We are definitely big fans of Bubbles (my daughter even named her pet fish Bubbles) and have been involved with them for about a year now. We started with Bubbles at the BCB Mew Mom play date at Little Beans when my daughter was 2 months old. Ms. Kim did Music with that group and we did it until Wren aged out at around 7 months. After that, we started in Music: Crawlers at the actual Bubbles facility with Ms. Kim. Since then we've done Music: Walkers with Ms. Amelia and we are now in Music: Explorers with Ms. Kim.
Babies don't come with directions, but Bubbles gets pretty dang close. They give advice in the music classes about development and other things. I implemented pretty much everything in the classes and at home.
I've been to several baby classes and playspaces over this past year. I think the thing that sets Bubbles apart is they've created a space of "yes." Sure, there are rules, but pretty much the kids are free to do what they do. Other spaces are no adults on this or that, keep your child within your reach at all times, you have to be exactly the right age to do a class or play in here, etc. I have always felt like Bubbles trusted my judgment as a parent. We moved up to Walkers early, and went back to Crawlers a couple times after she could walk, just because I felt like she should visit the old class a couple times as a transition to a new teacher, class style, etc.
I would say Bubbles is on the more expensive side as far as baby classes, but I really think it has been a good investment for our family. The staff and teachers know my daughter and she knows them. We are definitely going to do preschool prep at Bubbles and are considering sending our daughter there for preschool. I love that we would already be familiar with the teachers, staff, building, etc.
We also had our daughter's first birthday party at Bubbles and it was a dream. I'm a closet Type A and have to plan everything myself. I totally trusted the Bubbles event and just "showed up" for the first time in my life. I did my hair and makeup for the first time in a year, instead of blowing up balloons or scrambling to find streamers. It was great.
I have always found Bubbles to be very clean, and we've never had any issues with illness. The music classes are definitely clean and the teachers make sure you know to not come if you are sick. I usually go to open play before and/or after music class, and I see the teachers cleaning everything. I do think the open play is more relaxed with cleaning. If I see my daughter put anything in her mouth, I put it on a little ledge they have off to the side. I do think they clean everything every night and do spot checks during the day, but they could probably be more forward with their cleaning procedures for open play i.e where to put dirty toys, do a cleaning time during the day, etc.
. read more