Infant Childcare in Tucson

[HollybyGolly]

I'm heading back to work after being home with our almost three month old.  We're looking for some sort of child care for her and are pretty open to what the setup is (center, home, nanny...).  I'll only be working about 20 hours a week, but the schedule will be a little erratic as I sometimes have to travel to Phoenix, etc., and will otherwise work four five-hour days.  Any ideas?  OR, if you've found a situation you're happy with, HOW did you find it?  I'm finding that there are a million centers, and I don't know where to start, and likewise, perusing Craigslist in search of a suitable babysitter/nanny/home daycare is like searching for a needle in a haystack.  Do you just take a look at all the possibilities and interview everyone!? 

Thanks!

[SundayCrepes]

You may have difficulty finding quality care for an infant if you did not reserve a space 2 years before you got pregnant (well, at least while you were pregnant.)

I was lucky and got laid off while I was pregnant and ended up being a SAHM. However, we had a slot at Temple Emmanuel (even though we are not Jewish.) They have a very good reputation. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Strauss-ECE-and-Kindergarten/245289686770?sk=info

I've heard the Blake Foundation might start doing infants again, though I don't know the current status. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Childrens-Achievement-Center/206040769410457?sk=info

I think Casita Maria by St. Mary's and Casita Jose by St. Joseph's (hospitals) did infants. They give priority to employees then go down the waiting list.

If you are going to look for a center, try for one that is NAEYC certified. In home care would scare me if you didn't know the people well. I know someone whose child suffered permanent brain damage as a result of shaken baby syndrome from an in-home provider. Obviously there are some great in-home folks, I would just be afraid if I didn't know the person well.

Childcare for infants is really hard. Good luck.

[biggestwitch]

What part of town are you from? Besides Pheonix, where about are you working? This may help me or others to point you in a good direction. I am a SAHM with school age kiddos and have some free time during most school days. Would be happy to help out. Also, have worked in day care / pre-schools here in Tucson when my daughter was a little one so may have some ideas. I will ask some folks I know who are currently in ECE what their thoughts are.

[biggestwitch]

What part of town are you from? Besides Pheonix, where about are you working? This may help me or others to point you in a good direction. I am a SAHM with school age kiddos and have some free time during most school days. Would be happy to help out. Also, have worked in day care / pre-schools here in Tucson when my daughter was a little one so may have some ideas. I will ask some folks I know who are currently in ECE what their thoughts are.

[swd12422]

The Sandbox2 always gets good recommendations from the few people I know who use day care here. I don't know what part of town you're in, but I'm a SAHM to a 3yo and would be happy to help out if our schedules work out.

[TucsonHouse]

The Sandbox for birth to 5 and the International School for 3 to 12.

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by TucsonHouse 

The Sandbox for birth to 5 and the International School for 3 to 12.

I think there's a couple international schools. Which are you referring to?

[LoveBug14]

Hello!!  BUMP

I am also trying to get as much information as possible about infant/toddler care in Tucson.  When I go back to work in August my little one will be 9 months old.  My mother will be doing a good amount of the childcare, but we will probably have him going to daycare 2-3 days per week,then building up to 5 days per week when he is 18 months or so.

It's devastating to even think about going back to work for me (but it's a contracted thing that I must fulfill, ugh, the medical field...)  So I am desperate for the best childcare available.  We are exclusively breast-feeding, co-sleeping, and baby-wearing so I know we have a huge transition coming up.  I hope that a loving place will ease some of this disruption.

So far I have checked out the JCC and Casa Ninos Montessori and I have calls into a few other places.

We will look into the Blake Foundation from the above recommendation.  Any other ideas would be great.

Thanks so much to all the mamas our there!!

[natalie03434]

I'm a nurse in the neo ICU and my husband and I took in an infant from CPS so we have gone through every resource possible for infant care. How many hours are you looking for? Let me know and I can let you know If I could be of any help.  Also have you tried child family resource and referrals? They have nannies, day cares, schools, etc listed.  If not it is pretty helpful and completely free- http://www.arizonachildcare.org/referral.html

Its super easy to call and they are so helpful!