I'll begin by stating the obvious: finding someone to take care of your baby is not easy. I met…read moreLinda when I was pregnant with my first child while taking a walk around the neighborhood. Linda was, by chance (and luck), outside her home. She was friendly and introduced herself and her daycare. Being a FTM, I had no idea that good daycares get booked up quickly, so I didn't bother following up until after my son was born. That was probably one of the bigger mistakes I made as a new mom. When I reached out to enroll my son, her daycare was already full. Through a long and unpleasant process of trial and error, which involved enrolling and taking my son out of three different daycares for a variety of reasons (e.g., high staff turnover, too many illnesses or accidents, napping my then 18 month old at 3pm daily, etc), I finally found a preschool that fit.
I wised up with my second child and enrolled my daughter with Linda during my first trimester. Having toured almost every infant care (both larger operations and smaller, in-home ones) and a sizeable number of preschools in the La Crescenta/La Canada/Montrose area, I can say with confidence that enrolling your little one at Miss Linda's Little Sprouts is *the best* choice you can make as a parent for your child.
Some highlights of my experience with Miss Linda's Little Sprouts:
1. Linda has decades of experience and is a genuine, kind and friendly individual. She only accepts 4 children max and because of this small ratio, I can see that she's formed trusting bonds with each of the children. My daughter never cries when she goes to daycare, reaching out eagerly for Linda in the mornings. Linda has provided a safe and nurturing environment for my daughter, and I 100% trust her.
2. Linda really works with you as a parent to accommodate your wants and your child's needs. For example, while other infant cares would not allow me to bring food for my child in glass containers, she never had such a policy (trying to limit BPA exposure here!). My daughter has had trouble gaining weight and Linda is diligent in making sure she eats, including taking the time to spoon feed my daughter most of her meals. Linda and I share similar philosophies with respect to sleep/naps; since going to Linda's, my daughter has been able to fall asleep without assistance and generally sleeps through the night. Linda also sends me texts, photos, and/or updates throughout the day. She's also so helpful - my baby bottles and food containers are always washed before pickup!
3. The daycare is *clean*, which is so important to me. While my son was sick basically every other week when he started infant care, my daughter rarely got sick here.
4. Linda runs a fun and age-appropriate program for the kids. They always seem entertained and to be enjoying the various toys she provides. Linda sometimes takes them into her backyard on sunny days for mini water and other outdoor adventures and regularly plans fun art projects for them. She talks and sings with the kids, and my daughter knows and can say many words, including animal names and noises, colors, numbers, etc.
Final note regarding the one negative review, this was not representative of my experience at Linda's daycare at all. I am truly so thankful to have my daughter in Linda's care. My daughter was only 5 months old when she started and is now a happy, sweet, and secure toddler - I attribute this, at least in part, to Linda and her care, love, and capabilities as a caregiver.