So even though I'm a SAHM until next August, DH and I are talking about daycare for LO for when I go back. We are clueless on what daycare costs. So if you don't mind sharing, tell me abut your daycare situation? Do you pay by the week, hour, in home daycare vs daycare center, etc??
Also, what is your experience with Care.com? What about using flexible spending to pay for daycare? Any info you're willing to share will be great!
I'm sure this was brought up when we were all still pregnant but I can't find relavent posts.
Thanks!
Re: Talk to me about daycare...
My mom and sister watch the twins during the day. Both have other employment - my sister is a server/bartender and my mom actually has two other jobs. We pay them, but it's definitely a discounted rate for watching two babies.
We live in a relatively HCOL. It's not as nuts as CA or NYC, but it's not cheap either.
Aug.13 May Siggy Challenge: Moms
I also looked at daycare centers and they wanted about $8/hr but had minimum hour requirements that weren't ideal for us.
BFP#1 10/1/2011. Our perfect little girl, Her heart stopped @ 12w1d. D&E 11/23/11
BFP#2 3/13/12 Weird CP/Possible EP @ 6w0d
BFP#3 5/28/12 CP @ 5w0d
BFP/WTF#4 10/26/12 CP
BFP#5 12/10/12 EDD 8/23/2013
Baby Boy Born 8/22/13
We used care.com and we found a great in home nanny that we feel great about. She will be here when my H and I are both at work (scheduled varies). My H recently installed in home cameras because that's what makes us comfortable. We aren't using FSA to pay for care.
GL OP!
We feel it is worth it to us. We think the socialization/education he receives there is well worth it. We know DD will get the same. Once DS starts school we may have to rethink a nanny situation etc. As we will need something closer to home for before and after school. But we still have about a year and a half before I need to think about that. lol
Mommy to J: Born 5/11/2010 & B: Born 8/26/2013
Beginning Jan 3, Joel will go to a center. I chose a center with cameras so I could watch him whenever I wanted. It was also 2 miles from work. I live in a LCOL area, and we pay $135 a week. It's the most expensive in our area, but worth it IMO and we are excited for him to start there.
DS born 9/3/13; DD born 7/22/15; LO due 5/28/18
FS (age 5) and FD (age 2) to become AS/AD very soon!
MH works 15mi west of our house and I work 15mi east of our house. Our oldest is in preschool/daycare near H's work so when he travels, I have to drive 15mi in the opposite direction from work to drop DS off at school only to turn around and drive 30mi to my work. It blows and takes about 90min to do the whole thing.
There aren't any schools near us that I like, so it is what it is for us but if you have a choice, choose close to home.
Do your homework, interview them several times, drop by unannounced, ask for references & actually call them. Must importantly, trust your gut. If you are at all uncomfortable, move on to the next on the list. I know you say you have until the spring/summer but it can be hard to find a place that works. It's never too early to start looking.
We ended up choosing an in home provider who only has one other child, the low ratio makes me happy when LO is this young. We pay $250/week in a HCOL area. I'll move her to a center when she is about 3yo so she can start to get more social interaction in preparation for school.