Childtime of Duluth

Unprofessional and dangerous environment for children. I’m not the parent but I am the auntie of a child that went to this facility for 3 years up until recently. I am writing to express my concerns about the environment at the facility. Recently, I was called by my brother to pick up my nephew because he was not feeling well. According to the facility, he had vomited at least twice before I arrived. When I got there, I was let in by a teacher who was managing her own class. There was no one at the front desk, and no one asked for my identification or inquired about who I was there to pick up. I had to ask for assistance myself. When I walked into the classroom, there were at least 15-20 toddlers present, and I was unable to locate my nephew. Greet the teacher and ask where he was. Unknowingly, she looked around the class, peeked into the bathroom from across the room, and said, "Oh, he just threw up again for the fourth time and had a blowout." Concerned, I made my way to the restroom, where I found my nephew on the bathroom floor, covered in vomit and struggling to put on his shoes. I immediately picked him up off the floor and turned to the teacher to ask why he was not being supervised. She responded, "I told him to go to the bathroom to put on his shoes”. When the manager walked into the classroom, I asked her the same question regarding my nephew's supervision. Her response was that the teacher "probably didn’t know he was sick." I responded, "How could she not know when she just told me he threw up for the fourth time and had a blowout?" She then stated that this was considered normal because they are practicing independence. While I understand the importance of fostering independence, I believe that different procedures should be followed when a child is sick, or any child is unwell. The manager then asked for my ID for verification, which I provided without hesitation. I felt that she only requested this due to the concerns I raised about how the situation was handled. While she scanned my ID, I asked if she had any wipes so I could clean up my nephew's vomit. She handed me paper towels!!! 🤦🏾‍♀️ I cleaned him up, grabbed my ID from the counter where she left it. I immediately called my brother and sister-in-law. I want to emphasize that I would have advocated for any child in that situation. It was heartbreaking to see him on the bathroom floor, covered in throw up and alone. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this place. I would advise others to consider the safety and well-being of their children before enrolling them here.

I have had a very pleasant experience with Childtime. As a new parent I had at least 150 questions about care, safety, procedures, cameras and access. Portia, Mercedes, Melissa and Ashanti have been rockstars!!! I appreciate the patience, knowledge and care that has been displayed with my daughter and the support as a new parent. My daughter is with the toddlers and she has been getting more social while at Childtime. I’m happy I can ask all my questions and receive honest answers where we all have the common goal in mind. Truly a great experience because this journey has not always been easy. Well worth it and the notifications put me at ease while at work.

I recently pulled my son from their care and I urge you all to reconsider placing your children in their care at all!!!! My son is 3 years old and has been attending this center since he was 10 months old. Each year the service and care continued to decline. I typically didn’t have issues voicing any concerns until recently. I was called one morning about 45 minutes after dropping him off and was told he had thrown up twice and wasn’t feeling well. Being that I was far away at the time, I told them I would call them right back and try to make accommodations for him to be picked up immediately. One of my family members were 15 minutes away from the school so they headed to Childtime to pick him up. I called the center back and let them know his aunt would be there in the next 15 minutes. They then told me he had thrown up again, had a blow out, and seemed like he had very low energy. I told them thank you and that he would be picked up shortly. Soon after (literally 15 minutes later) my sister in law arrived to pick him up. She walked to his class and didn’t see him so she asked the teacher where he was and was met with confusion as if she had no idea where he was! They then looked in the bathroom and my son was in there ALONE, ON THE FLOOR, AND HAD BEEN THROWING UP ON HIMSELF! My sister in law helped him up, cleaned him up a bit, and headed to leave. She called me immediately to let me know what had happened and I immediately called the center to ask WHY was he left alone in the bathroom in the classroom, not only exposing other children to whatever he was dealing with, but not being watched or cared for! I was told that that’s normal practice for them to send children to the bathroom alone to gain independence. Which I would have understood if he wasn’t clearly SICK, THROWING UP, LETHARGIC, and had DIARRHEA! They really made it seem like I had no reason to be upset and that it wasn’t that big of a deal. The director of the center never reached out to me to even check to see how my son was doing until I sent her an email asking to speak with her thinking that the front office staff did not advise her of the incident. To my surprise she was aware just didn’t seem to care about following up on a student that had been in their care for almost 3 years! She tried to mediate the situation to see what could be done to bring my son back in but I let them know absolutely not he would never be returning. Now for the first two years he was there it was never this bad, and I’m not sure what is going on but they are constantly declining. They have great rates in comparison to other day cares in the area but please understand it is absolutely NOT worth the risk. I would never allow my son to be under the care of anyone that works here ever again! They really need to be shut down on my opinion!

My honest review with no bias. My son attend this center from Aug to October as an infant and returned the beginning of January after turning 1 and moving into the toddler room. My experience in the infant room was great but as he entered the toddler stage the quality of care at this center for me declined . There began to have atleast 2 incidents weekly or no weekly in which my son was reportedly injured constantly . Some from falling or another child hitting which I’m aware children will be children . My concern was the injuries in which i felt where were the adults attention while some of these incidents where happening . For reference . Him failing off a table , falling off a chair , slashing his face with a fork ( why does a toddler have a fork ) and many other incidents unreported like i discover his hands were smashed and the number 1 comment or explanation i would recieve is “ I DONT KNOW” as someone who’s a single mom and paying $244.00 weekly and not missing a payment bc of the threats of not allowing the children to Return until a payment was met i knew i had to atleast do what was asked . So why was my child’s safety not a concern. I was promised numerous times over and over and over my concerns will be handled and each time the directors failed me . I even voiced how i didn’t feel My child was safe with one of the staff and continuously was promised the issue would be handled . I just want to also mention this is the toddler room i can’t speak on any other location on the center. As the director of the center she failed my child safety . There needs to be more training in place to avoid these situations . My son is all i have an i will fight to the end to make sure this issue won’t happen to another child . Parents please pay attention to the signs . Some ppl aren’t who they appear you are your child’s voice always speak up .

I have taken my child to different daycares. As a mother instinct didn't get a good feeling (the environment) about this kid's facility daycare. The staff is very unprofessional, very unwelcoming atmosphere as not friendly at all. If that is the feeling I get as a parent, what could I expect from my kid... So at least I didn't take that long to realize this place was absolutely the wrong place for my child. Instead of helping my kid as a daycare, they would do him wrong. Please parents don't waste your time and money on this facility. They have favoritism who they would accept and not. That is what I receive from this place, plus the experience I receive from my child. This place is horrible.