Anonymous wrote:I would go the nanny route, but find one who drives.

+1. Lots of nannies (and au pairs) in the neighborhood, but I think many nannies drive.

Also think about joining the Shepherd Park listserv, where you can ask questions about nanny and daycare recs.

We moved here 6yrs ago with a toddler, and love the neighborhood. Welcome!

I would go the nanny route, but find one who drives.

We moved to SP five years ago with a then 1-year-old and honestly, other than the library and the playground, there wasn't (still isn't) a whole lot to walk to. Our nanny did use our car regularly to take the kids to Rise & Rhyme at Busboys in Takoma, to Music Together, Ellsworth Park, and the library in DTSS, etc. Not that it's impossible to walk or take public transport to those places -- it is -- but it was a LOT easier with a car.

As the Walter Reed redevelopment moves forward, more nearby activities will likely crop up, but by then your older child will be in school!

A lot of nanny’s
Go to the schoool playground and story time at Shepherd park library

It might be a bit longer drive than you might want but Evergreen School has an excellent half day toddler program. St. Luke’s could also work.

Isnt downtown Silver Spring walking distance from shepherd park?
It might be too far, i cant remember. I used to babysit once a week for 5 hours for a family in shepherd park. I drove so not quite the same. There were a couple of playgrounds within walking distance of their house and we went to Silver Spring a lot. One of the kids did a Gymboree class there, plus there was a fountain in the summer.

We are moving to Shepherd Park this spring and are trying to figure out the best childcare arrangement. We have a 19 month old son and are expecting another baby in August. The toddler has been in a nanny share since the start and is a very social, active little kid. Our current nanny is willing to work in our new neighborhood, but I am worried there aren't enough activities in the immediate neighborhood to keep our toddler occupied. Our nanny does not drive. We think he would enjoy/benefit from daycare, but we also love the convenience of a nanny especially with another baby on the way.

I would appreciate people's thoughts on nanny vs. daycare in the Shepherd Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Are there enough activities within walking distance and enough of a "nanny community" to occupy the toddler and the nanny? We are moving up from the Adams Morgan area where there has been a lot for the kiddos to do. Should we consider daycare instead, and if so, could you recommend any centers for both a toddler and/or an infant? Lastly, does anyone know of any part-time daycare/schools for toddlers in the area the nanny could take him to?

Thanks so much!