Day Care Question:1-2 days/week & rates

ejshoop

I'm looking around at the possiblity of day care 1-2 days/week. Does anyone know what day care centers will take my little one only a few days a week? If anyone does this and has some approximate rates to quote, I would appreciate it. Thank you!

mrs.raz

At most daycare centers you will not see much of a difference in cost compared to full time. The one we looked at was $140 for 3 days a week (15 hours) compared to $200 for full time. I was baffled until they explained that they have a hard time finding staff that only wants to work limited hours. It is much easier to find staff that wants to work full time. I found a great in home daycare that could work with my flexible schedule. However, a couple of them I talked to also only had infant spots for full time. It's frustrating but I can understand from a business stand point and the limitations on how many infants.

katejane66

The centers I looked at were about 80+/ day part time. A home day-care might be more flexible but honestly your best bet is probably a stay at home mom that wants to earn a little bit of money (I paid $40/day) for part time.

mplsbride31

I would think centers would be more flexible than in home daycares because they're staffed a little more. We did Kindercare two days a week, it was very flexible, I just let them know a few weeks in advance which two days it would be because my schedule varies, so it worked great. Was expensive though - 2 days a week was $180. Full time did equate out to a cheaper per day rate.

 

Veittobe

The rates I've seen for 3 days a week seem to be around $220-$275 a week for centers.  It's definitely a better "deal" per day to have your child in full time daycare but what price do you put on being able to have those other days home with Mom/Dad.  

Squirrel29

I have my DS at a center 1 day a week (it's not full so they are really flexible about taking him extra days but I always have to pay for my one scheduled day whether I use it or not).  I just called around asked places if they would do it and how much it would cost.  A couple of places told me they would not do anything less than 3 days a week (I know Jack & Jill in Roseville said this and at lest one other place that I can't remember the name).  For an infant, Kindercare took him for $90 a day (now that he's a toddler it's $75), New Horizon's wanted $120 and Creative Kids wanted $65 (I would not recommend the one in Mounds View though).  GL!!

ejshoop

Thanks for the info! Was the $180 rate for 1 kiddo or 2? Also - I see by your profile that you are in South Minneapolis. Which Kindercare did you go to? I also am in South Minneapolis - more specifically southwest/Linden Hills. Thanks!

LilMissLadybug

I do home daycare and have a couple part timers 1-3days a week. Depending on the age and how many kids, it's usually $27 a day...more for an infant.

kris_kelsey

I use KinderCare on a part-time basis as an RN working rotating shifts.  3 KinderCares have been willing to work with my schedule with no complaints.  basically hold a full-time slot cuz he can come whatever days, but i just pay based on the days i use.  Another KinderCare was too busy and couldn't do that.  As a newborn it was about $90 or 93 for one day, 186 for 2 days, and 240ish for 3 days.  As a 3 yr old it is 70 something for one day, 140 something for 2 days.  If you can find an in-home I would bet it would be much cheaper, but the center has worked for us.

mplsbride31

Sorry for the delayed post - we did use the Kindercare over in Southwest Mpls/close to Edina, was it on 44th? I don't remember, but we liked it. It was a couple years ago, and then my husband was laid off and decided to just stay home with them instead, but they were very flexible and always seemed to take great care of her. The only thing I didn't like, and I think this is any daycare is that she was ALWAYS sick. Got so tired of colds and viruses.

Now she starts preschool at the end of the month and I'm sure we'll go through that all over again:)

And the rate was just for 1, my daughter when she was young. 

sensoregurl

ejshoop:

Thanks for the info! Was the $180 rate for 1 kiddo or 2? Also - I see by your profile that you are in South Minneapolis. Which Kindercare did you go to? I also am in South Minneapolis - more specifically southwest/Linden Hills. Thanks!

We Love Kids does part time (I think $75/day for an infant) and is right on Chicago and 42nd I think. We went there, although ended up switching to an in-home who takes part time for $50/day (we're in 2 days a week).  

Good luck!