Vanderbilt University Medical Center Child Care Center

We have been on the wait list for 3 years. Each year, we are told that we *might* get in the following year and that Vanderbilt is working to built a new childcare center. The people I've spoken to have been really vague and dismissive to what is a stressful situation (childcare). Little seems to have changed over the past 3 years on the wait list. Don't waste your time/deposit. Update: we got in to a Vanderbilt daycare facility far from our house (and from main campus) when our child was 3, by which time we were expecting another child. They could not guarantee placement for the second child!

We have had our son there for going on 2 years and it has been a mostly wonderful experience. We were at another facility prior, not Vanderbilt associated, and had not uncommon issues that typically manifest at a daycare. The staff love each of these children and take exceptional care of them. My wife and I as parents have learned a lot about our son’s growth and what to expect, what to begin to introduce, what to be on the look out for from the teachers here. I would definitely recommend if in the Vanderbilt family.

I am so happy with the school. My child was on a wait list for about a month before the new school year started. She is 4 and according to the school. It's easier when they are older. The curriculum is amazing. In the first month, she was assigned homework. They have had them practice writing their first names. She is doing amazing! I'm so glad at the effort being put in to prepare her for kindergarten. She will definitely be ahead when she starts. The teachers and staff are amazing and show genuine care for the kids' behavior development, as well as a strong emphasis on education. I highly recommend it, even if it is much higher than a traditional daycare.

I am deeply disappointed by this facility. When I learned of my wife's pregnancy in Feb. of '16 I quickly contacted VUMC's daycare and placed our child on the waiting list. At the time, we were told that VUMC was opening a second daycare location and that our child would likely be able to join in Nov. of '16 when my wife (who also is a physician at VUMC) was scheduled to return from maternity leave. After our son was born in Sept. of '16 we contacted the daycare and were then told he would be unable to join until the Summer of '17. When I contacted the daycare this previous week, we were told that it would likely be the Fall of '17 (~ 12 months after their original estimate). I have many grievances against this facility, but it starts with not informing first time parents that they should also pursue other daycares. I never imagined that the first days with my child would largely be spent researching other daycares in the greater Nashville area and submitting numerous applications (with associated fees of course). Part of this of course is my fault. I should have had a plan B or C in place, however you would think that VUMC would provide said advice to first time parents as they would want their employees to return to work earlier rather than later. The daycare could also refrain from providing inaccurate estimates and empty promises. What is more disheartening, though is that the individual we previously spoke to and who placed our son on the waiting list is no longer working there. VUMC's daycare does give preference to a sibling of a child who is already enrolled, but I suspect there are other biases and favoritism at play as the individual I spoke to (Linda) could offer no substantial explanation as to how our child's place on the waiting list has not changed (and potentially increased) in nearly 17 months. I plan to speak with the director and request for our application fee to be refunded as I am wholly unsure what work has been done to warrant it. I hope others can learn from our experience. I would recommend that all families who place their child on the waiting list obtain a concrete # and monitor their progress on a monthly basis to ensure no foul play and to better understand the process.

We have both of our kids here and it is very convenient from the Vanderbilt campus. We got on the wait list as soon as we found out we were expecting and it still took well over a year to get in.