Question about the cost of in home childcare

AverysMom1118

I recently started taking care of a two year old little boy, 3-4 days a week for 11 hour days. She is paying me $35/day which breaks down to about $3.18/hour. The stresses of having two toddlers along with with other two school aged children has me questioning if $35/day is really worth it. Does that seem like a fair price? I don't want to ask her for more if it's pretty average. I found all sorts of answers on the web but just looking for some more opinions! Thanks! 

dangerkitty102

Our in home daycare charges $55/day or $180/week.

Marc's Mrs.

I live in a very low cost of living area so take this with a grain of salt.  For the last two years, I've paid $135.00/wk for DD to go to an in-home daycare.  The only thing I provided was diapers.  Our amazing sitter provides wipes, milk and two meals.  DD turned 2 yesterday and our weekly price dropped to $105.00.  That's very fair for the area I live in.

seahorse102410

Depends on COL where you live but I think in homes around here can't even have the children for longer than 10 hours.  That is a long day!  I would charge at least $50 a day.

saraboston

I pay $60/day in a HCOL area, but that's also for a licensed provider, without a license, I don't think you can expect to charge the same. 

moosemax

I think that it does depend on where you live. Where I am the going rate is someplace from $120-$150 a week, which is like $25 a day. I pay $25 a day for 11 hours...

I must say, that I am blessed that I have such wonderful childcare for such a cheap rate, apparently!

Mom2Mack1

When DD went to in-home childcare it was $30/day, meals included (breakfast/lunch).  They had a 10 hour limit though. 

kcisthebombdotcom

For a 4 hour day, I pay $40. $35 for 11 hours of work is WAY too little. I could see charging that much for a more "regular" workday, but that's a long ass time to be working.

imeltice

I pay my in home sitter $4 per hour and provide all food and diapers for DS.  He is there at max 9 hours in a day.  While I think you are getting paid in a normal range for hourly pay, I would think you should charge more for the extra hours.  I think most centers at least here, have a 10 hour maximum per day, so I would see if they would be willing to pay you a little more, since you are keeping the child longer than they would be able to stay anywhere else. Maybe up to $45-$50 per day.

Mt2G1012

Depends on the area just like a center.  In homes around here (if the are state licensed that is) are pretty much the same as centers.  They range from $35-$60 a day depending on hours, location and what they provide.  I am opening a licensed family child care this fall and will be charging $40 a day.  My hours are 7-5 and I will provide breakfast, lunch and a snack as well as linens and wipes. 

Oh and for the licensed provider DD goes to 2 days a week now, we pay $55 a day which includes food 730a-430p.  I am in a HCOL area.  I would never pay more than $35 a day for an unlicensed provider.  Then again, I'd never send my kid to an unlicensed daycare.  I am not talking about a family or friend watching them, but an actual in home daycare.  

RayRay007

I pay $35/day for about a 9.5 hour day.

ETA: unlicensed, in home. They provide snacks and lunch, I provide diapers/wipes.

august06mom

When DS1 was in in-home, it was $60/day. She was licensed and provided food, however (she received some kind of food reimbursement from the state).

BethPSU

I pay $75 per day (for 2 kids) and our sitter comes to our house so I guess it is technically a nanny situation.  I started her at $60/ day, but she is so wonderful I gave her a raise and she is worth every penny.  That said, if I had to take my kids to her I would expect to pay less.  Do you provide meals?  

bridetobe920

We pay $40 per day for full time daycare.  Our DCP is licensed, and is part of our state's food program. 

When you break it down by hourly rate, it doesn't seem like much to take care of a child all day, but that's about the average cost here for in home providers.

hmp1

When I first looked into daycares, the at home options were all about $150/week ($30/day). I think most of their hours were 7-5:30. ETA: licensed providers are all I looked into.

You should do a quick market study and just call some other at home daycares near you and ask what they charge, their hours, and what is included.

Bemyselfandi

That's how much I paid my friend to watch our son. And she had a newborn, my one year old, and her two year old. I think that's pretty typical.

MaxandRuby

DS1 goes to an in-home daycare full time and we pay $70/week (so $14/day). DS2 goes to the same place and goes part time. Part time rate is $50/week (so $10/day) but she has me pay the drop in rate for him so I'm actually paying $40/week for him at the moment (due to the amount of hours he actually goes). My kids are almost 4 and almost 2.5.

missmuffin87

i watch another baby for $180/week for about 8hrs a day. i'm unlicensed, but still his parents are getting a good deal for this area. it really depends on COL where you are.

KLMFBP3

i only use a sitter 1-2 days a week depending how often I pick up work or work.  I pay 5$ per kid per hour - so 15$ per hour.  The max they are there is about 2 hours.  But even if they are only there 1.5 hours I still give 30$.  So, I give 30$ for 2 hours for 3 kids.

lexigrl

I pay our nanny $10 / hr or $80 per day and it works out to $1600 a month. She works roughly 8hrs per day for us...sometimes more sometimes less so it all evens out. 

Jaylea

My in home daycare is $50/day, but includes food, diapers and wipes. She's fully licensed and has employees as well.

And she's not watching her own child in addition to mine.

 

akl0506

We pay $200 a wk for one child, every week of the year. He is there five days a week from 7:30-5.  When I was bringing there part time it was $5/hr...I think you need more money, honestly.  But, on the other hand...our daycare is licensed and you don't mention if you are or not...

sosoph

For unlicensed in your area, I think that's a very fair rate. From what you write, you technically care for up to 4 children, which is typical for in-home. I can see why you're finding $35/day not very much to care for 4 children, but would you feel that way if you had 4 paying children ($140/day)? The 11-hr day is a bit much. You could renegotiate that your fee is for up to x hrs, and after that it's a full-hour rate (say, $8).

PeonyPumps

We pay $55 a day, and that includes meals.  He is there almost 11+ hours as well, as I work 10 hour days.

Summer20

As everyone has already shown, it really depends on where you live.  We live in a high COL area and ours is $70/day for 9 hours.  That's pretty reasonable for here and less than a big center.  It includes breakfast, snacks and lunch, we provide diapers and wipes.

Personally, I would NEVER take care of another toddler for $35/day.  Whether or not it's fair for your area, it's very little money for a ton of work.  It's like, maybe 1/2 a dinner out with the hubby... totally not worth it IMO.  Keep in mind that most in-home daycares have 4-6 kids so they're making a lot more money which might make it more worthwhile.

kg_08

In my area a lisenced in home daycare charges $90 a week, which is dirt cheap.

I watch a little boy 3 days a week, 24 hours, and get paid $60. It is not worth it at all, especially with the sleep deprivation I endure. Although when I look at it as an extra $240 a month in the savings account it's not quite as bad. It still sucks though.

LadyXaverian

I send my DD to a licensed in-home, and it's $25 a day/$125 a week.

driveshorses

The in-home daycare DD goes to, which is structured like a day care, not a babysitter type situation, charges $26 per 8 hour day, with a $50 per week minimum. $14 for under either 4 or 6 hours, I don't recall right off the top of my head since that one doesn't apply to us at all.

AverysMom1118

ItsAllGravy7:

saraboston:

I pay $60/day in a HCOL area, but that's also for a licensed provider, without a license, I don't think you can expect to charge the same. 

Concur. Ours is licensed as well and I personally would not send LO to a daycare that wasn't. I think $35 is probably a fair price for a 2 year old for non licensed care n an average locality area. She is providing diapers, wipes, etc. I assume correct OP???

Sorry, I didn't realize that was going to be a post and run! Yes, she provides diapers/wipes and half a gallon of milk every week. I provide all of his food and snacks.