Damaris and her team are attentive, constructive and reliable! . I would highly recommend first steps home childcare!

My son was at First Steps from 7 - 24 months. I knew from our first visit that children were well cared for and that instinct was confirmed over and over again. My mother, an early childhood educator with 40 years experience, holds First Steps in the same regard. I looked forward to leaving my child in the capable hands of Damaris, Chary and Alex every day. These three women approach childcare with a lot of love and humor, which I think is necessary with all these teeny humans! They set necessary boundaries with the babies but also give plenty of love and snuggles. They cook healthy, organic food from scratch; they organize play, reading, and craft activities to engage the babies; they take them outside for playtime and walks. They speak enough Spanish during the day that my son started to reply to us in Spanish at home at 13 months, and is a bilingual listener at 2 now. The babies play well together and my son is a respectful and gentle play mate around other babies and children. Our requests regarding breast feeding and cloth diapering were met. Any concerns or worries were quickly and respectfully addressed. We left happy, healthy, and with a bilingual, potty trained 24 month old boy who was very well prepared for preschool. I highly recommend First Steps! read more

Damaris and her team of care takers are absolutely amazing. Without any hestitation I strongly recommend this day care. My almost 2 year old daughter has been going here for almost one year. She loves to go to school to see her friends, play, and do "circle time." And to eat! Apparently the organic food they serve is out of this world - every day I walk in, I wish I could be invited for breakfast. My daughter eats everything and anything, and happily finishes all her vegtables. Damaris has set up a very structured and disciplined system of care. She is very honest, and always tells me what we need to be working on at home. She is firm, but equally loving and joyful. All the kids respect her, and also love her very much and think she's pretty funny, since she is. Maria and Marcella work here with Damaris. They are also amazing. You can tell they love children deeply, and my child love them. She pretends to talk to them on her play phone when she is at home! When I go to pick her up, all the kids are playing, happy, and it is surprisingly calm and quiet. It is such a calm and caring enviroment, it is easy to see why the kids all feel comfortable there, and are learning and growing the way they are. Every day she comes home, she surprises me with new words, or a new skill. She is growing at an amazing rate, and she is speaking both Spanish and English very well. There is a good age range at the daycare. She takes kids up to 3-years old. I think that is perfect since you might be thinking about pre-school around that time anyway. Lastly, Damaris keeps the space very clean and tidy. She runs the daycare out of her home. You have to walk up a long flight of stairs to get there, just in case that is an issue for you. Her rates are a steal for the kind of personal attention paid to each child, every day. You really must consider this daycare if you have a toddler or new baby! read more

Searching for childcare in Chicago is a monumental task. It's even harder when you're on maternity leave and looking. I looked into nanny shares and other places through various city parenting resources during my remaining weeks of maternity leave. I turned to ole trusty Yelp and looked through reviews. From there, I found First Steps. I booked an appointment immediately for a visit. From the time my son was three months old until he was a little over 2 years old, we had him with Damaris and her crew. We love, love First Steps. We had a fantastic experience from day 1. Her and her staff are breastfeeding friendly. When it was time to transition to formula, it was easy. Instead of carrying packs of diapers with me when we were running low, I would send them to the daycare which made everything simple. When he started solids, he enjoyed the yummy food they make. I remember a few times where his breakfast was better than mine with yummy smoothies. In our time at First Steps, Damaris moved the daycare to a dedicated space filled with books and toys. It's always clean, bright, and welcoming. I found myself lingering in the morning to talk to them because they're so personable and nice. Our kiddo thrived in First Steps care. Like other parents mentioned, he hit his milestones on schedule, learned to talk and socialize, and play well with other kids as well as alone. As other reviewers have said, they discipline the kids well. There's no reasoning with a toddler and they don't. Damaris also helped us with parenting issues as well. As our son got older, we also started potty training with their help. He's been potty trained since 2 years old. It started with their encouragement. I recommend to First Steps to anyone looking for quality childcare. Here's a hint about Yelp reviews and childcare, there's fewer because parents covet their best finds in the city. I'm happy to add myself to the chorus of praises for First Steps, Damaris, Chati, and the rest of staff. We miss them already, but want to share our secret of this awesome daycare. read more

My son went to First Steps for over a year. Throughout his year there, his language exploded and he learned to be independent and polite. He loved his teachers and was taught how to interact well with other kids. His meals were nutritious and he was well taken care of. I'm impressed with the skills he learned at First Steps and he's turning into a loving, smart and outgoing child because of his time there. read more

