ougrad & SAHM's that use DC or MDO

nikinikinine · February 2012

How much does it cost to send your kids to MDO or DC a few days a week? And at what age were they able to attend these programs?

I just spoke with a DCP about getting R&R into their program this fall should this pregnancy be viable. The cost is $41 per day per kid -- I have to check the hours, but I *think* that's for a full day. So essentially $80 for the twins per day. For DC they can be any age, but to do preschool (which is $125 per month, per kid, half days) they have to be 27 months.

TIA for any feedback. I'm just trying to get a feel for general costs!

MagPie08 · February 2012

I'm curious too- we have a FT nanny, but sometimes I think a MDO type thing (even once a week) would be good for the twins- and probably a well deserved break for the nanny who will be soon juggling all three

090106 · February 2012

We just signed the boys up for preschool in the fall. They will be 2 1/2 and it's $180 a month per child for 2 half days a week and the second child is discounted 10%. For the second half of the year (i.e. next year) since they turn 2 right at the cut off (12/31) the price is lower for childen 3-5 so ti will be cheaper the 2nd half of the year.

I am not a SAHM right now but once the 3rd baby is out in July, I"m 90% sure I"ll be making the switch.

missfire · February 2012

Mine go three days a week and it costs $900 a month each. It's hard to swallow, but since my main need for daycare has been to get some sleep, get housework done, and spend time with my older son, taking them to a center is working much better than having a sitter or nanny come to the house. It gets cheaper as they get older - about $100 less once they turn 3.

cookiemonster03 · February 2012

We got to a regular DC, but we priced an in home by-the-day and drop in options, and were quoted $65-90/day/kid. We're just a bit outside NYC though.

ETA: not that is likely to be helpful for you, but we're currently in DC 3days/week for $950/kid/month (open 7-6:30, we go 8-5 most days...there is a "school day" option for less; I think it is around $800/mo for 9-3). The price drops at 18 mo and again at 24 (or 36?) mo, but I don't know how much offhand.

dec13th · February 2012

we have MDO, 3 hour sessions at a local place and it costs me $45 for both kids

atc282 · February 2012

Mine go to MDO 2x/wk but now have the option to add another day in the week if we wanted. A 2 day prog (9 am -2pm) is $455 for both to go. I love it b/c they get to play with other kids, go to a mini gym, Tumblebees bus (once a week), as well as Spanish class and Music class. They LOVE it.

MDO really has been a lifesaver, esp. during my pg with DS and when he was first born and I was exhausted out of my mind. I enjoy it now too so I can have 1-on-1 time with DS b/c once all 3 are home, it's hard doing that!

kafunder · February 2012

Not sure if it's helpful, but my kids are signed up for daycare 3 days/week (MIL takes them other days), and we pay $45/day/child. It's an in-home DCP and her hours are 7am-5:30pm. This cost accounts for a 10% discount for siblings and includes breakfast, lunch, milk, and two snacks. This is in a HCOL areaa and is a very good price.

ougrad1 · February 2012

The babies go to MDO on MWF from 8:30 to 11:30 and it's $360.00 a month for both of them together. The little church/school that the babies go to begin accepting kiddos at 8 months and goes through kinder.

Emerson goes to preschool from 8:30 to 11:45, five days a week and her school is 330.00 a month. The school Emerson goes to starts accepting kids at 2 yrs old and goes through kinder.

We will send Emerson to private kindergarten after next year which is crazy expensive but, right now, I don't think it's bad at all for the few minutes it gives me each week and they all love, love, love going AND it really does save my sanity.

Everyone will go five days a week next year-just those morning hours...they will be home for breakfast and lunch.

volgirl123 · February 2012

All three of mine go two days a week from 9:30-2:30. I love the fact that they have lunch there because it gives me a chance to meet friends for lunch. It costs $495 a month.

The only thing I don't like about it is that I feel like the pick up a lot of germs there because the rooms are used 8 other times a week for different purposes (church services, bible study, parents night out etc.) That means there could be as many as 80 kids per week in the rooms that my kids are in whith their mouths all over all of the toys.....uggh. It is at a very large church (and it is a wonderful program- people camp out to get in) but they do bring home germs.

Next year I will have them all at in the "early childhood education" part of a private school three school days a week. Classes start at 2yo so my boys will be old enough. I am really ready for three days a week!

Lithgirl · February 2012

We send our 3 year old DD to a MDO/MMO program. The youngest they accept are 2 year olds....she's in the 2-3 year old class. We pay $31 a day - but a "day" is only 3 hours (9am to 12pm). She only goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I WISH we had a full day program for $41 a day - that sounds like a deal!

BTW - send you a PM the other day.

macchiatto · February 2012

Mine go two mornings a week for 3 hrs. It's $90/month per kid but we get a $40 per kid discount.

CJ71903 · February 2012

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. If we ever have another baby, we would look into sending our twins a few days per week too. Great minds think alike.

GeauxTigers82 · February 2012

We pay $295/mo. for my 4 year old's preschool, M/W/F, 9a-2p.

The twins will be starting this fall at 20 months (the program starts at 18 mo, which is typical of the preschools in my area). My oldest also started at the same school, the same age.

Of course, the price is going up for next year, so we will be paying $325 per kid
(no sibling discounts...boo), so that is $975 a month for 3 kids, for a total of 15 hours a week.

I feel like this is a lot for a SAHM, but at the same time, it's worth every penny! I keep telling the teachers I have a calendar with the countdown to Sept. 2012...that's my year! LOL! I can't wait to shop alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

daisybride78 · February 2012

We go to MDO once a week. It is from 9-1 and it costs $42/week for both kids. I'm hoping that starting in September, they will go twice a week. I absolutely love this program and the boys love it too!