1 Star - Absolutely Horrible Experience. Unsafe for Children…read more
I enrolled my son at KinderCare in early May, and it was hands down the worst decision I've ever made for his care. I truly wish I had read the reviews and trusted my instincts before enrolling him.
Let's start with the serious safety concern: they gave my son pineapple, something they were explicitly told he's allergic to. I have the daily log where they documented that he ate pineapple. When I messaged them after he broke out in a rash--consistent with his known allergy--they backtracked, changed their story, and even edited the record to say "pineapple substituted," without saying with what. They later blamed another child's rash as a "coincidence." This is reckless, dishonest, and dangerous. Instead of admitting an accident, they lied , and tried to cover it up. It wasn't a coincidence it showed he ate pineapple and came home with the rash from pineapple. (Diaper rash & hives).
Beyond that, the entire billing situation is a mess.
* I was told by kinder care worker that his tuition would be fully covered--otherwise I never would've enrolled him.
* They charged me two registration fees up front and never fixed it, then tried to charge me a THIRD when I unenrolled him before sending out the bill with incorrect amounts and I will not be paying.
* They started applying $30 late fees immediately, without ever disclosing that in advance.
* They billed me $1,125 for a child who barely attended due to constant illness from being in that facility.
Let's talk about that, too. The place reeks of pee, has no cameras, and is clearly understaffed or poorly staffed. My son, who usually loves everyone, screamed in fear every time he saw one particular older staff member. He would cling to me and cry, and even my family members noticed how he reacted to her. I have no doubt something inappropriate happened, and I will be pursuing that further.
Packs of diapers went missing regularly, sippy cups came home full of old milk, and every day I picked him up, he was drenched in sweat--face red and dehydrated. They don't allow children to have access to water freely, and keep them outside for long stretches (likely to avoid having to interact with them). One staff member looked visibly strung out and reeked of cigarettes. How someone like that is even near children is beyond me.
To make things worse, they didn't notify families for a week after kids were exposed to hand, foot, and mouth disease. My son could've been seriously impacted by their lack of transparency.
While I was in labor, I had my parents, and sister all pick him up, and they didn't even id them once, to make sure they were who they said they were. And then got upset when the paper wasn't signed with dates my son was dropped off.
They are completely disorganized, dishonest, and put money above child safety and well-being. There is constantly new staff every drop off besides the one lady I mentioned.
This was my first daycare experience, and it was traumatizing--for both of us. Thank God he's in a new daycare now where he's thriving, doesn't cry at drop-off, and is actually safe and cared for.
And they won't mistakenly give him something he's allergic too, if they did I'm sure they would own up to their mistake, not cover it up with lies.
If you're considering this KinderCare location--run the other way. You deserve better, and so does your child. I'll be filing formal complaints with the appropriate agencies, to make sure this doesn't happen to other children. My son could have been highly allergic to pineapple, and it could have killed them because of their mistakes instead of apologizing it, they lied to cover it up. They knew he was allergic, it's documented in all forms filled out, on top of the first day of care, the director announced it to the teachers.
I included the messages when I messaged them confronting giving my child his allergy as well as the online portal what it showed his food he ate for the day,, and how they changed it online shortly after as if I didn't already have a screenshot that they gave him something he's allergic too. They also kept enrollment saying my mother stated he would be back next week, after I already made it clear he wouldn't be going back after this incident.