We used Bumble Bee Daycare for our son, starting in early December when he was 3.5 months old.
My husband and I both had moms that stayed home with us, so we had no previous daycare experience and were a little nervous about what to expect. We looked at a few in the Park Slope area, and Bumble Bee really stood out as a caring place where all the kids seemed happy and content.
From the first day, the caregivers welcomed our son with open arms and gave him tons of attention and love. The infant caregivers are truly amazing. The ratio of caregivers to children was the best we found of any place we looked at, and that was definitely a priority for me. Even the caregivers for the older children on the first floor all know my son by name and say good morning/good bye to him. I appreciate that while each age group has their own space and their own primary caregivers, the whole staff really works together and knows and loves all the kids.
Safety is always a concern when you leave your child with anyone. I am confident that the ladies of Bumble Bee watch out for my son just like I would. One time, he was a little too enthusiastic about getting a toy into his mouth and ended up bonking himself on the lip. Eunice emailed me in the middle of the day and sent a picture of his little bruise to give me a heads-up, and I appreciated that they kept me in the loop about things like that. It was really a very tiny incident, so if they were so proactive about that, I felt reassured that they would absolutely be on top of any larger incidents too. Eunice will also periodically send pictures of him playing with toys or other babies, just so that I can see how he's doing during the day. Communication is definitely open and welcome. I can call anytime, just to check in, and everyone is happy to chat at drop-off or pick-up about the days events, any concerns, etc. I can ask anything and get a prompt, thoughtful response. If I need to email Eunice about anything, she is very quick to respond.
The staff is very responsive to our desires and our son's needs. In the beginning, I had no idea how much pumped breastmilk to send for him, and they were helpful in figuring out exactly how many ounces he needed during the workday. As he grew, they kept me informed about when they thought he would need bigger bottles, and when we started solids at 6 months, they were great about incorporating that into his routine there. We haven't had many special requests, but I know that they would accommodate anything we needed. My son was a terrible napper during my maternity leave, but at Bumble Bee they helped him get into a little routine. Now, his naps are regularly 1-2.5 hours each, which is amazing. The routine developed naturally -- they read his cues about when he needed to sleep/eat/play, instead of forcing him to fit into a pre-determined schedule. For example, he still needed three naps a day long after most babies his age had dropped down to two naps, so they accommodate that need.
I know this is a lot to read, but the bottom line is that we have been incredibly happy with the care our son has gotten at Bumble Bee. The staff is professional and extremely experienced, the other parents seem kind and friendly, and -- most importantly -- our son enjoys being there. He loves to play with the other kids, and he has really gotten attached to his infant caregivers. I rarely see any children crying at drop-off in the mornings, and he is always playing happily when I go pick him up in the evenings. Knowing that I don't have to worry about him during the day made it much easier for me to return to work.
We were so sad to leave Bumble Bee recently, but we moved out of state for my husband's job. Otherwise, we would have no problems at all continuing to have the amazing staff of Bumble Bee Daycare look after our son. We loved them!!! read more