Price of childcare

kbell0617 · December 2009

Hey all,

So I have found someone to watch my little man when I go back to work in the fall. She charges $100/week. Is that cheap or not? She says she charges that even if the kids are there or not. I have a feeling we would still have to pay in the summer (my DH and I are both teachers so we wouldn't need childcare) in order to keep our spot. Is this pretty common? I don't know this for sure but that is what I'm thinking b/c she said she charges $100/week whether the child is in attendance or not. Anyways, I just wanted to see if this was reasonable or not b/c I really don't have any back ups.

rlscheck · December 2009

Most home daycares and facilities charge 300 - 400 a week. So I think that's a great deal, even if you don't use her a couple weeks out of the year!

ChristinaD09 · December 2009

Don't know so much about the price, but I personally think that's ridiculous to charge you for the summer when she wouldn't be watching them for months. It's not like a couple weeks here or there.

MNgirl326 · December 2009

Yes, that is cheap, but it depends on where you live. In MN average home daycare ranges from 150-200 a week and child care centers are upwards of 250-320.

Don't just go off their prices though, make sure you do an extensive interview and compare other places too.

Lux_Diva · December 2009

$100 a week is dirt cheap. If she is certified and reputable that is a real deal. I am not sure about the year round pay schedule. It sounds like something that could be worked out given the specific circumstances.

Ana35 · December 2009

I would have to say that this is incredibly reasonable (day care centers charge at least $400/wk for full-time care 10 hrs/day, 5 days/wk in my area) not sure about paying weekly to hold the spot when the child is not in attendance, though.

I would compare the provider with others in your area, see if they have a similar policy, get as many references as possible and base your decision on that. If we end up needing someone other than MIL to watch LO and could find a reputable, repsonsible provider that charged this amount, we'd pay in a heartbeat, even the $100/wk to "hold" the spot.

rlscheck · December 2009

ChristinaD09:

Don't know so much about the price, but I personally think that's ridiculous to charge you for the summer when she wouldn't be watching them for months. It's not like a couple weeks here or there.

I'm assuming that's too hold the baby's place. Otherwise the provider is out money and would have to fill the spot with someone else.

MNgirl326 · December 2009

also, many centers will charge you a small fee to keep your spot during the summer and then you can be home for the summer.

Many home daycares will charge whether you are there or not.

I am a teacher, I am going through a center.

ChristinaD09 · December 2009

Oh I just looked at where you live! Well hello!! I wouldn't go too much off of what people say here since our cost of living is very different than on the coasts, for example, or in big cities like Chicago. Have you checked the local boards? That might be a better estimate.

almostabuck · December 2009

It completely depends on where you live. For the majority of the country, I would say that is very inexpensive. It is not uncommon to have to pay even when your kid is not there, although my in-home daycare only charges for the time I use.

alicianrj · December 2009

$100 a week is cheap! My girlfriend will be watching the baby and she is going to charge us $45 a day so it will be $900 a month. I won't have to pay though for days off and summers (I am a teacher.)

smorzandoj · December 2009

In my area:

Home Daycares: 150 - 200 a week depending on the age of the child

Nannies: 500+ a week

Centers: 300+ a week

We found a SAHM with a one-year old that is willing to be flexible with our schedule for $50 a day no matter the hours which will be anything from 3 hrs - 8 hrs but the norm will be 4 hrs. We don't have to pay on days she doesn't work so if my husband is off during the week then we are in the clear which is nice. She is also willing to come to us which makes it sooo much easier. I think we are lucky though!

GL!

gsimone24 · December 2009

I have a friend who pays $800/month for in-home childcare (not her house, but a neighbors). This woman still charges them $800/month during the summer months to hold their spot, even though my friend is a teacher and is home all summer. I was told infants are typically charged more because they require so much more care and attention. Consider $100/week to be an excellent deal!

scubaspot · December 2009

$100 is super cheap almost to the point where I would want to ask her what the catch was. It is also very common to have to pay during the summer months to hold a spot. That is one of the many reasons I chose to STAH.

g8trkim · December 2009

Most daycares around here at over $200 a week.

islandgirl79 · December 2009

That is cheap it is almost too cheap IMO. Who is willing to work for $25 a day? She could be charging so little because she has more kids in her care then she is licensed for. Or to give her the benefit of the doubt, maybe she is just starting out and doesn't have enough kids yet.

I would definitely want references I could call and would want to spend some time in her house seeing how her days usually go.

cutelilme1210 · December 2009

I live in a small town in Ohio and that is pretty reasonable. Most sitters in this area are between $100-$150. I am also a teacher and want to check with the sitters about summer months and such. There are normally some sitters who do not charge during the summer because they fill the spot with people who only need summer sitters.

