Baby Room on Balham High Road - Advice needed Post Reply

[pinkgrasshopper]

Good luck!

[chattymama]

Yes - good luck, it's a tough one! I've still got a child at baby room so if you want to PM me with specific questions then do feel free. For what it's worth, she still loves it.

Ultimately, choosing a nursery is a very personal choice and all about what's important for you. For me, it was being able to do a long working day knowing that my LO would be looked after by a hugely caring team, with good quality home-cooked food and fresh fruit, plenty of structured activities (dancing, music, baby yoga, art etc) and a place for a proper rest.

But some of the other criticisms are absolutely right - it's not the prettiest of places, there's no wendy house, and it's expensive (though do bear in mind that they let you 'roll over' any days you are on holiday, for a small admin fee - they are one of the few places to do this).

And finally, in defence of the staffing: of the three staff that I know that have left, one was to have a baby, the other to work in a call centre, and the other to work in events (it's not like they've gone to rival nurseries).

More importantly, they are absolutely lovely people who will genuinely care for your child as if they were their own. Which to me was the biggest priority of all.

And if you're still not sure, try hanging around at pick-up time around your final shortlist of places, and ask the mums that you meet!

[VarkB]

My son has been at babyroom balham for two years. Staff turnover is reasonably high but I don't think it is much more than other nurseries. It is expensive but we would not change it. Our son has been really well cared for, and loved. Our second child will go there in January and we have not hesitated at keeping them there. The manager is good and there is investment, such as a new classroom for the older children. The food is frozen, but the standard is very high.

[Bensmum]

I use stepping stones for my 14 month old (its on Elmfield Road) and love it it is right oppposite the entrance to Baby room. The staff are loving and caring to food is nutritious and my little one barely looks back when he gets there arms open for a cuddle and he is off! He is happy and learning fast they have him using spoons and have helped with his walking and words I cant' recommend Stepping stones highly enough it is full of loving staff and bright interactive little people

[Mum2Monkey]

My little one absolutely loves Babyroom. I haven't noticed a lack of investment - the toys seem fine, outside area fit for purpose, food great and the staff absolutely lovely.

However, I do agree with previous posters that staff morale seems low with many staff actively talking about leaving. Also the fees have just gone up again which is making the nursery rather unaffordable. Like a couple of the other posters, I definitely would recommend the nursery, but may myself end up looking for another one as we just can't afford the increased fees. Which is really sad.

Please do PM me if you have any questions.

[Pop]

I'm in the same position as mum2monkey re fees, but we still love babyroom and I was surprised by the post about it going downhill as we haven't seen a decline.

I haven't noticed a lack of investment in toys / renovations. The nursery was brand new only 2 and a half years ago and looks fine to me. It's a while since I last viewed other nurseries, but I remember being put off several in the local area because of their shabby state / difficult to adapt space (often because they were in old buildings). I certainly wouldn't put babyroom in that camp. Earlier this year they created a new Yellow room, complete with new toys, have installed astro turf this summer (which can't have been cheap) and I understand are in the process of creating a new Purple room. While there isn't a Wendy house there is a 'home corner' and imaginative play is very much encouraged.

I haven't heard current staff talking about leaving (and those we know who have left did so to pursue alternative careers) and I guess experiences might be different depending on which room your child is in as there are different staff in different rooms (with some moving around). We think the current manager is fantastic - full of energy and ideas, great with the children and the parents. We are also very happy with the staff who work in the room our daughter is in and if their morale is low they do a good job of not letting it affect their care of the children / communication with us.

So, in short we think the nursery is still great... though it's certainly not cheap!

[Tberry]

Ladies, My daughter is at Abacus and whilst it might be a little rough around the edges - the staff are fabulous and my daughter loves them! She has been there for 2 years and in terms of love they give to the children I could not ask for anything more. Is a tough decision, but I would go and visit the nurseries and stop Mums at the gate and ask them how they find it - as a Mum you are the best judge of where your kids go to nursery, not a chat forum as everyone has different things they look for. Goodluck!