Looking for a new daycare center in the east end (Sharpsburg: income, live in)

[theta_sigma]

We live in Stanton Heights and work in Oakland and I'd really like to find daycare for my son at some point in between those two locations with a minimum of detours. Right now he's at a center in Greenfield which I would describe as "adequate" and also "inexpensive." He only goes part time and the rest of the time is with my mom who gives him all the one-on-one attention he can handle, so merely adequate (safe, reliable, not a hellhole) is perfectly fine for his needs.

I've become spoiled on the price and when we started looking at a couple well-known centers in the area I just about plotzed with the sticker shock (right now we pay well under $50/day for a full day of care for our 2-year-old).

Daycare centers have a thing about not advertising (because they don't have to, there is always more demand than supply) and tend to go on word of mouth. Only problem? I don't have any friends with kids who have my same income limitations in the area, so I have no mouths from which to get words.

Anyone have any wisdom?

[robrobrob]

I think you are really looking in areas that are pretty expensive. As an example, a friend's brother lived in Shadyside and sent their kids to daycare in Sharpsburg.

Ours was in Blawnox and was pretty reasonable. It was called the Alphabet Tree.