I would love to send our LO to our local center but I am not sure DH and I can afford it right now. She will definitely be going there for preschool though.

charlies-angel · December 2009

That is a great price. And yes, it is common to have to pay the daycare provider even when the child is not there (summer vacation, springf break, christmas break, etc). Its used to hold the spot. If you don't pay, they can replace your baby with someone who is willing to pay.

amy0105 · December 2009

For $20/day (assuming 5 days per week) that seems really cheap...I'm a little skeptical to be honest...

For your sake and the sake of the baby do lots of research and ask specifically what she will be doing with the baby...I just worry that the baby may be in front of the tv for the day...

I know it's cheaper for daycare in some places...but, remember, usually you get what you pay for...

Mrs.V · December 2009

That's cheap! We have a nanny that we pay $ 50-70/day (depending on the hours worked).

Mrs. Reckling · December 2009

I live in a small town in IL. My mom has a home daycare and charges $108 per week. Thats cheaper than most other daycares in the area.

MrsBalletStar05 · December 2009

I think that is a very decent price, especially for an infant. I was lucky to pay about that for DS when he was born, but the place we are at now is going to charge me like $140 or something. Ew :-(

You could possibly *quit* daycare over the summer and start back up in the fall, but who knows how her business is or how her waiting list looks. And it might be nice to send the kiddo there for awhile at times to keep him in the groove of things and to give you some time to get other things done during the summer.

MrsBalletStar05 · December 2009

I should have read the responses....I knew people would be *skeptical*.

You live in Missouri. I'm in Oklahoma, so we're pretty close. We've been at 4 different in-home daycares and honestly $100/week for a home daycare is pretty normal. It is a little on the cheap side, but not by much. Right now I pay $110/week for DS (toddler). People on the coasts and in larger areas are going to be paying WAY more than we are. Yes, $25 a day is not very much for the care giver to be earning, but you have to keep in mind they are not just watching that child - they are watching several. Cost of living here is much less expensive than other places. $100 is a normal price to pay here for childcare. I actually didn't think I'd be able to go to work after DS was born because of everything I heard from people on these boards....when I actually looked into it myself, I realized I could and that is was MUCH less expensive than other areas of the country.

The one thing you have to keep in mind is that a home daycare is a business, and it is their caregiver's livelihood. If you take a vacation, you still have to pay them, even if you don't bring DC. But like I said earlier - you may be able to *quit* and then re-enroll in the fall if you'd like. You'd probably have to pay an enrollment fee again though, and she wouldn't necessarily have a spot for you.

Stella's Mom · December 2009

The daycare I'm looking at is $70/day if they go 5 days a week and $85/day if they go PT.

thehannah · December 2009

That is insanely cheap. I am a nanny for three boys, ages 2, 5, and 7, and I make $320 a week working 40 hours in WV. I am Red Cross certified in lifesaving skills for small children and infants, but I don't think that's factored in to my pay. I also drive the youngest to and from nursery school, run errands for the mom, and clean up the house. And I'm 15w2d preggo!

ChristinaD09 · December 2009

MrsBalletStar05:

I should have read the responses....I knew people would be *skeptical*.

You live in Missouri. I'm in Oklahoma, so we're pretty close. We've been at 4 different in-home daycares and honestly $100/week for a home daycare is pretty normal. It is a little on the cheap side, but not by much. Right now I pay $110/week for DS (toddler). People on the coasts and in larger areas are going to be paying WAY more than we are. Yes, $25 a day is not very much for the care giver to be earning, but you have to keep in mind they are not just watching that child - they are watching several. Cost of living here is much less expensive than other places. $100 is a normal price to pay here for childcare. I actually didn't think I'd be able to go to work after DS was born because of everything I heard from people on these boards....when I actually looked into it myself, I realized I could and that is was MUCH less expensive than other areas of the country.

Again withouthaving looked into pricing, I have to say that I would agree with this. It sounds like many of the girls from smaller towns in the midwest think that's reasonable, but still in the normal range. So I wouldn't be stressed out about it being too "low" a figure to charge. The cost of living is vastly different--people in my profession on the coasts, for example, get paid almost twice my starting salary in KC. And my tiny little home would be worth a sick amount of money elsewhere. It all balances out in the end.

brandi_07 · December 2009

I also live in Missouri, and the daycare we are going to use is 118/ week. So I think you are getting about average for this area!

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