"Trustworthy, Reassuring, Confident, and Skilled." Those are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when thinking of Damaris and First Steps Home Childcare. When searching for a place for my only child, I wanted to find a home daycare setting for its more personalized feel (I didn't want the institutionalized environment I've seen at many large corporate daycares). Also, being the daughter of a Pediatrician, I was in search of a place that would nurture my child's development and ensure he hit all of his milestones. Finding First Steps Home Childcare was a blessing (a fact that my Pediatrician mother reminds me of on a weekly basis) . I knew First Steps was the place for my son when I came to visit and saw how polite, social and interactive the children were. When I sat down for my visit, one child walked up to me, said "hello" and told me her name. I knew my child would feel just as welcomed from the start - and he was! I started my son at First Steps when he was 12 weeks and he's currently there now. Damaris fosters my child's independence and provides him the comfort of knowing he's loved. Dare I say, he's more excited to see her some mornings than me (LOL). The first day I left him and returned to work, I walked away with confidence, knowing I had picked the right place and my son would thrive - and he has! Being a 1st time parent, I was of course concerned about my child's every move, food intake and development. Damaris was patient, kind and knowledgeable in answering all of my questions and giving me tips on how to comfort and ease my child's incessant teething (he's only 15 months and almost has ALL of his teeth). I breastfed him until he was 12 months and Damaris was very supportive of my plan for my son and helped me when I was ready to start transitioning him to solid foods. More importantly, she is constantly staying abreast of all-things baby/child related and is continuing her education in early childhood development. My son LOVES books and Damaris fosters his exploration by having story time and allowing him unlimited access to her vast children's library. Damaris and her long-time assistants (Chary and Alex) are constantly on the floor playing and interacting with the children. My child has wonderful eating habits and is always willing to try new foods - and that is a direct result of Damaris and First Steps and their homemade/organic cooking (because I don't know how to cook). Sometimes, she even sends me home with leftovers because she knows my son is not eating the same exciting meals when he's home with me (LOL). I am constantly complimented on my child's behavior when we're out at restaurants and in other public places and I know that's due to First Steps and the teachings of Damaris and her team. I can't say enough about First Steps Home Childcare. I just think of how lucky we are to have found her. If you're looking for a place for your child where they will thrive, hit their developmental milestones, be cared for and loved, look no further - you've found the right place! read more

My child is just finishing up First Steps after over two years here. He learned so much, and treats other children (younger and older) with real respect. It's impressive how well the day is structured for young folks, from open play to circle time to meal and nap time, and the teachers work well to get kids with the program. Educationally, he ended up learning all of his colors (English/Spanish), cardinal numbers, letters, and many songs--what more can you ask for? The food is nutritious and prepared fresh, with enough variety to stop finickiness before it starts. Many younger siblings of past first steps students attend, which should tell you a lot about the confidence parents have. You can see great big daycares that feel like businesses but don't have a lot of warmth, or to in-home daycares that feel a little understaffed. This feels like the perfect midpoint to me to nurture babies and toddlers, with the professionalism and structure of a larger place, but the nurturing attention of a home setting. We'll miss it! read more

I always felt like my child was safe at First Steps, and I don't want to downplay the importance of that. But something never clicked with us. Throughout our time there, we were given well-meaning but unlooked-for parenting advice; we were told to introduce solids and have him sleep in his own room at 4 months, to "do some work at home" because they were worried that our child couldn't sit unaided at 5 months, to stop breastfeeding at 10 months because he was too old for it, etc. There isn't an emphasis on communication with parents (although in fairness, we were told this ahead of time), so most days I had no idea how much my son ate or slept, how he behaved, or how he got along with the other kids, until there were real problems, which then seemed to come out of nowhere. I know that everyone there is well-intentioned and they care about the children's wellbeing, it just wasn't the place for us. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Damaris and the team at First Steps. My older child attended from 4 months to 2.5 yrs, and my youngest is there now. Choosing a child care provider is a very personal decision, which is understandable. But it's telling that the only reviews that are not 5 stars and extremely positive are from those that chose not to send their kids to First Steps. And that is fine -- we also toured MANY different places and not all of them felt like a good fit (but I would never post a negative review based on such limited interactions and evidence). We specifically chose First Steps b/c of the caring, nurturing and educational environment Damaris and her team provide. The staff promote independence, while at the same time remain dedicated to playing and engaging with the children and working with them (and parents) to ensure they are hitting important developmental milestones. The kids get AMAZING home cooked meals, they spend lots of time outdoors, they play and learn all day, and the inside atmosphere is clean and cozy. I feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful home-based daycare where my children were/are able to thrive. Highly recommend First Steps! read more

