Daycare in Seattle - Downtown

Updated on November 26, 2012
A.P. asks from Seattle, WA
4 answers

Hi!

We live in downtown Seattle and are expecting our little one in April. We are looking into daycare centers - does anyone have recommendations either establishments or in home centers we should contact?

Thank you!

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Not for infants (as far as Im aware), but check them out anyway (because applications go on at least 1 year in advance, and I THINK they start at age 2)... Since they're pretty much the golden standard:

Learning Tree Montessori.
http://www.learningtreemontessori.com/

This isn't the preschool I sent my son to that I wax raptures about... Loved loved loved!!!... But the school most of my friends used or tried to.

Other great schools are around (Evergreen, Bush, UCDS, Villa, etc.)... But LearningTree is ON that list, and right on 15th & Olive.

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Check out the NAYEC website for a list of NAYEC accredited daycares in the area. You have to act FAST. Infant spots are very expensive and hard to come by. I know its insane but will prepared moms will get themselves a waitlist spot the day the test turns positive...

I have a friend who said she liked the Kindercare in downtown (this was 5 years ago) - I have seen other Kindercare centers I wouldn't have picked for my child - but it does usually depend on the people who run the center and the staff!
Bright Horizons has an excellent reputation and is located just South of Downtown in the Starbucks building. They give preference to Starbucks employees, but you can get on a waitlist. I have visited several Bright Horizons locations and they were very nice - just prohibitively expensive and with long waitlists.
My DD attended an Easter Seals Center as an infant. Not the one located in the Federal Building (also just south of downtown on Alaskan Way) but we visited this one also and loved it.
There are a whole bunch of independent operators as well, centers and a few home providers - but as I said the good ones have waitlists out the whazoo.
Good luck!

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M.K.

answers from Seattle on

It's hard to find in home daycare from downtown. Wait lists can be long at centers downtown but not always. I recommend goign to a lot. i was shellshocked by my first couple visits. If a nanny or nanny-share is feasible for you, i would suggest it for the first year, or longer. it is hard to see your little one in care where at best the ratio is one to three. That said, my second child went to infant daycare downtown recently.

Here is what i learned. To some extent, many of the daycares seemed similar. Almost all of them have good teachers and some not so good. High turnover can be a warning sign, but not always b/c there are some very burned out and overworked people in daycare. Most people in daycare work for fairly low wages and it can be a tiring job. Sometimes newer, fresher people are great and if turnover is high b/c they hire motivated people on their way to teaching degrees or other things, it can be fine. Sometimes high turnover is a huge warning sign of systemic problems with the center. NYAEC usually translates into a good, safe center but it's not a guarantee.

The way the office/management treats their staff matters and if staff get vacations matters. You won't really be able to tell how staff are treated and scheduled before you get in (unless its obviously bad- in which case, run). Most centers will tell you all the things you want to hear. Again, after you get in, pay attention. Just because they know the right answer doesnt mean it happens. Spend time at the center- as much as you can. Come early for drop off, stay late when you pick up, come by at lunch or a break when you can- see how things are when the parents aren't there. Feed your baby there and keep your ears and eyes open. If things are good, it gives you a chance to form relationships with the teachers, if things aren't good, it gives you a chance to find out.

Good luck.

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T.A.

answers from Seattle on

Not in downtown, but Bella mente early learning academy is in west Seattle, and if you live and work downtown it's too far but they can refer you to someone downtown maybe? My good friend is the owner and I would trust her judgement of other centers. I'd hire a nanny if you can!

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