brown’s information? Also, anyone interested in a nanny-share?
Please contact: olivia.emma@gmail.com
@ O, I added a link to Pauline’s website to the story.
VCU and state employees are eligible for child care at the VCUHS Family Services at VDOT. Working at the MCV campus, this has been a godsend for me. They have infant care to pre-school (age 5). The teachers and administrator have been there for a very long time and it is well run. My daughter is really happy there. The contact info is: 786-1635 – Kathie Marshall is the administrator.
Hi Richard,
I might be blind but I don’t see the website link.
Thanks!
After some quick internet research I have found it!
http://www.paulineschildcare.com/
my foster son goes to rainbow station at the boulders. They’re a little pricey but the fact that they have a nurse on site is great. He’s 2 and they have a “typical” school year, which is great since he’ll move up to the next class with all his current classmates. This is important to me because he needs as much routine/stability as possible.