Looking for recommendations in Alexandria VA - 22304

[Anonymous]

I am due in April 2010 and have no idea of where to start to look for day care. I live in the 2230 4 zip code and would welcome any recommendations for day care centers so that i can get on the wait list. They have a great day care where i work bu i am #67 on the waiting list. Ughhhh! Any help would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

We are at Bright Start in Cameron Station. While they have had some violations in the past, they have a new director and we are VERY pleased. My daughter has been there since she was 3 months old. I will tell you that you should get on the daycare thing NOW. I had my daughter in April, we started looking in Nov. and put ourselve on 6 waitlists. By the time she was ready to go to daycare, only Bright Start had a space. We did get three calls a month later. I have also heard great things about Creative World, but their waitlist in LONG.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much. I live in cameron station so this would be great. Do you know what the costs are? I will go ahead and get on the wait list. Can you tell me where else you put your name down so that i can start doing the same. I tried great beginnings but they have 25 families on the wait list.

[Anonymous]

For the infant room at Bright Start it's $1593 a month. It's definitely the most expensive we looked at, but they have a 3:1 ratio most times and they have cameras in each room so you can check your child throughout the day. The teachers in the infant room have all been there at least three years (that I can remember) and are all very nice and loving. I mention all of this to say that I think the price is justified.

We also looked at Great Beginnings (before it opened), but did not put ourselves on the list because it was new and we were concerned about not having a history on which to base our decision. I am not surprised that they have a long list--they are in Old Town afterall. We were also on the list at the Clarendon Child Development Center in Arlington, Funshine Preschool in Arlington, Bolling Air Force Base (DoD hubby), a Kindercare (do not recommend), and Creative World. It doesn't hurt to put yourself on a list even if it's long. You would be surprised how many people decline spots because they already have care, move (this is a very transient area), decide to stay home, etc. Directors at three centers told us we didn't have a chance and we got calls from all of them, just one month too late.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you need any other info: [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Where is Great Beginnings?

[Anonymous]

Great Beginnings is in Old Town. They have a website, google it. They just opened in the summer (July I think).

[Anonymous]

Summer is an easier time to get children in daycare, so an April due date would align well. Bright Start in CS graduates a lot of their children into new rooms over the summer (families moving, changing school/daycare situations) so more spots open up. Definitely call BS regularly and let them know you're still interested. They told me there were 100 children ahead of my son, and he got in exactly when we wanted!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks a lot for the great advice. Put our name down at BS and will follow up with them end of this month and every month from now on. This will be our best bet as we live there or until i get a placement at my office bldg.

[Anonymous]

Also, BS has a non-crawler and crawler infant room so there is a lot of movement in the non-crawler room. Babies move over as soon as they are mobile enough to potentially harm the babies that can't move out of the way The chances of getting a spot are better with a situation like that.