childcare

littlebriderachel

Hi all, I'm new to this board, so forgive me if I ask a few silly questions.    I am 15 weeks, and just starting to think about child care.  I'll be returning to work after a 3 month maternity leave, and I'm not sure what direction I want to go yet.  One thing that is complicating the issue is the uncertainty of where we will be living when the baby is born.  We're looking to buy a home in the suburbs, but we aren't desperate to move, so unless we find something fantastic, we will stay in our two-bedroom condo in the River West area.  We would love to have a nanny or nanny share, but are concerned that the cost may be prohibitive.  Does anyone know what a city nanny would cost for 4 days/week of child-care?  Probably 6 - 8 hrs per day on average.  Any advice on how to find a good nanny that doesn't cost a fortune?  What about a nanny share - is there a service that would hook you up with other newborns in your area?

 We would also consider day care, but a friend of mine (who isn't even pregnant yet!) said that she's been calling day cares and that she's seeing an 18 month waiting list...  So I'm worried that that ship has sailed.  Obviously we would require a clean, safe and nurturing environment, and my concern is that we wouldn't be able to find a facility that lives up to our standards that doesn't have an enormous wait. Does anyone know of any reputable day care centers in/around the west loop/ river west area of the city?

 Any advice, whatsoever, including options we haven't thought of, would be so welcome.  Thanks for reading!

madisonstaffing

Hi! My name is Kristen and I own a Domestic Staffing & Consulting firm in Chicago.  I would love to assist you with any questions that you may have about hiring a nanny or participating in a nanny share. 

 Here is a blog that we wrote about Nanny Shares: https://www.madisonstaffingcorp.com/blog/2011/05/30/benefits-of-a-nanny-share/

 I hope this information helps out.

 

Kristen 

LisaKF3

Rachel,

I'm due March 6 and will most likely only be taking 6 wks off.  I'm in Wrigley and based on the poster above me's website about nanny share of $15/hour which would end up being $7.50/hour for each of us, I could do that.  Who knows if this is how it really works.  I wasn't going to start calling daycares until I go to the OB in my 9th week, but if there are 18 month waiting lists, I'm screwed!