Smalltrans Depot

My son started Smalltrans when he was 4 months old. We looked at several places but it was the only daycare that said that they would hold him until he feel asleep. At that point, that was the only way he would nap.
We left Smalltrans when he was a year old. The staff cared deeply for him. One of the teachers cried when he left.
Pros:
— Open 7:30 — 5:30
— Accepts infants
— Open most of the year & they provide a calendar of their holiday schedule at the beginning of the year so you can make arrangements ahead of time
— Staff have been there for years and they seem to truly love children
— Diverse staff
Cons:
— Toddlers allowed in the infant area first thing in the morning
— My son was sick very often; not sure if this was because he was building his immune system. Besides several colds he caught pink eye, Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease, and a very bad stomach flu.
— You have to provide a crib sheet & blanket
— Large room with not much natural light
— No scheduled nap times — this became a problem when my son was older and was napping two times a day when he was at home. Sometimes I would pick him up at the end of the day and he would have only slept 20 minutes
— Too many babies. I think they can have up to 16. The ratio is fine; the problem is that there are times when there is a lot of loud crying
— Parking — there is free 10-​min parking infront of the CalTrans building but if it full you have to pay to park on the street

After the birth of my first child, I was so nervous about leaving him with anyone – and was very not sure about what type of childcare I was going to use. During my maternity leave I searched high and low for the best place where I would feel comfortable leaving my newborn – since I had to return to my full-​time job.
Nothing was as comforting as finding Smalltrans Depot. The high security building with guards, cameras and coded door locks were extremely reassuring, and the staff is as good as it gets!
The director Vanessa is a kind, generous and professional caring mother hen. She often spends time with the infants and toddlers and they all love her. The infant room is filled with the most nurturing attentive motherly women who are constantly holding and playing with the babies. The babies are very happy and are stimulated with songs, toys and lots of love. The feedings and changings are all documented for parents.
Since I was a nursing mom, I was welcomed to bring pumped milk for my baby, and I was also able to nurse while I was there, if I needed to. The women, are so friendly and caring, and it was so comforting to be able to hand your baby to someone who you really trusted– who you knew would be protecting, holding and caring for your baby.
The toddler room is a wonderful place filled with happy children. Each month is themed, and there are so many fun activities for the toddlers. The children are learning their colors, doing projects, playing in the wonderful play yard, singing, doing dance and movement with a specialist, and learning in a very fun environment. There is a fun annual fieldtrip that we can’t miss, and fun parties on occasion that our family loves.
It was bittersweet when my son at 3 went through the adorable graduation ceremony (complete with cap, gown and diploma!) Not only did he have an amazing social and learning experience– but I had dependable, trustworthy and loving care for him. He did not want to leave the Smalltrans nest. But along came baby #2 and we got to continue our adventures with Smalltrans. My son loves to go back and visit.
SmallTrans is a 5-​Star facility with 5-​Star staff. They have become like family and are so welcoming to moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas. What a wonderful way for kids to start off in their lives, and for parents to have peace of mind.