Experience with USDA KinderCare or Bright Horizons Triangle Tots?

[Anonymous]

Hi there! My family and I are in the process of moving to DC for a new job (federal agency). We have one little girl, a 1 year old. We've done nanny so far, but she absolutely loves being around kids, so we think she might be ready for a daycare transition. Does anyone have experience with USDA KinderCare or Bright Horizons Triangle Tots? Those are close to my new office and would be very convenient. I'm open to other suggestions as well. Thank you very much!!!

[Anonymous]

Find a nanny. There is so much more to childcare than just 'being around other kids". Million things may not work, and then you do not care if she is "around other kids" or not.

[Anonymous]

My two children have gone to USDA Kindercare (one currently there and the older one from infant through PK) and had a great experience. The facility is beautiful and has its own enclosed playgrounds. We have loved our teachers and many have been there for a long time. The federal rate is honestly one of the most affordable I have found in DC in general. Happy to answer any specific questions, but we love it at USDA and always recommend it to other families!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Find a nanny. There is so much more to childcare than just 'being around other kids". Million things may not work, and then you do not care if she is "around other kids" or not.

Plenty of families have wonderful experiences with group child care, and plenty of families have terrible experiences with nannies. And vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Check out CFPB Small Savers. Very happy here and a gorgeous newer facility. Montessori. There’s open spots right now in all age group, except infants (but pretty short waitlist)

[Anonymous]

I would not buy this "gorgeous facility" thing. Talk to people who work there, ask them how long they have been working there, also come and visit at lunch time, see how that works. They have 15 toddlers for 3 teachers.

[Anonymous]

Bright Horizons is great. No wait list for federal families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not buy this "gorgeous facility" thing. Talk to people who work there, ask them how long they have been working there, also come and visit at lunch time, see how that works. They have 15 toddlers for 3 teachers.

They're busting unlicensed daycares in northern va with 30 kids to 2 unqualified adults. Sit down.

[Anonymous]

Parents who put kids there must be crazy, PP. On this note, ask to spend a day in the toddler room, with 15 toddlers half of whom are half sick all the time, hungry, crying, not napping because they are used to cribs and there are no cribs, not going outside for more than 20 min, and lunch is done under 30 min with slower eating kids half way through their plates? You can keep kidding yourselves.

[Anonymous]

I would start after February to avoid winter illnesses. It’s brutal the first few months of starting daycare and sucks when you start a new job.

[Anonymous]

How did it go OP? Considering USDA now, but their track record seems unproven since they reopened after the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Also, I can't believe the snide replies on this forum about daycare. Personally, I can't afford $6000/mo for a nanny.

Besides, you can't beat the socialization, and the better facilities will actually teach your kid and get them ready for kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did it go OP? Considering USDA now, but their track record seems unproven since they reopened after the pandemic.

Not the OP, but our son was there pre- and post- pandemic and now have a daughter in the infant room. With both of our kids we had a great experience. We looked at other childcare options closer to home, but the facilities didn't match what USDA had and the prices were $1000 more than what we pay at USDA (USDA families and feds get a discount). My daughter has had some of the same teachers as my son, who in our experience have been loving and kind. They go above and beyond, texting us when our daughter is out to make sure everything is okay, or offering advice if we're having a rough time. My husband is a medical worker and I also have to be at the office in person, so when they opened up during the pandemic we sent my older child. They did zoom calls so we could see the classroom and classroom activities since we weren't allowed in the center at that time. The daycares we looked at closer to our house had fairly restrictive hours (for example, one was 9:00am-5:00pm and charged from 8-9am for before care and 5-6pm for after care) and USDA is open 6:30-6:30, which gives flexibility if you have an unpredictable work schedule or work 8 hours in an office. Since returning to USDA with our daughter, we've participated in a lot of the family events and the center director is really responsive to emails and calls. I know the facilities are not the most important thing, but they have three private, fenced in playgrounds for different age groups that are clean and well kept (and right off the mall). The classrooms are bright, clean, and not crowded. I will say that we weren't the biggest fans at older ages (they did workbook pages and it was hard for my then three year old to sit still and finish the workbook sheets), but my son left to do PK3 at DCPS and it was an easy transition. Drop off/pick up can be annoying because they do a security screening on all cars if you drive to drop off and sometimes that can get backed up.

I also know a few families who sent their children to Triangle Tots and they loved it! Some of them still keep in touch with their teachers from TT (their kids are now in middle school).

Happy to answer any other questions. Daycares don't work for everyone, but we have had a great experience at USDA.