Working part time?

gerlam5

I've been given the option to work 1/2 day next year and split my classroom with another teacher. It's sounds incredible but the money situation makes me nervous!

Would a daycare charge less for 1/2 or 2/3 day than all day if they have a weekly rate? What experience do other moms have with this?

MrsT2008

Our daycare center charges a flat rate based on number of days a week, not hours a day.  There was some room for negotiation and other centers we looked at did have different rates for length of days (usually 8 hours, 9 hours, 10 hours).  BUT, it was also not preferred (for them) to take an infant only partial days because state regulations (I'm in MA) say that each infant in the center needs their own crib for naps - no sharing, so having a baby who is only there for half a day messes up their numbers.

But, it's always worth asking them about!

Veittobe

Our daycare will do a reduced rate for half days.  But I think it's pretty uncommon to find.  Definitely worth looking into.

LoveIsAll25

In my area it depends on the day care facility. Some will tell you how much it is an hour. Other's are by days. Maybe you can research some daycare facilities in your area. Usually they have their prices online. 

deanna1313

It really depends on where you are and each individual center. The one I used to work at did half and full days. Half day was 5 hours, but if you went over you were charged a full day.
Shop around. Good luck!

chillypenguin

You can also check into church preschool programs. Most don't have infant nurseries, but ours did and the price was half of FT daycare. The hours were 9:30-1:30 every day, but luckily MIL was the director so she took DD before/after so we didn't have to worry about drop off/ pick up.

RachelCA29

When my sister was looking for part-time daycare for her twins (she is a paramedic and works shifts, so she doesn't need traditional 9-5 daycare) she had trouble finding spots on a part-time basis.

The places they looked at did offer a reduced rate for part time (I don't think it was just 50% off the full-time rate, but it was less - maybe 60%), but a lot of places would only take a part-time spot if they had another part-time request for the opposite times (like, if you needed mornings they want another kid in for the afternoons your kid isn't there).

I think it depends on how flexible centers are in your area, and the demand for spots.

spinsoffresonance

Our center gives you the option to put the kid in T,Th or M,W,F or 5 days/week. They don't have a half day pricing. The one across the street did though. I think you just have to look around and see what different centers offer. If I had the option of going part time I would want to work 2-3 full days rather than 5 half days, I think it's a lot easier with kids that way. You also have to consider your commute, if it takes you 10min to get to work working 5days part time doesn't matter but if it takes you an hour it makes a lot more sense to work longer hours fewer days.

julie921

Of the 4 daycares I visited, only 1 offered part-time options for newborns/infants.  You could either do 3 days/week or up to 5 hours/day for 5 days/week.  It was a reduced cost, but it was along the lines of 60-70%, not 50%.  Definitely call around!

IBackBevo

My current daycare is like $100 less (not much) to do part of a day and I think it runs from like 9-2 or something.  However, this one church daycare near me had this AWESOME program where there were basically like 4 segments of the day and you could choose how many segments you wanted and how many days of a week you wanted.  The segments were 6:30 am-9; 9-2:30; 2:30-4:30; 4:30-6:30.  It made it so affordable because you only had to pay for what you truly needed.  Unfortunately, it was full when I went to enroll DS.  I think it is one of those things that you are just going to have to look around for.

runningyogimama

Many day cares around here don't have the option for part-time until they are no longer an infant (18 months here, not sure if that is something that varies by state).