Smart Tots Home Daycare

Do not recommend at all.I had my son at Mel’s daycare for a few months between Aug-Nov 2017. The play space is small but very nice - clean and good for tiny kids. Had natural light and most of this was the appeal that caused us to sign with this daycare. At a surface level this daycare seems very inviting! My issue however was with the care provider - not theAmbiance or decorations.During the short time my son was at Mel’s daycare he frequently came home with diaper rashes several times a week. We asked if she could change what she was feeding him and/or change him more frequently and neither was accommodated. My son had a couple sensitivities to various foods all of which we explicitly listed on the application form. During his first week she was feeding him cheese and yogurt - both of which he has a sensitivity to which would result in a terrible diaper rash. That aside we kept working through the pains of starting a new daycare.After several weeks it was apparent that she wasn’t always keeping a watchful eye on them. Every story about the events for the day as it pertains to my son would start with “Gillian said...”. Gillian was a 4 or 5 year old girl also in her care. One time my son had more than enough time to dirty his diaper and start painting the walls with his poop and once again Gillian alerted Mel to what was happening.This really should have been a red flag because every care giver should have enough of a presence to speak from first hand experience. Also no kid should have so much time in a dirty state that they somehow take off their pants, undo their layette snaps and find their way into their dirty diaper when at that age fine motor skills are now being developed!After a while my son didn’t want to be dropped off at the daycare and would cling to us and start crying. He’s normally very social but again we chalked it up to growing pains of a new daycare. Should have realized he was being treated poorly. The breaking point for her negligence was when she said my son hit the baby and then her solution was to cage him off in his own little 3 ft x 2 ft cell for the entire day!During our short time there Mel had three kids under 2 years of age in her care which is against regulation. She was not attentive at all and it was very apparent she was cutting corners on how she cared for the kids.Again do not recommend - too many red flags in such a short period of time.

I was nervous and overwhelmed when it was time to go back to work when I had my first born, and I searched for a daycare I would send her to. I saw this one popped up and looked at the pictures thought to myself well this seems like the perfect place to send her. When I called Mel she was really nice over the phone and said we're welcome to visit before making our decision. I'm happy to say that i have no regrets sending my daughter and my son here. They were fed and never dirty, Mel made sure they had clean clothes and diapers when coming home.I knew smart Tots daycare was the right choice when I saw both my kids reading and counting and knew about emotions and such. They were well taken care of and so my mind was at ease while I was at work. When my daughter started elementary school she could read to this day she's excelling in school. My son who is two years going on to three in July knows his abcs can trace letters saying days of the week. Thanks again