What's your childcare situation if you have 2 under 2?

aries21 · January 2011

i am thinking to TTC in when LO turns 1 but then having 2 kids in daycare sounds so expensive.. Maybe a nanny is cheaper .. or maybe daycares give discounts.. what's your situation and how is it working for you?

meg1974 · January 2011

I don't have 2U2 (yet), but my DCP provides a 10% discount for two kids. Right now, DD is in an at-home daycare. When LO#2 is born I might switch DD to a less expensive daycare center and put LO#2 in the at home daycare for at least a year. I just like the ratio better at the at-home place I use.

Where I live, nannies are a lot more expensive than daycare.

scaneiki · January 2011

I am going to be lucking out because my job is letting me be flexible with my time. I'll have both kids in d/c two days a week, work the weekends when DH is home, and do some work from home. Two kids, two days a week will be about the same as one kid, 5 days a week.

MammaBear81 · January 2011

We have 4 kids 5 and under and we have an au pair. It works out really well and with all expenses included you pay about $335 per week (about 17K per year). Part goes to the agency and the girls make $200 per week for 45 hours of work.

war_eagle · January 2011

I'm very lucky that my in-home daycare is so cheap. I won't be paying much more for two than most people pay for one. Not that I'm looking forward to doubling what we pay each month, but I consider myself lucky.

Temp785382312506150 · January 2011

Well, I'm currently a SAHM so that is mainly why we decided to try for 2u2. The sooner we're done having kids, the sooner I can go back to work.

We're still undecided as to whether or not we want a 3rd child, but if we decide we do, we'll most likely end up with 2u2 again for the same reason.

ShannonSky · January 2011

Mikes_Wife06:
Well, I'm currently a SAHM so that is mainly why we decided to try for 2u2. The sooner we're done having kids, the sooner I can go back to work.

We're still undecided as to whether or not we want a 3rd child, but if we decide we do, we'll most likely end up with 2u2 again for the same reason.

Same here The cost of daycare for just one was over 1/2 of my take-home pay when we had DD. But I really love SAH, I would love to do it until the kids are out of the house. But as DH always says, the sooner I go back to work, the sooner we retire!

kcisthebombdotcom · January 2011

I'm home with the kids myself most of the time. I do work a very part time job (less than 20 hours a week) but I can make my own hours so the kids are either with my DH or my parents help out a little as well.

Does it make sense to continue to work full time? Many people make such a little amount of money after daycare costs with 2 kids that its sometimes more lucrative to find a job a few nights a week around DH's schedule and be home with the kids during the day. Even though I had a great paying job before kids, with the cost of 2 in daycare plus the costs of working full time, I make out better being @ home. You do save money not working full time as well in terms of less gas mileage, less car maintenance, no dry cleaning costs (if you work in a business professional environment currently), cheaper meals since you have the time to meal plan and go out less, cut back on car insurance costs by only being a recreational driver, etc.

musicteacher84 · January 2011

Both of our LOs will be going to daycare. L currently goes to an in-home daycare that we LOVE! Her little sister will also go to the same in-home daycare once I go back to work after maternity leave. It is very reasonably priced though; about $110 per week per child. We get a little bit of a discount once we have 2 children at the daycare also.

I teach, so during the summer I will keep my girls at home with me - so we will have 3 months where we do not pay for child care also.

4realyo · January 2011

I currently have a part time nanny (tue-thur 9-3) who I love. I work full time from home so I watch LO and work the other days and make up my time nights & weekends if needed. With having LO #2, there is no way I'll be able to work and watch both. I know I'll need just about full time care. My plan is to talk to my nanny and see if she would want to go full time. This would obviously be a huge increase in expenses (just about double) plus Im assumign I'd have to give some kind of raise. The other possibility is daycare but I have always been against it personally and I dont think I could handle dropping my kid off somewhere everyday. We might also look into au pairs which seems like the best move economically, but I dont know how I feel about someone else living in my house.

t.bird · January 2011

mon: both girls go to my mother's

tues, wed, thurs: nanny

fri: both girls go to my MIL's

the nanny is going to run us $1600 a month- so $400 per week for 3 10 hour days.

i'm willing to pay that because it's cheaper than daycare & our nanny is seriously awesome.

Mr.&MrsS · January 2011

We had DS1 in a day care center. There was no way I would have been able to afford 2 kids there (even with the 10% discount they offered).

So while I was pregnant we found a great in home day care that was much cheaper. And we like it so much better than the center. And they also offer a 20% discount on the second child, and include all meals and snacks. So it saved us a lot of money. We are mow paying almost the same for 2 kids in day care, that we were paying for 1 at the center. And it was the best move we could have made, I like this place so much better than the first day care.

mayowife · January 2011

Our friend babysits for us from Sept - June (we're teachers). We currently pay $190 per week (includs food and milk) for DS. She has agreed to also watch DD in September. I'm expecting to pay double, but will discuss rates with her when the time comes. She has one child, but does not babysit for anyone else. I like the low ratio. She is only paid for days actually worked. When we have off for a holiday, snow, or the summer we don't have to pay her.

Other in-home daycare providers in my area cost about $35/day and do offer a discount for siblings. We're willing to pay a bit more than the norm because we know her well and really respect her way with children.

LJR 84 · January 2011

Great thread- we'll be dealing with this issue soon as well.

DD is currently in a day care center that we like a lot. However, to send two there almost won't be worth it. I'll only take home about $500 (or maybe even less) after dc costs, my car, car insurance, & gas.

An in home center may be cheaper for us. How do you go about finding one? I tried a little with DD, but gave up because I couldn't find anything.

mayowife · January 2011

MammaBear81:
We have 4 kids 5 and under and we have an au pair. It works out really well and with all expenses included you pay about $335 per week (about 17K per year). Part goes to the agency and the girls make $200 per week for 45 hours of work.

