Anonymous wrote:It took us 4 years to get off the waitlist. By then we didn't need it.

We got off the wait list twice with an infant (declined it the first time as we made other arrangements). This was 2012 and 2016. One DLA civilian parent, one civilian non-DOD parent. What was your "status"?

It took us 4 years to get off the waitlist. By then we didn't need it.

The Bright Horizons Center is being moved to "in-house" over the coming summer, so the DLA folks will be managing it instead of Bright Horizons. We have been there since July with two kids. I have generally liked it and the things I haven't liked have been typical of any daycare (i.e. trouble with nap schedules, managing the breast milk amounts). The teachers are nice, the classes are small (I think just 8 in my youngest's room). It is a daycare so don't expect highly specialized care, like anywhere, but they do listen to concerns we have. We did have an injury which was the teacher's fault but something I could have easily done at home (twisty kid getting hands washed). The teacher felt terrible about it and they had a plan to make sure it didn't happen again.

The current leadership there I generally like, and she runs a really tight ship. Very professional but warm with the kids. She will be leaving, though they are hoping that an overwhelming majority of the current staff will stay. I think all of our current teachers are planning on staying. I have really liked some of the teachers, but my oldest's current teacher isn't my favorite. She is a bit too academic focused and rigid for me, but the other teachers I think balance her out.

Food there is good. Generally whole foods, no juice. Classrooms are really nice. Outdoor space is great. Other parents are nice but the parent advisory board isn't as active as I would like, but I would have a hard time being involved anyway. I don't work at Fort Belvoir so I don't interact with people there as much as DH does.

If you are trying to get off the waitlist it most likely won't happen immediately, but I found that just dropping by to "check" on things miraculously got both kids in when our other care situation was changing. We were in a home daycare on post before and I really really loved her, but I didn't have great experiences with some of the back-up providers. I have heard horrible things about the other Ft B CDC's and people who have been at both FB on-post and the DLA CDC seem to prefer DLA hands down.

I don't know why PP before said they "hate Bright Horizons" without any kind of support. I have generally seen good things about BH centers on here. I was actually disappointed that they were moving it to in-house, but I am hopeful that the care will not degrade. Note that this center is NOT Army managed like the other CDC's.

Anonymous wrote:I hate Bright Horizons.

Why is that? Could you please give me some info as we're thinking of enrolling

I hate Bright Horizons.

Anyone use this center? Would you recommend it for an infant