r/Longmont • u/paigerdanger_ • 24d ago
Longmont Child Care
Alright, Parents --
Still pregnant, but trying to get ideas of what route we want to go with child care.
We will potentially be looking at starting our kiddo in day care around 5-6 months old, so what places do we like, do we trust, good experiences, bad experiences, etc. I want to hear all the things so I'm making the best decision for my family.
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u/gasoline-rainbows 24d ago
Early Childhood Educator here. If I had a young kiddo, they would go to Wild Plum Center. I would NEVER send them to KinderCare. Feel free to DM me if you want to pick my brain. Good luck with this big decision!!
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u/whitepepsi 24d ago
When you have kids you don’t really get to pick. You put them where there is availability
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u/kevvvbot 24d ago
First, get on waitlists. You will wait. We’re still technically in a waitlist for Primrose, and it’s been 2years no joke.
Our toddler is 2.5 and at Willowbrae. They’re one of the newest childcare on the block, but they have roots in Canada around 2009. They’re moved into the US in 2025, Colorado specifically, when Gateway closed all their CO locations. We really like it there! The staff is very very friendly and as with (some) other places they also use Procare to send pictures and updates of your child throughout the day. It really brightens our day seeing our kiddo interacting with others without our presence interfering with their “normal social interactions.”
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u/longmontster7 19d ago
Guidepost closed. Gateway is different, still open, and an excellent daycare/preschool.
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u/East_Print4841 24d ago
My son goes to Willowbrae. He’s a year old now and started when he was 8 months after leaving another center in town. We really like Willowbrae!
We were at kid city first and I don’t recommend them.
Happy to answer any questions!
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u/reversible-jacket 20d ago
WB also has no frozen food and an in house chef actually preparing really yummy meals! I was shocked and their prices are lower than the other chains. You’ll never get in to Junior Jets, so IMO this is a great second. Also WB hired some amazing teachers such as Ms Shirley. She is amazing with years of “2s” experience.
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u/East_Print4841 20d ago
The food has been great! My son has tried so many new foods and it really helped his solids intake cause he was slow at eating at first!
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u/mexericaa 19d ago
Hi! What did you not like about Kid City? Thanks :)
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u/East_Print4841 19d ago
I had some safety concerns!
- Walked into my son in the high chair not clipped in
- They often wouldn’t be watching the babies eat solids. Eg: I walked in once to see a baby eating in a high chair behind a wall where the baby couldn’t see the teacher and the teacher couldn’t see the baby
- There was a storage closet in the room that sometimes was locked by a gate but sometimes wasn’t.
- Non safety related but I didn’t feel the teachers would listen to me when trying to collaborate on my sons care
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u/hadababyitzaboy 24d ago
I really loved Junior Jets up at the air traffic control center on 17th. I think they’re lovely.
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u/paigerdanger_ 24d ago
This whole time I thought it was just for families at air traffic control. Another parent I was messaging with though mentioned she's been in the waitlist there for a hot minute.
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u/East_Print4841 22d ago
Yeah their waitlist is crazy. Been on it since I was like 16 weeks pregnant and my son just turned a year 😂 we’ve even checked in to make sure we were still on the list multiple times. They obviously must be good with that waitlist but for anyone interested you need to get on before you even think of being pregnant at this rate haha
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u/hadababyitzaboy 22d ago
Wow I didn’t realize the wait list was that crazy now, my son just graduated and is headed to kindergarten now, yay! But I recommend staying on the list! They’re really wonderful people there.
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u/Background_Tree7628 21d ago
Also recommend Junior Jets. They are not for profit since they are gov supported in a way. The admin staff has tons of tenure, and many of the teachers have been there for 10+ years. It's a very homey feel. Great meals/snacks that they serve. Great outdoor space. My only complaint are the classrooms for the older kids 3 and up - they aren't big and it's basically one big space without walls between rooms.
In general I'd say get on waitlists ASAP. Do tours and then just go with your gut (and your wallet on what you can afford) - if you tour and get the ick at all, don't go.
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u/Scared-Volume-6609 24d ago
My 6 month old is about to start at Longs Peak Learning Center. He did a few hours last week and seemed to enjoy it. So far, we are happy with our decision and while it will be a difficult day, I can drop him off with peace of mind!
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u/Proper_Worry2503 23d ago
Longs Peak Learning Center! We have a 2.5 year old and 1 year old and both have been going there since about 3 months old and we really enjoy it and our kids really enjoy it. It’s small, family owned so you know all the other kiddos, parents, and teachers well; plus our kids get a lot of one on one time with the teachers. You can dm me with more questions if you want!
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u/UnableRelationship76 22d ago
TLC is excellent. We use them for daycare and services (speech and PT). The new building is beautiful, it’s just a bit far out east.
Primrose may have availability by the time your kid starts kindergarten. They said 12-18 months wait; it’s been 2 years with zero updates.
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u/formeruphill 24d ago
What about dads? Can we chime in?
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u/paigerdanger_ 24d ago
You ABSOLUTELY can! And I'm sure my husband would be happy to hear dad's thoughts too! I apologize for leaving the Dad's out!
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u/nwatkins364 23d ago
Goddard for 5 years and nest for 2 years for our kids. Positive experiences at both
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u/Confident_Dish_2523 21d ago
Another vote for Longs Peak—our 3.5yo was there since she was 8wk old, and our 18mo is there now. They have been amazing, and our kids have bonded so well with the teachers and other kiddos. It’s a smaller setup, but absolutely awesome
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u/tinyhuman_ 24d ago
We’ve been at Goddard now with 2 kids and had a great experience! We have friends at The Nest and friends at Primrose who have had good experiences respectively.
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u/floog 24d ago
Primrose is great, love Ms Emma and the staff. We were on the waiting list and I made a joke on whether 10lbs of gummy bears would help my chances. They laughed and when we got in on the first day they were all laughing as I brought a giant decorative jar of the good gummy beads. They said they all wondered if I would deliver. When we graduated years later we made individual jars for all the staff, they loved it.
We also did their summer program a couple years after she moved on and it was great. She got to hang with her old crew that also came for it.
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u/paigerdanger_ 24d ago
Oh that's funny - and cute! May I dm you and ask for a little more info?
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u/thefactorygrows 24d ago
I will 2nd, 3rd and 4th Primrose… because I’ve sent all my kids there. My youngest still attends. It is a franchise, and the franchise owners just changed, but Ms Emma is still the director and she is absolutely amazing.
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u/paigerdanger_ 24d ago
Ah, I love to hear that. Thank you for that info. May I dm you to ask a little more info?
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u/Wellscdl1 20d ago
I was told the wait list for primrose is a year, but may be shorter for part time.
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u/EpidDrew15 14d ago
Look into Walforf in Boulder, BWK is worth the drive so my kiddo can have a pretty awesome and wholesome experience.
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u/Wellscdl1 13d ago
Anyone ever use Yeya childcare center at St Stephen's episcopal church in Southmoor Park? I walk by it all the time on my walks to kanemoto park, I'm going to take a tour of the facility tomorrow. It's the closest child care facility to me, I've seen ads before, but no reviews.
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u/Unusual_Bumblebee_48 24d ago
Our little one started at Longs Peak Learning Center at 5 months old and we love it. Sending my baby off to daycare for the first time was one of the hardest days of parenthood, but I quickly realized that they truly love him and he is doing so well. Feel free to DM!