Does anyone send their kid to a Bright Horizons daycare center?

nycnola

Our daycare just switched over to Bright Horizons, and while we still have most of the same teachers, the center has changed a lot and we don't love it anymore. We are pregnant with LO#2 and are thinking of moving to a new center. Overall, what do you think of Bright Horizons? TIA!

aglenn

Both of my kids are at Bright Horizons and have been from the beginning.  Other than the outrageous cost, I really like it.  What is it that you're not happy with?

nycnola

Our DC used to be run by the university I work at, but the center director retired and they switched to BH after that. They have already lost 6 teachers, and two of those 6 teachers have told me to my face to not send a baby there, which freaks me out obviously. They upped the student/teacher ration from 4-5:1 to 8:1, everything became more "corporate" and less warm, and the new director was an internal BH hire and she has an MBA and not any Early Childhood education training, and she seems it, if that makes sense. She is there to run a business and turn a profit. Most of my DD's classmates parents are going to pull their kids at the end of this year, and we are too, but for a baby I'm not sure if we can stick around. 

Stephanie2167

DDs at a home daycare, but I truly believe if you don't feel comfortable, find a new place.

aglenn

Sounds like you just got stuck with a bad director.  I'd start looking elsewhere if I were you. 

JillAly

I sent my kids to a daycare that switched to BH after about 1 1/2 years. It was a big adjustment for everyone and things didn't transition really smoothly. Things that were just fine for the prior center all of a sudden weren't allowed anymore by BH (nothing was allowed in the crib except a binky whereas the babies were allowed to have small loveys or things in the crib before). Other things that were never done suddenly had to be done (for example, we never put the date on the baby bottles but when BH came, every bottle had to have not only the kid's name, but also the date- every morning I spent 5 extra minutes b/c of it). You get used to the new way of things, but it's just "different". 

I will say this about BH - when I had a problem with my dd's classroom and complained to the regional director, within 2 weeks my dd was in a different class.  They listened and they took care of the problem. 

As for sending a baby there- every place is different even if it's run by the same organization.  I was so happy with my dd's infant room (she started at 4 months) because the teachers were warm and loving.  I knew she was safe and loved.  I wasn't so happy with her toddler room - and that was a big part of why I had her switched.  I would look at who your LO's caregivers will be more than who the check goes to. 

Personally, I disliked our director.  I don't think she was organized enough or on top of things enough - she wasn't taking care of my child- and she hired good people who did care care of my kids. 

I'm in NYC -my kids were in one downtown.  If you want to chat further, PM me.