Childcare...is this reasonable?

bnljane1988 · September 2009

My DCP is the wife of one of my employees. She's awesome. She watches DS 4 to 6 nights a week (usually 5-6) and also has her own 3 boys, ages 2, 4 and 7. We pay her $180 a week cash.

When I get a little further along and we start telling our family and co-workers about our pregnancy, I'm going to ask her if she's interested in watching both of them. If she says she is....do you think $300 a week is a fair price to ask/offer? Or at least start negotiations? Would you start lower? Higher?

DH and I have been discussing this since we started "trying" and still haven't come to a conclusion.

(Obviously, if she doesn't want to at all, we'll have to find new DCP for both, as we wont split them up.)

dec05gurl · September 2009

hold on!...stop right now!! I didn't know you announced another babe on the way!! CONGRATS!!!!! I've been outta the loop (our home computer's been sucking). YAY YOU!!! Hope you're feeling good!

Your offer sounds reasonable. How many hours is it nightly/weekly?

bnljane1988 · September 2009

LOL, dec05gurl!

Anywhere from 6-8 hours. (If I have a late night at work, I pick him up and bring him back to work with me.)

mrspresley · September 2009

I haven't been on the board consistently and missed this announcement!!! OMG CONGRATS!!!

sorry no answer for your question b/c our first LO isn't even born yet but just thought i would chime in w/congrats

punkfiction · September 2009

wait!!!! how did i miss this!!!?? CONGRATS!!

punkfiction · September 2009

to add:

can you have your baby at baylor frisco so we can be birth friends? LOL

bnljane1988 · September 2009

punkfiction:

to add:

can you have your baby at baylor frisco so we can be birth friends? LOL

As a matter of fact, if I have a C-sec., which OBGYN recommended for my next birth, (because of the amount of tearing, blood loss, and some other things having to do with a car accident when I was 6), it will be there. If he's decided that I can deliver vaj, it'll be at Med Center of Plano again.

MrsTotty · September 2009

Woah woah woah ... are you SURE you posted this lifealtering new event?!!! Because I'm pretty sure I missed that too, CONGRATS!

Always start lower then what you want to pay, but I think $300 would be fair. Especially if you want to stay with her. Honestly, my DCP could demand double what I'm paying now and my right pinky toe and I would seriously consider it ... good DC is hard to find.

Jessibell · September 2009

I do think that is fair. My in-home provider charges $135 a week whether A is there for 1 hour or 60. Given your current rate, I think that is a good jumping off point.