I have a really hard time with Mandy's review. It's just so different than our experience with The Peanut Gallery! This review was brought to my attention by another parent, and while I am alarmed by Mandy's experience, I don't feel that it accurately reflects the daycare as a whole.
My three year old daughter has been at Peanut Gallery since she was an infant and also started off in the infant room. I was very anxious about leaving her with anyone because I am a first-time mom. Robin, now the assistant director, allowed me to tour several times and visit without warning. I visited all times of day and even brought other moms with me. We agreed that the building was old, but had a nice feel to it and we liked how welcoming the directors and teachers were.
I wanted to clarify a few points:
1.) I've never heard of the staff being required to change a child's clothes three times a day. EVER. I've read that it's advised for three changes of clothes to be packed, but never that they must be changed three times a day. I would die from that much laundry. Every time we re-enroll, we are given a handbook and I do read it. I don't see where it is required for them to change the clothes three times, but would appreciate if someone can show me.
2.) My daughter did not have an assigned crib with her name on it, but she always slept in her own crib, meaning NOT with other infants. I have seen her nod off in the swing, like many babies do, but she wasn't just sleeping in the swing. I have witnessed teachers transfering sleeping infants from swings to cribs.
3.) When my daughter was an infant, I was provided a sheet showing the amount of feedings, times, and what she ate when she moved on to solids. Naturally, I used more formula at home because my child was there longer than she was at daycare. The feeding/diaper/naptime sheets continued until she was in the toddler room, but I can always ask someone if she's eating well, and if she's not, then someone calls or emails me.
More about the facility:
The building is older because it has been in operation since the 1980s, but it is clean. It usually smells of PineSol every afternoon when I come in. Playground equipment and toys are rotated out as they become worn. The daycare feels like a school because of all the handmade decorations for every month. The children have a curriculum that I can take a look at any time. My three year old has known all of her colors since she was two and a half, and can count to twenty. She's currently learning to write her letters using tracing pages and points out letters to me when we are driving. I'm always surprised by what she's learned! She will be well-prepared for kindergarten.
Yvonne Carney, the director, has been with the facility since it opened and moved her way up from a classroom teacher to director. Most of the staff has been there since they were teenagers. I trust their advice completely. In fact, I stopped calling my pediatrician's office for general questions when I enrolled my daughter. I trust them that much because over the decades, hundreds of thousands of children have attended their program. I struggled with potty training at home, but Miss Barbie took the time to tell me how they did things at school so that I was able to be consistent.
Naturally, there have been little things over the years that I've questioned, and the directors have always listened to me and made me feel important. When we had to take my child out of school for financial reasons, they even saved her a spot in the program. I feel like they are extended family now and all weekend long, my child will ask when she can go back to class to see her friends.
I'm sorry to hear of your experience, Mandy. It's really hard to put your newborn in daycare. Really, really hard. I hope that you find a better fit for your family, but I wanted you to know that it's a very lovely daycare with...
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