Feedback on infant daycare centers around Bukit Batok

[Paolita]

Hello,

Although, I am not entirely happy with the idea, I have to go back to work relatevely soon and I am actively looking for infant daycare for my 10 month old son.
We live in Bukit Batok (very far from all the expats hang outs!) and I have found that most people here have a home worker or their relatives to provide care for their child when the ladies go back to work. I actually would like to place my baby in daycare and have narrowed it down to 4 in my area.

I hope that some one could give me feedback on their experience with either. I don't want to put my baby in a daycare where the neighbours have vicious dogs, the teachers have too many kids to take care of or something like that.

I appreciate your help and feedback in any of the infant daycare centers listed below.

The short list is:
1. Babies Inc. (Bukit Timah)
8 CHERRY AVENUE, SINGAPORE 279862

2. Rosie Hearts babies
12, LORONG PISANG BATU, HOOVER PARK, SINGAPORE 597925

3. JUST KIDS LEARNING PLACE PTE LTD
Blk 159, BUKIT BATOK STREET 11, #01 - 180, SINGAPORE 650159

4. HAPPY JOY SCHOOLHOUSE
7, Ming Teck Park, SINGAPORE 277379

[Paolita]

Hello,
Well, I decided to go and visit the following infant daycare centers and here is what I found:

1. Babies Inc.
In a scale of 1 to 10, I will give it a 6 at best! I was surprised to see how untidy the place was. Although the facilities are old, I think they could do with some serious cleaning and tyding up. The entrance was dirty, and overcrowded. On the first floor, there were 4 young babies happily playing with one teacher. They were all neatly lying on the mat, but next door, where the cribs are, they place was crowded with "tasty" card boxes and stuff on the floor. As we went upstairs, although outuside of the kids reach, they have piles of stuff on the stairs that if somebody could give it a nudge, it will land right on the play area for the little kids. Nothing heavy, but lots of papers, cd, and other stuff that made the place really untidy.
As we went into the upper floors, into the gymboree room, the 5 kids were having fun. As I looked on the mats of the floor, to my surprised there were pieces of cardboard all over the floor and it did not seem like they were related to arts and craft. Just pieces of cardboard. There were 3 teachers to 6 kids that were around 12 months old, but one of them was typing away in the computer. Right behind her was a little boy who was sleeping off the matt and she didn't realized that he had rollover to the floor. She only put him in the matt did when I looked at her.
Anyways, Babies Inc. had the right talk, the right teacher showing things, but not for me. I did not like how "dated" the staff was, that the staff did not look happy, and that the staff uniforms look very well used and the change tables and areas were not so tidy. Also, although they follow the childs schedule, if the kids miss the activity because they were sleeping, then there is no make up. I understand this for bigger kids, but little babies are not really in that schedule.. Conclusion: Not for me

Then I went to Rosie Hearts. This was an 8/10. I arrived without an appointment and the manager was there. From the house entrance, everythign look tidy and the floors super clean.. (Even the floor in the entrance). I left the door intentionally opened and they immediately came over to close it. The kids were singing when I arrived, and the teachers were happy. There were no uniforms for the staff or for the kids, so there was more colour. The house although smaller than Babies Inc, was very well lit and with lots of space and colour! There were decorations on the wall, and the kids in every room seem to be working on something. The 12-16 month old kids were having a nap, and the room was organized. There was no mess anywhere, and there seem to be organization. I felt the teacher was giving me all the information before hand vs. me having to ask for the process. I did not like that the both of the teachers upstairs for the little kids did not look friendly and that only until the last minute they asked me for my childs name although he had been along all the time. Conclusion: I liked it better, but I will continue the search.

[strys]

Did you have any luck? Which infant care did you decide on?

We have just moved here and have a 7mnth old daughter which we'd like to place in day care, rather than a full time nanny for various reasons.

Thanks!

[rose123]

im working around bukit timah area.
i intend to put my 3 months baby in the full time infant care.
confuse which center to place her.
my problem is that sometimes i do late for my work until 7.
my main important is that place is convinient,condusive,well trained teachers and of course the price.
pls help.

[ryanbunny]

Hi whichever infantcare/ childcare you choose, beware of their financial policies which may be unfair. E.g. Red Schoolhouse took a deposit from us which they marked as 'Refundable Deposit' on the receipt but they did not want to refund us any money at all!

I checked out Agape near Midview City, and they said they will only forfeit the admin fee of $100 if the child did not end up enrolled at their infant/ child care.

In whichever case, beware of placing any deposits at infantcare/ childcare centers until you have properly surveyed and gathered feedback for these places.

In the case of Red Schoolhouse, they dropped a pacifier on the floor and put it back in the baby's mouth, claiming that 'the teat did not reach the floor'. Their teachers also advised me to place my baby to sleep in the cot tummy faced down and bring two pillows to block out any noise at the infantcare?? For a 5 month old baby, teacher Nurul demonstrated she would 'cradle the baby' and use a shower head to bath him. Only upon further probing did she say "maybe" she would use a bathtub instead.

After sending feedback they were unapologetic and insisted I was telling stories to get my deposit back.

After contacting the authorities - MCYS, they could only send a reminder to the infantcare, and said they cannot participate in any financial disputes.

So be careful of where you place your baby or child. I'm not saying a nanny is better, but in our case we really had a horrible experience.

[ysp314]

i agree, for example, i had heard good things about pat's schoolhouse and so i sent my child there despite their high fees, but now i think pat's baby haven is overrated and overpriced! my child has been there almost 1 year and graduated from infant to toddler class with no sign of the so-called "scrapbook" supposedly given when the child moves up, and no parent teacher meeting yet...and they claim there's a parent's portal on the website, but till date i've not received any password and they claim it's under maintenance. they don't hold any water play or excursions like some other schools, and any activities are basically one-off affairs done for the sake of taking pictures to trick prospective parents into thinking they do alot of stuff! all just for show and very poor value for the exorbitant price we are paying! also extremely disruptive each time they move from infant to walking infant to toddler class--changing teachers and routines every few months! don't waste your money! i'd have moved my child elsewhere had i known earlier!

[Red SchoolHouse]

We refer to the post by ryanbunny on Saturday April 16 2011.

The management @ Red SchoolHouse would like to address to the above mentioned post.

We would like to confirm that only one incident is true; a staff failed to sanitize a pacifier which dropped on the floor. Staff whom is not Teacher Nurul has been counselled. Other allegations posted are untrue.

We would like to comment that Teacher Nurul is a very conscientious, professional and trained infantcare educator. This issue; from one parent ONLY was put through mediation intervention with Small Claims Tribunal Court and MCYS.

We would like to confirm that Red SchoolHouse were not penalised to return full amount neither were we given a warning letter.