This is really a fantastic rate! Can you tell me what your COL is? Also, what agency did you go through? I'm not necessarily looking for child care, but this is very good information. I'll pay more for 2 children per week than you pay for 4! i'm in NJ, so I'm thinking things may be similar to NY.

Nanna · January 2011

I SAH. My salary would have never covered child care costs so it makes much more sense for me to be at home.

laura1 · January 2011

I work part time and we have a nanny 2 days a week. It was impossible to get DS into day care for just the 2 days we needed (he was on a wait list for almost a year at 2 different centers). So our nanny comes 2 days for us and she does 3 days for another family in our neighborhood. We pay $16 an hour for 2 kids, and she does 16 hours a week. We live in the city.

Good luck!

CA_EAM · January 2011

I am not sure what we'll do but I am considering all options and trying to include the costs that are not obvious.

With two kids in the center where DS is now it will run about $1900/month, which is a bit over half my take home pay. A nanny, I am guessing will be about $2,100/month. Is $200 worth it to not have to lug kids and gear in and out every day? Probably.

BUT the center covers food and diapers. So there is savings there. Also, I am considering things like heat and AC. We turn down the heat/AC when we are not home, but with a nanny that would not be happening. Our hot summers would be a lot more expensive running the AC 24/7.

I might look into in-home DCs as a cheaper option but I am not really a fan from my very limited person experience.

Mrs.V · January 2011

Our DSs go to an in-home daycare. I like that they are still together throughout the day! We pay $65/day and that is less than what we paid a nanny when we only had our first DS!

BriAndSean · January 2011

We had #1 in full-time care at a private center for about $1500 per month. When #2 was born, we re-arranged our schedules and I used my leave "creatively" to allow us to have both in the same center 3 days per week for $1700 per month. We do not get a discount for #2.

finally2006 · January 2011

When this baby arrives, I will probably sah. Right now I am working 6-10am mon-fri and MIL watches DD on the days that DH does not work. DH has a unique job and he only works 8 days a month, so the rest of the time he watches her till 10am then we both are home for the day.

He may get a second job or I may start doing photography for a little extra cash. We shall see.

AutumnBride929 · January 2011

I can't speak for how it's working just yet but we will have two at a daycare center. We will get 10% off DS' tuition once the 2nd LO is attending. We will also get more back from the FSA thing so that helps a lot, too.

I'm thinking DH will bring one and I will bring the other once I start going back to work. I just can't see myself having two to get into daycare at the same time, lol! Obviously, it's done by many mothers but if DH is available, he is going to help me! He has plenty of time in the morning to get one to daycare and pick up after work.

allydgy9278 · January 2011

Both girls go to DC..the cost for infant 6wk-12mo is $155 and infant 12-18mo is $150 so I'm paying $305/wk. This is a little under half my take home pay per week but it is worth it.

In my area it is hard to find a daycare without a waiting list so I was lucky when a new dc opened up and I got in while pregnant with DD#2. The price goes down about $5-10 every classroom they move up and the cost covers food (exluding diapers, wipes, formula). But an in-home daycare or a nanny would cost more where we live.

The positive side to it all is that DD#1 who is 16 mo. has learned so much in the 4 months she has been attending. I am very impressed with her "preschool" and their cirriculum. The negative side is how fast she gets sick and having to leave work when she gets a fever (mandatory pickup with a fever of 100.3), but I'm lucky I have a great boss (he has 4 kids of his own).

I would definitely research your area and ask around to compare...not all daycares are the same or give the same attention to parents and children.

MammaBear81 · January 2011

mayowife:
MammaBear81:
We have 4 kids 5 and under and we have an au pair. It works out really well and with all expenses included you pay about $335 per week (about 17K per year). Part goes to the agency and the girls make $200 per week for 45 hours of work.

This is really a fantastic rate! Can you tell me what your COL is? Also, what agency did you go through? I'm not necessarily looking for child care, but this is very good information. I'll pay more for 2 children per week than you pay for 4! i'm in NJ, so I'm thinking things may be similar to NY.

Besides free care from a family member, I don't think it can be beat! This is part of the reason we could have 4 kids, and the closer the better, once the kids are in school my mother can watch them (she's a teacher) ...Both DH and I have jobs that require us to work no matter what the weather (like today) and having someone who can never be late or get stuck in traffic makes my morning stress level go to 0! Not having to get four kids up and out the door is heavenly .

We are in Westchester NY so the COL is similar to most of NJ (average house around here is $400k) but you guys have better gas prices! The agency we use is au pair care (www.aupaircare.com) if you are interested in pursuing an au pair let me know, (we get a discount for referring people and every penny counts!) I also have some really good tips on searching from a friend (who referred me to the program).

Mama Jan · January 2011

I SAH - we also started DS1 in preschool 2 days/wk back in Sept.

johnsoar · January 2011

I'm very thankful my FIL watches them.

We started off with DD home with DH because we worked opposite shifts but he was transferred to days so FIL helped us out and still watches them.

tlc11934 · January 2011

I'm going to bargain with DD'sday care and talk them down to $2k a month for both kids. Currently, they're asking $2500/month, but I doubt they'll want to lose the business and I know they help out families that need it. We live in an expensive area but I can find a nanny for around $2k. I'd rather keep the kids in daycare if I can.

Kriss34 · February 2011

My advice is to just start asking around. Ask your friends, co-workers, neighbors, if they know anyone who runs an in-home center. I started by looking on Craiglist but it just made me too nervous. A recommendation from someone you know is the best way to go. Let everyone know that you are looking.

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What's your childcare situation if you have 2 under 2?

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