Ballestrini Child Care Center- Niantic

My daughter is in the infant room and I’ve loved our experience so far. The teachers are wonderful and treat her with such love and care. I was nervous about starting daycare, but the transition has been smooth and I know it’s because of the staff. She’s also grown in her skills since starting and I really appreciate their developmental approach. I definitely recommend them!

Just started our 2 children here so can edit review in the future but so far we are happy at this daycare. My newly 3 year old had a big transition of starting a new daycare, moving, and getting a new baby brother. We were nervous about him having to start at a new school but he’s done quite well. It’s quite obvious at drop off that he already loves his teachers and doesn’t hesitate to run in and skip kissing mom goodbye. The manager Amanda is very attentive and flexible. She listens to your concerns and makes adjustments as requested. She is also very knowledgeable about regulations and standards of child care that are in place to keep our babies safe! She noticed my 12 week old’s preference to turn his head to the right and let me know they’ll work on getting him to look toward the left more. I was very impressed by this considering it was something I hadn’t even noticed until my pedi brought it up. Overall, we are happy without any concerns. When I drop off my babies I feel they are safe and cared for.

DISGUSTED with this place! I hope this review will make parents second guess bringing their children there or reconsider keeping their child in such facility. I have seen for my own experience, kids sent home with bad juice and their reason was they didn't know the cup was hers (so she never should of been given it), shoes on the wrong feet, zipper of jeans undone, no diaper OR underwear without the parents being notified, a child having an accident without being changed, (yes, they came home soaking wet), and hungry/thirsty to the point of eating the whole way home (the long 5 min drive). Also, all they care about is money. Your child won't be allowed back unless your FULL payment is made that day and you'll continue to pay even when another kid is the one with covid and your child is out for weeks at a time. Sounds like they don't pay much attention and these are huge signs of neglect. And don't even think about picking your kid up outside the "schedule", I know getting held at work never happens for most parents, they might just call DCF on you! And never go there with pajamas on because that's a bad look too, even if it is first thing in the morning. Also, you won't be notified when your child gets hurt, your kid will have to tell you they got bit. PLEASE PARENTS, TAKE PRECAUTIONS BEFORE SENDING YOUR KIDS THERE.

Unless you want your child coming home without diapers/ underwear, shoes on backwards or wrong feet, going the day without their bottles being refilled once or completely different bottle then the one you sent your child with, and you better not voice your opinion God forbid, you might just have dcf called on you.. other than that the buildings not up to code, they don't have quarterly or semi annual inspections. ( main lobby ) and they like to change up the rules when it's suitable for there "establishment" and only there "establishment". Just an all around sneaky poorly managed "Daycare "

Ever have a daycare center tell you there is a two week trial program after paying 3 weeks down? Ever pick your child up everyday @2.5 and having a director tell you that your child is special needs, difficult, speaks poorly, eats poorly, and has sensory problems because the teacher he met the same day tried to hug him and he didn’t want to be hugged ? Then the daycare center tells you he isn’t adequate for their facility, makes you feel even worse with a few things I won’t say, and refuses to refund you ? Yeah… if that doesn’t sound like fun or fair to you, RUN!!!! RUN!!!! These people are MEAN, CROOKS. My son is 2 almost 3 now. Knows the alphabet, numbers, his name, etc…. I did a birth to three veal because they convinced me he was WAYYY behind , and he wasn’t ELIGIBLE FOR ANY SERVICES BECAUSE HE WAS ABOVE AVERAGE !!!! RUNNNNN