My experience with First Steps was wonderful and I would recommend Damaris and her team to everyone, especially, first time moms. She is extremely knowledgeable in infant care is always willing to answer questions. The space is bright, clean and organized, which, is something other day cares we visited were lacking. Our son hit all his milestones accordingly and the ladies got him potty trained in just a few days. They make all their own baby food and speak to the children in Spanish, which was very important to us. When Joey turned 3 and it was time to leave he was more than prepared for Pre-K and we would not have been able to that without First Steps. read more

I LOVE First Steps Home Childcare. Damaris is amazing with the children and has so much experience. My son has flourished under the care of her staff. They love all their children and take the time to care about what happens with the kids outside of daycare. If you need guidance they offer guidance, if you have a new idea for the daycare they would love to hear it! They will not coddle your child or hold them all day - they are not a nanny service, they will teach your child to be independent so you can put them down without them screaming. They will show your child love, compassion, and teach them multiple skills. I love that they will speak in Spanish to the children and teach them basic words in Spanish. We are also teaching our son basic sign language and they also work on that with him while he is there. When I need special requests (like my mother wanting to pick him up and take him for a few hours with no notice so I have no diaper bag ready) they are great at accommodating. They will set him up with diapers, wipes, a bottle and anything else to make it easy for us. And the food - AMAZING! They cook the best food for the kids and its always a healthy meal (sometimes I wish I could stay for breakfast after drop off). If you have special needs for your child they make sure those needs are met. I love Damaris so much I recommended the daycare to my best friend. Highly recommended if you can get in! Oh and if you have a Chase account you can do quick pay - AMAZING! read more

Without reservation, I wholeheartedly recommend First Steps. To put it succinctly, First Steps has been an absolute godsend for my family. My wife and I could not have found a better group of professionals than Damaris and her amazing team to care for our son. As new parents, the entire process involved in selecting a daycare facility was new to us. We made a ton of phone calls and toured a multitude of facilities only to find that the waitlist for most facilities was quite lengthy (6 months plus), the cost was excessive and/or the facility seemed too large for what we were looking for (it was important to us to find a place where the child to teacher ratio was on the lower end of the spectrum). We stumbled upon First Steps about a month into our selection process, having read a review of them on Yelp. By the time my wife and I left our tour of the facility, we knew we had found the perfect place. Damaris was extremely welcoming, more than happy to answer any and all questions that we had. The space was well decorated and cozy, the children busy playing with the abundance of toys and games placed throughout the facility as Damaris' staff intermingled amongst them. Damaris was in the midst of preparing lunch for the children that were old enough to partake - it now escapes me what the meal was but I can assure you that it sounded tastier than anything I was going to have for lunch (Damaris makes spectacular home cooked meals for the children). There was no doubt in our minds that this is where we wanted to place our son. Our son started at First Steps when he was twelve weeks old. He has now been with First Steps for 6 months and I can honestly say that my opinion of Damaris and her team has only gotten exponentially better over that time. Damaris has been an invaluable source of knowledge in regards to all matters related to rearing a child. The socialization that our son receives during his time at First Steps has been instrumental. Our son clearly looks forward to seeing Damaris, Chary and Alex (her team), especially after a prolonged absence from First Steps. I can't imagine what we'd do without them. read more

Since all day cares in Chicago seem to have a 6 month+ wait list, we were very excited to hear that First Steps had an opening for full time care. We scheduled time to meet with Damaris. When we first arrived, Damaris shared her philosophy of teaching independence to her students. Then she proceeded to leave the four children on their own in the living room while she conducted the tour of her small apartment. While I am all about teaching independence, leaving young children under the age of 3 unsupervised raised an immediate flag. Damaris mentioned that the children had been swimming earlier in the day and led us to the back door where a kiddie pool was placed on the 2nd floor porch, with opening slots wide enough to make any parent a little nervous. After the tour, we revisited the children in the living room, where a little boy who we were told had "anxiety" started to get fussy. Instead of attempting to comfort him, the little boy was removed from the living room and left alone in the bedroom where the kids nap (it was 5:30pm). Then when he started to cry, he was brought a bottle of juice and left alone again. I was starting to get the feeling that ignoring the children was her idea of teaching independence. I asked Damaris to give us time to think about our options. She advised us that she would let us know if anyone else was interested in the open spot, offered references and explained next steps. Feeling I may have judged her too quickly, I contacted Damaris the following week, asking for references and requested that my daughter and I stop by for some play time so I could further observe the day care. I was informed that the open spot was now filled with a "good luck and I will will let you know if something opens up in the future". What happened to letting me know if anyone else was interested in the open spot? Good riddance, I am now grateful to have dodged that bullet. read more

