So it should come as no surprise how I agree with all the other moms here: Sara is a gem and it took me a minute to mine her out of several other daycares in the Tri-Valley area. My son is now approaching his first birthday and he's been in Sara's care for about 5 months now; I already know I plan to keep him there until he is ready to transition to pre-school. If you're lucky enough to get a spot with her, do not hesitate; she's the real deal.
I think I was pretty well-informed during the childcare selection process: we tried everything from larger, more corporate facilities such as Bright Horizons ($$$$ for a sterile and cold environment - they won't even mix the formula for you, you have to do it at home and bring it to be reheated) to testing out another in-home daycare before a friend referred Sara to us. That other in-home facility was more expensive, far less clean than Sara's bright and beautiful home and the provider just resonated an air of indifference when it came to nurturing children. Pro tip: be wary of any in-home provider who will not let you take a tour at the end of the day while children are present. Red flag! This was not the case with Sara.
From the first time I met her I just got a completely different vibe: her personality and interactions with the children were so warm and genuine. You can also tell by how much the kids adore her that she treats all of them with tenderness and authentic care. My son was no different: he warmed up to her quickly and through slowly adding days to our schedule over the past few months has acclimated well. I love receiving daily photo updates and she is prompt to reply to any texts throughout the day. I love that my son is learning to play with others in a such a fun and diverse environment (like actually diverse lol).
I'm a first-time mom and there have been times when I've asked Sara for parenting tips and she's always forthcoming with gentle suggestions and zero condescension! I mean, she's raised two gorgeous children of her own and goodness knows how many others through the years; she knows what she's talking about. Even when we hit a rough patch with my son and his napping schedule (he was flipped around, juxtaposing the other children which made it twice as hard for Sara) she tried so many things until she discovered what worked for him.
Months later, I could not be happier with our family's budding relationship with Sara and Rainbow Daycare. Oh! And did I mention her rates are more than fair? Just below the market average for San Ramon and surrounding areas. I was relieved when I met her and don't know what my boy and I would do without her. Thanks Sara! read more