I have had kids at both St. Anthony’s and Madison Day School and would recommend both. The waitlist is long for St. Anthony’s (and I hear MDS is too right now) but tends to open up for 2 and 3 year olds, and then you’d get preference for the excellent infant room if you have a second kid. I have also heard good things about American Day School. I have had friends send kids to Blue Bird/Tiny Tots and the kids seemed to be perfectly fine, but they all transferred elsewhere once they kids were closer to 2.

BlueBird is the one with the abuse scandal. Look up the threads on here. I would avoid it.

The two BH locations in Old Town and St. Anthony's are the ones with the best reputations in Old Town for little babies.

I've had two kids go through St. Anthony's Day School, and we loved it. I've also heard good things about the Bright Horizons, Madison Day School, and American Day School. I don't know much about Kiddie Academy, which is newer, on the north end.

We had a not great experience with Flagstone, but it is under a new director now (same owner, though, I believe).

I would not send my kids to BlueBird/Tiny Tots but I know neighbors do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the PTO. If you're USPTO, the daycare there is good but very hard to get off the waitlist. But you get a substantial discount as a PTO employee. Being so close was such a huge benefit, so when considering don't discount physical proximity.

I have heard good things about the Old Town Bright Horizons, but a long waitlist again. Who knows how stuff will shake out when this is over, though.

Mixed things on Blue Bird/Tiny Tots, though. My friend would go visit her son there and she said they would just leave him in a bouncer for hours. But another coworker said he thought it was fine for his kid. I toured BBII and thought it was a zoo. I dunno how any kid naps there.

Those are just the ones I know personally or have friends who sent kids there which is extremely limited.

There will still be a really long waitlist, maybe even longer for BH at USPTO. I can tell you this as someone who works and lives in Old Town. That location is *really* desirable right now because it has such a good reputation as far as security and safety/cleanliness procedures--nobody I know is planning on giving up their spot. And I know a lot of people who are planning on keeping their kid there an extra year now versus sending them to preschool elsewhere.

If I were OP I would still try getting on the list anyway. I send my kid to USPTO because of the substantial discount but the Old Town BH was very nice when I toured and they have a very nice playground (obviously closed now but generally open to the public when the daycare is closed).

Anonymous wrote:I work at the PTO. If you're USPTO, the daycare there is good but very hard to get off the waitlist. But you get a substantial discount as a PTO employee. Being so close was such a huge benefit, so when considering don't discount physical proximity.

I have heard good things about the Old Town Bright Horizons, but a long waitlist again. Who knows how stuff will shake out when this is over, though.

Mixed things on Blue Bird/Tiny Tots, though. My friend would go visit her son there and she said they would just leave him in a bouncer for hours. But another coworker said he thought it was fine for his kid. I toured BBII and thought it was a zoo. I dunno how any kid naps there.

Those are just the ones I know personally or have friends who sent kids there which is extremely limited.

There will still be a really long waitlist, maybe even longer for BH at USPTO. I can tell you this as someone who works and lives in Old Town. That location is *really* desirable right now because it has such a good reputation as far as security and safety/cleanliness procedures--nobody I know is planning on giving up their spot. And I know a lot of people who are planning on keeping their kid there an extra year now versus sending them to preschool elsewhere.

Bright Horizons at USPTO and St. Anthony's are two of the most desirable and have long waitlists. But the people who go there are happy.

No waitlist for Bluebird and Tiny Tots but they have a lot of complaints from parents.

We have been happy at American a Day School.

Bright Horizons old town is good.

Honestly, they’re all good except Bluebird/ Tiny Tots.

Madison Day school is another one I really liked when we toured.

I work at the PTO. If you're USPTO, the daycare there is good but very hard to get off the waitlist. But you get a substantial discount as a PTO employee. Being so close was such a huge benefit, so when considering don't discount physical proximity.

I have heard good things about the Old Town Bright Horizons, but a long waitlist again. Who knows how stuff will shake out when this is over, though.

Mixed things on Blue Bird/Tiny Tots, though. My friend would go visit her son there and she said they would just leave him in a bouncer for hours. But another coworker said he thought it was fine for his kid. I toured BBII and thought it was a zoo. I dunno how any kid naps there.

Those are just the ones I know personally or have friends who sent kids there which is extremely limited.

We're beginning the overwhelming process of figuring out infant day care, likely starting in March 2021. We've identified some places in and around Old Town Alexandria, our preferred location, but need some help with recommendations and reviews (especially since tours aren't possible right now). Any names of places you loved, hated, felt just okay about, etc. would be so helpful to us. And any advice about evaluating and researching a daycare would be much appreciated. Thank you!