Cara Parsons

Review of TWIN LAKES FAMILY YMCA

Picture this: I want to try this gym out, so I cal...

Picture this: I want to try this gym out, so I call to inquire about the childcare, and make sure I can bring my one year old daughter. The lady on the phone was very nice, and told me that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they allow non-members to bring their children for an $8 fee to try out the gym. SO, I wait until Tuesday rolls around, and go up there. Of course, once I get there, I am confronted by a very confused girl who says that's not allowed. I had to explain that I spoke to someone on the phone who told me exactly when to come. I am then treated like an idiot. They decide to let me bring my daughter anyway. Moving on. At first glance, there were two classes that my daughter could go in based on her age. The toddler room was filled with lots of toddlers running around (to be expected, I'm not complaining about that) and an infant (non-walker) room for babies up to 13 months. I express my concerns with my daughter being in the toddler room because she just turned one and cannot walk yet. I am not an overly protective parent, but also don't want my daughter being trampled. The girl at the desk completely agreed and reassured me that the younger-baby room was best for my daughter. All is good and well until I hand my baby over. She starts crying (once again, to be expected), but instead of consoling her, the lady plops her on the ground (in the toddler room, no other adults in sight...I assume the other caretaker was in the back somewhere I couldn't see), and walks back up to the front desk as quickly as she could...clearly in a rush and frustrated that she had to accommodate me, tells me "we have a 15 minute cry limit" and proceeds to check in the next person behind me. I then had to remind her of the conversation we JUST had about me not wanting my baby to be in the middle of the chaos of the bigger kids...all while watching my baby scream her head off at how abruptly she was handed over from her mom and stuck in the middle of the floor with all these kids running around crazy. I get that babies cry, but this was my baby's first time, and MY first impression of the gym day care. The woman did not even make eye contact with my daughter or try to console her in the slightest. Just sat her down as fast as she could and walked away, then makes it clear to me that she's not going to do anything to help soothe her. I am a preschool teacher, and I know you can't hold a baby the whole time, and that's not what I expect. But none of this was ok with me, and I won't be going back. Then, they put my baby in the smaller-baby room, and she cheers up pretty quickly, and I figure I already drove a long way to get here, I may as well work out and not waste my trip. I come get my baby after one hour, and pick her up. She's been sitting in a poopy diaper. I borrow their changing table, am told that she was " just changed" as I clean her (hopefully not TMI, but the poop was drying to her bottom...had been there for a while), and she now has a diaper rash today. WORST childcare experience EVER.