I am shocked to hear M.P.'s negative experience at First Steps because my son has been attending for a year and we could not possibly be happier. My husband and I constantly rave about how wonderful Damaris and her team are and how our son is thriving in this positive environment. I have been to pick up or drop off my son at various times throughout the day and have never seen any questionable care taking, the babies are all playing and happy or taking naps at appropriate nap times. Damaris has a very open communication policy which has been so great for first time parents. If we have concerns about our son, ie eating patterns, sleeping issues, she always takes the time to troubleshoot with me and gives sound advice that we have implemented at home with positive results. With First Steps help, we are raising a child that is social, has a healthy appetite, and is active. I loved that they didn't have any of the swings or jumparoo equipment that I saw at other daycares, especially corporate ones, so I knew that my son would not be left to just sit in something like that. I liked knowing that my son would be down playing on the floor where he would be able to explore and gain the strength to roll over, crawl and walk. My son had a physical issue with his feet that required surgery and extensive bracing. Damaris and Maria welcomed the challenges that came along with his care and his rehabilitation. I expressed how important it was for him to be standing and walking for his feet correction and they actively worked with him and he ended up walking a few days before his first birthday, 6 months before the doctor predicted that he would! I credit their love and patience with getting him to this point. They have celebrated his milestones with the same enthusiasm that we have. I could go on and on, but just a few more things, my son is always happy to be dropped off, and any mother knows, that this can be a very difficult part of the day, so when he opens his arms for Damaris or Maria, I feel confident knowing that I'm leaving him in an environment where he feels safe and loved. Their cooking is wonderful and my son has become a baby with a sophisticated palate, who is open to new foods, making life at home so much easier as well. They do activities with the babies/toddlers all day long, reading stories, playing music, learning games and I love that on hot days, he gets some time playing in the water, which he loves. I am not concerned about the water play area, I did not see anything dangerous about it and I am confident in Damaris' judgement. It was the highlight of my day when she sent me a picture of all the little ones playing in the pool! It is unfortunate that someone had a negative experience while visiting this exceptional daycare. Perhaps the negative review is less about the experience and more of a result of hurt feelings at the perceived slight regarding the open spot. I frequently interact with other parents and the positive feelings towards Damaris and her team are universal. read more

Damaris is a neglectful and abusive daycare provider. We brought our 4 month old son here in 2011when my husband and I returned to work. He was left in the infant room, in a pack n' play, with the door shut for what I am assuming was most of the day. I requested that Damaris only put him in his pack n play at nap time, but as soon as I dropped him off, and left the room, she shut him in the infant room indefinitely. Our time here ended two months later when I forgot to give her payment and had to return to the daycare center (without notice), to find him once again, shut in the infant room, (nowhere near his nap time), crying. I knocked on the door furiously for 5 minutes with no answer. Finally, the assistant came to the door, but couldn't communicate with me because she didn't speak English. She called for Damaris, who finally showed up and defensively stated that the crying wasn't coming from my child. However, I'm not sure how she would know, as the door was shut and no one was attending to any of the infants. *As if it mattered whose child was being neglected, anyway. I removed my son immediately. During the short time that my son attended, I also witnessed her screaming at children behind the shut doors, locking two-three year olds in the toddler room for more than 10 minutes as they pounded and cried behind the door "as her version of time-outs". Also, I noticed the children were always out playing at pick up time. This is just a huge front and proved to me how manipulative she was. (The thought of this daycare still makes me sick to my stomach with guilt that I left my child there for more than two minutes.) read more

I highly recommend First Steps Home Childcare. We were a little overwhelmed with our first baby. He came 6 weeks early and came home with a heart monitor. Because he was a preemie, we were concerned about having a warm and loving environment where he could grow and develop. We entertained the idea of a larger facility or a nanny, but each one wasn't quite right. Then we found Damaris. It was a wonderful environment for a little preemie guy to grow. He receive lots of love, snuggles and interaction with other babies. He developed so well from a preemie, to a baby, and then on to a toddler. Damaris and her team had everything to do with that. It was very helpful to ask Damaris questions. Whatever situation came up at home, I was able to ask Damaris her thoughts. What a wonderful resource. Eventually our little guy was ready for potty training. Damaris had him potty trained in a week. She gave me strict instructions to follow at home, reinforcing the training that was happing at school. It was a very easy transition from diapers to underpants. Once again, Damaris was responsible for a major developmental milestone. We were so happy with our experience; we brought our second baby to First Steps Home Childcare. We only left because we moved from Chicago. I have frequently said since our move. I wish Damaris was here. She was amazing. read more