Small Beginnings Infant and Toddler Center

I brought my 12-​month-​old son to Small Beginnings Daycare to see if he would take to the owner, Ms. Griffin, and the atmosphere. I even contacted three references furnished by Ms. Griffin. Contacts used the same buzz phrases (i.e. «parents at Small Beginnings are like-​minded», «kids receive nutritional meals», «children never wanted to leave»), which made me wonder, but we moved on nonetheless.
Awful experience! My son did not receive treatment like it was «mom and dad».
I don’t mind paying some of the highest rates in Chicago for day care (even home day care), but this facility is not worth 50% of the price. I would not leave my baby/​toddler here.
The assistants are very nice women, but the owner is another story and I do not recommend hiring her. Ms. Griffin prides herself on administering a high caliber service for parents «who want the best for their kids», but she did not follow simple instructions on caring for our child; complained about diaper changes; and was very combative when addressed with concerns and requests for better service.
I had verbalized and written notes regarding our son having meals solely from home. A couple of times I picked him up in the evening and the owner approached me with our meals in-​hand announcing, «He ate my food today.» However, the deal breaker was when our son repeatedly came home from Small Beginnings with diaper rashes (that would clear up on the weekends with our due diligence, but reappear once returning to Griffin’s home).
I verbalized, wrote, and texted instructions on the usage of diaper ointment and frequent diaper changes for our son — for a total of four times — before I directly approached Ms. Griffin with the problem. Ms. Griffin rebutted and debated on how the medicine in A&D diaper ointment was harmful to my son; his diet was an issue, etc. Ms. Griffin even bellowed, «Don’t you come into MY house making accusations! This is a place of BUSINESS!» I had to remind Ms. Griffin that we were paying for her business and that her business was taking care of our son. Concerns were about our son; therefore, we had a right to «come into her house» and address inadequacies.
After taking our son to his pediatrician, the doctor removed almond milk from his diet (which Ms. Griffin suggested we use instead of whole milk), and mentioned that the rash likely resulted from long exposure to wet diapers. After I explained the pediatrician’s diagnosis (who has been in practice for over 30 years with Loyola) to Ms. Griffin, she insisted that our doctor was incorrect and that our son was abnormal. Once more, my son NEVER developed diaper rashes at home with his family. The rashes that grew while in Griffin’s care would be eradicated after a weekend at home.
When I pointed out the oddity of our results versus Ms. Griffin’s results, she responded, «Maybe not so strange … Maybe all the rubbing and so much medicated A&D.» We never instructed this woman to «rub» our child’s skin. I could just picture her facetiously scrubbing my son’s bottom until she hurt him. I did explain to Ms. Griffin that she needed to apply ointment liberally. Additionally, how does our solution at home instigate the problem at her home? After sharing our situation with a lovely Caribbean woman who provides care for the son of a Fortune 500 Company CEO, in her beautiful Jamaican accent she belted, «What?! You’re supposed to grease their bottoms!» I visited reputable day care centers and they listed A&D (among other ointments) for infants and preventative care supplies within their contracts! One of the directors even questioned, «Has she ever thought that your son may simply have sensitive skin and there’s nothing else to it?»
We finally decided to terminate services with Ms. Griffin after our son came home with a rash that was so horrific that the color of his skin was purple!
Other cautions and highlights:
I mentioned to Ms. Griffin that for her expensive weekly rate (which rivals some of the top day care centers in Chicagoland with waiting lists), we expected excellence. Ms. Griffin sneered to my comment, «$xxx a week ain’t a drop in the bucket to pay my water bill.»
On one occasion I left Ms. Griffin’s house on my way to work, but was prompted to stop for milk and return — only to arrive outside of Ms. Griffin’s door and hear her slandering me and my son to another parent. This is the kind of unprofessional and immature behavior (and hypocritical of the Christian philosophy that Ms. Griffin claims to practice) to expect.
Do not be fooled by the neighborhood or duped into thinking you’re leaving your child with Mrs. Huxtable. The Small Beginnings owner is straight up Mz. Jenkins’ style!
PS — There is a review below that is not recommended: it’s from the owner!