Hey ladies,

I am looking for a babysitter/day care to care for my 16 month old daughter........if anyone knows of any good resources I would appreciate hearing about them!!! Thanks!!

I'm not the best one to answer this because my kiddos are not in daycare. Have you looked into the daycare at the church on the corner of Floral and Stuart? I am not sure if they take 16 month olds but I have heard great things about them.

I’m not sure of the name of the daycare, but my niece (3yrs old) and nephew (17months old) have been going to the one on Main St. near ABC spaghetti restaurant. My sister-in-law and the little ones like it a lot.

I think the one you're refering to near ABC spaghetti is Best Academy.

We've never taken our daughter there so I don't want to knock it, but I will say that one concern (a major concern) my husband and I had with it when we were looking is that they let us wander through the facility unaccompanied without checking our ID or anything when we came by. We had free access to any of the kids. It worried us about the safety.

It may have been a one-time fluke, but not one we were willing to take a chance with.

littleT, you and your husband may look really trusting .

I had something similar happen to me years ago when I first moved back to Florida and Ethan was 3 years old.

It is a long story, but Ethan's Dad,(my ex-husband) and my ex mother in law enrolled Ethan in a daycare program here in Bartow. One not mentioned yet, and I am sure it could be a lot different now, this has been almost 10 years ago.

Ethan had been going for a week being dropped off by his dad. The daycare had never laid eyes on me. I had never been there. I walked in and said I was Ethan's mom. They let me sign him out with out checking my ID. I walked out to the car with him and said to myself, "no way".

I went back inside and told them Ethan would not be back. And told them why. I could have been some crazy lady just taking any child.
She said I looked trusting. But still so many people can look trusting and be up to no good.

vegaralat, I have heard great things about the facility you mentioned. I know your sister-in-law. I wouldn't see her putting her children there unless it was a great place.

Thanks for the feedback ladies!

Oh how looks can be deceiving Just kidding!

Vegaralat, please don't think I'm putting down your s-i-l's choice of daycares. That's not the case at all, although I don't know her (or atleast not that I'm aware of) I'm sure she is just as protective of her children as I am of mine!

I only want to stress the importance of "little" things like that when you're looking at places.

My granddaughter goes to Best Academny in Bartow. The management has recently changed and things are totally different there now. You have to know the pass code to get in the door, unless of course you walk behind someone else. Also, every time I have gone to pick her up until they recognize me, they have always checked my id. I do not see her everyday, but Friday we picked her up and they sent her at 3 home with some honework. She has learned a lot there. I would recommend for a childcare facility in Bartow