New Daycare

I'm pleased to announce that we absolutely LOVE our new daycare! It's The Children's Center in Dublin, OH (http://www.childrenscenteronbridge.com/). It's a locally-owned daycare (yay for no chains!) and is not nearly as far of a drive in traffic that I initially believed it might be. I also love how large it is, and how many windows there are to let in natural light. The caregivers are sweet and interested, and all of them knew who we were the first day we were there, and greeted us with very authentic enthusiasm.

We've only been there 3 days, but we've noticed a dramatic difference in several things. First, Emma is super-happy and bubbly when we pick her up in the evening! At our prior daycare she would be fussy and screaming in the evening, often very clingy to us at night when we'd get home. Even after only 3 days, she is excited to get there in the morning and has made fast friends with several of the babies.

Second, we are using the cloth diapers and the staff are really enthusiastic about it! They find it easy to do, and Emma's bottom looks wonderful. Laundry hasn't been an issue -- we're still averaging every 2-3 days for diaper laundry, which is what we were averaging before.

Third, she is eating MUCH better. At the prior daycare she would be given three 4-oz bottles the entire time she was there (8am to 5pm usually). Today at this daycare, she was offered three bottles by 12:30 pm!! She didn't eat much of the first one, but that's totally ok. And yesterday she ate all 4 bottles before 5pm.

Fourth, they allow us to keep a stash of frozen breast milk in the freezer of the fridge in the infant room for up to 2 weeks in case baby is going through a growth spurt or they need extra. MOST of the mommies there breastfeed!! I'm so thrilled about that.

And last, but not least, we have had multiple parents from different classrooms spontaneously tell us how much they love the daycare and what a wonderful experience it has been for them. We never even interacted with the parents at the other daycare -- it was just in and out. We've met several sets of parents and I already know 5 babies' names. It took me 3 months to just learn 3 babies' names at the prior daycare.

I'm SO happy about the switch. The child to adult ratio is much better, and Emma already seems to be thriving. I feel like it's going to be such a positive thing in the long run.