summers off at day care?

EMLDF

My husband and I will be TTC starting in a few months.  He is a teacher and we are hoping that there are day cares facilities that don't require year round commitment/ payment.  Obviously my husband will be with our baby during most of the summer so it would be really nice NOT to pay during those months. 

I know we are really early to be thinking about this, but we are trying to figure out our finances well ahead of time!  Also, what is the average price for "home" day cares?  Its much harder to find information on them online and I don't really want to join NPNparents yet since we aren't even TTC. 

FYI we live around Wicker Park/  Ukranian Village/ Noble Square area.  

Thanks!!!!

 

EMLDF

Thanks!!  We hadn't thought of that.  Unfortunately, he teaches on the Southside and we'd rather use a daycare close to home (WP/ West town area) or the loop, where I work.  My job is more flexible so when we get a phone call about him / her being sick, I'll be the one leaving work to pick her/ him up.  (And right now we only have one car, so that's a whole other issue - buying a second car just to get the baby to DC). 

 But there might be a DC closer to home that caters to teachers so we will definitely look into that! 

Tarastar33

I think It Takes A Village at 800 south wells caters to teachers. On our tour this summer they mentioned they have a lot of teachers kids, and save there space over the summer for a small fee

jandb2011

I don't know about home daycares, but if you explain your situation they may be willing to work with you.  Most national DC centers have seperate Summer programs already.  Since a lot of people need childcare during the Summer, but not the school year and vise versa.  I believe you'll find it easier that you think, to find daycare that will accomodate a teacher schedule.

sschwege

I know a teacher who takes her kids to Kindercare and they they only charge her $50 a month to hold her children's spots during the summer.  

I do home-daycare in the NorthCenter area and charge $350 a week (not looking for new clients just trying to give you a sense of what a home-daycare may run).  I have a friend who lives near me who also does it and charges $325, she doesn't provide the meals though.  

drmetsrg

We pulled our son out of It Takes A Village only after 2 months. I would there. I am not sure about your budget, but try Children's Learning Place in Wicker Park. Awesome all around, but not sure if they will do summers only. We have searched a ton of daycares in Chicago.....its a long process.

juliedooley

I'm not a teacher, but what about keeping your LO part-time at an in-home over the summer? It'd be a built-in playgroup for him/her and you/your DH could use the time to run errands/get things done around the house. I'm a freelancer and my schedule varies, but when hours are weird/light I still keep DS at daycare 3 (shorter) days a week and it's worked out very well for us as long as I tell DCP a few weeks in advance that our schedule will be changing.

FYI, my in-home dcp is in Albany Park and they charge me $180/wk full-time, $150/wk part-time. Very reasonable but I think that may go up since DS will be eating the meals prepared there soon vs me sending his lunch and snacks. The lady is older and the house is a little run-down but it's safe and accredited/licensed and the kids all seem happy. 

EMLDF

Thanks everyone - this makes me feel better about options that might be more flexible!