Forum Index
»
Schools and Education General Discussion
Huckleberry Cheesecake in DC
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Does anyone out there have an infant at Huckleberry Cheesecake (20th & M)? Older posts here seem to indicate that it's in a dark basement and lacks outdoor play space, but we're looking at placement for a 3-month-old, so playground equipment isn't exactly a prerequisite. If you're a parent there -- or considered it -- what informed your decision? Did/does it seem worth the long wait list and high cost? Did you drop by regularly during the day for feedings? |
Anonymous
| I hate the twee name. It's too "wanna-be cute" by half. |
Anonymous
| agree..the name is crazy! It looks like a dangerous place to send an infanct. I see the workers taking the kids for walks and they are always on their cell phones and not paying attention to the kids! |
Anonymous
|
My DD was there for 2 years from 3 months on. It was AWESOME! Really, a dream.
My office moved, so my son is at another center that is nowhere near as well run, family friendly, healthy, functional, etc. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Huck Cheese. But I would go back there in a heartbeat. We've used 4 different daycares total, and it was by far the best. |
Anonymous
|
OP here, and thanks all for the feedback. Agreed 100% that the name is atrocious -- children are not food, and all the treacly language about kids as delicacies to be consumed just feeds into a bigger cultural morass, a la that disturbing photographer who dresses babies up as peas in a pod, soup in a pot, etc.
We went for a visit today, and the facility was less cavelike than I expected. I did see a toddler class coming back from outdoor play on one of those rope lines, but the teachers were minding them attentively. I'm glad to hear that one family had an extremely positive experience -- we put our names on the wait list (the first of several, I'm sure), but if a space opens up in 12-18 months, per their estimate, we'll still need some kind of bridge care for a while. (The baby is due in September, and I expect to need child care in December, so that leaves a gap of at least 4 months.) Any thoughts out there on interim solutions? |
Anonymous
Yes, I've seen them walking too - miles to a park in 20 degree and windy weather. I was horrified. |
Anonymous
These kids hike all the way over to rose park for outside time and there never seems to be enough teachers watching them. |
Anonymous
| My friend's daughter is in the infant room and is extremely unhappy there. Thinks her daughter just sits in a bouncy chair all day and the teachers just talk to each other all day long. |
Anonymous
Yes, I was talking about Rose Park. I was there one day last winter, and it was the coldest day of the year. It was just us and the HC kids. I am from CT, so I normally like cold weather, but it was unbearable. The HC kids had WALKED there. and had to walk home. I honestly don't know how they did it without frostbite. I'm guessing it's nearly a mile-long walk each way? |
Anonymous
|
I have a toddler at Huckleberry Cheesecake and we have been very happy there. He started after he turned 1, so I can't give you much info on the infant room. My son has so much fun there and loves the teachers. They all know his name, even though he's not in the other classes.
It's a hard decision on where to send your baby for daycare. We had him in a in-home care before sending him there. We changed for several reasons, but I have found that no daycare situation is perfect. We are pleased his progress there so far! Good luck with your decision. |
Anonymous
| I toured it and didn't like it one single bit. There are some classrooms with no windows and it felt cramped and not child friendly. The staff wasn't as friendly our approachable either. |
Anonymous
|
My DC has been there for one year and it is great! The caregivers are fun, communicative and pleasant. It is hardly a dark and dingy basement. On the contrary, it is light and airy and a fun place to visit. I checked out virtually every daycare facility when I was pregnant and I have to say I liked this one by far the best. Who cares what the name of the facility is - isn't the thing that matters most is how they take care of the children??
Don't take other people's word for it - check it out yourself and make your own mind up. |
Anonymous
|
We have two children there, an infant and a preschooler. We have had a great experience. It is not dark and cavelike, it is on the first floor and does not have a lot of windows. I looked at a lot of places and it was my first choice in part because the rooms were laid out with care and are very cheerful. I also had friends who had their children there and had been very happy. We have very much liked the other children and parents we have met at the school.
Kids have a lot of energy and they get the kids out daily weather permitting and you do need to dress your child for the weather (they do not take the infants out in very cold or very warm weather), your child will be fit there. It is not a mile from Huckleberry to Rose Park, it is from 20th street to 28th street. They take the children to different parks at different ages, the older children walk farther and go on great field trips regularly. I have read that for infant care the most important thing is consistency of caregiver. There has been zero turnover of teachers in the infant room for at least 4 years. |
Anonymous
Completely untrue. It is exactly ONE MILE from the daycare center to the park. See here: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=huckleberry%20cheesecake&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl I have seen those kids walking to the park when it's been ten degrees and windy outside. The park neighbors (and other moms and nannies) are flabbergasted by it. |
Anonymous
| Well, I went to your google maps link and mapped 2001 M street to 2800 M street. It is apparently .6 miles. Are you entering a different address for Rose Park? |