Average Daycare costs?

[Katrina]

If you don't mind posting, can you all tell me what you pay for daycare, whether it's in home or a center, how many days a week (Ft/pt) and what you provide (diapers and food vs it being in the center)

I am currently a SAHM but looking to work part time to get back into my field of study. I am not looking to make a ton of money and would volunteer in the field if I could afford it (and will probably end up doing that for a few months to get my feet wet since I am new to the state) anyway... I just started looking into daycare here and was curious to know how it stacked up to the rest of the country/day care centers.

The one place I have talked to so far is
$150/week for full time, which is 3, 4 or 5 days. Doesn't matter if you use 3 or 5 days, its the same cost.

$45/day for part time (2 days a week)

Drop in available for $45 a day once you are registered

$50 registration fee

You supply diapers, wipes, food/formula, change of clothes.

Each baby has their own crib, maximum of 5 babies. They provide crib linen which gets washed every night.

6:30am - 6pm, late fee of 2$ for the first 5 minutes, 2$ a minute each additional minute.

Open Monday- Saturday

Extended hours available if requested at the beginning of the week (like if you know you have a late meeting or something, so long as you call and let them know, they can stay later for you..I wouldn't *think* the late fee charges apply to this)

Christian focused, though that wouldn't really matter for the babies I suppose.

State Licensed, though to be honest I am not familiar with what VA state requirements are.

Ratio of 1/4 babies

Currently a one month waiting list, though they are in the process of opening a new, second facility to accomodate more babies/toddlers.

I plan to drop by when I get a chance to check it out in person.

To be honest, I haven't yet talked to other centers to know how they compare for the area, and I know I want to get a sense of comparison around here.

But overall, I was curious as to know what others are paying, and what you are paying for.

Thanks in advance!

[Nocona]

That sounds reasonable to me. We were paying $170 for full time, M-F. They were open 6am-6pm. For babies you would bring diapers, wipes, diaper cream, bottles, pacifiers, formula (and/or food if they were on solids). They didn't have the option of p/t or drop in care.

[Dennis]

Our center charges $1,100 a month for infants. They provide formula and all the food, we have to bring diapers. They're open 7 to 6 M-F.

Dennis

[Brooke]

The 3 centers we looked at (for a 2-yr old part time) were charging $225-$245 a week for an infant.

For a 2-yr-old, 2 days a week is $80. No drop-in days. Parents supply all food and diapers, etc. Late pick-up fee is a flat $40. Hours are M-F 6:30-6:15.

Edited to add - $60 registration fee and $200 security deposit that's used towards your last 2 weeks at the place, if you give 2 weeks notice. Not refundable if you withdraw your child without notice.

[Darcy]

The one we're at charges $234 for full-time (we use it for 4 days and that's still considered full-time). No drop-ins. We had a $50 registration fee. Hours are 6:45-6:15. We provide diapers, wipes, blankets, pacifiers, bottles, and they provide the crib with sheets washed daily and bibs.

Our ratio is also 4:1 infants to teachers. We're really happy with the daycare, even though Riley's only been there for a week. Her teacher is really involved with her and gives us a progress report after each day. I don't know if that's standard, but it really helps to know when she ate, how much, and how long and when she napped. It prepares me for how she'll be when we get home.

[Dawnie]

When we had Victoria in daycare we paid $180 per week for full time care (M-F ~ 8-5). They were open 6am to 6pm and we provided all her food/bottles for the day. If she was only there part time they charged $4 per hour which is the average price for daycare in my area.

Dawn

[mcox]

When I had my daycare (a center) I charged $85/wk full time for infants and $70/wk full time for 2yrs and up. The parents supplied diapers and wipes and we supplied the food. This is what all daycare centers in my area charge. I guess daycare is really cheap in my area.

[areb]

Our daycare charges $70.00 a week for full time. We supply, diapers, wipes, formula, food, change of clothes.

Ann

[Karri]

When I worked and had Aidan in daycare, we paid $223/wk. When we went down to part time, it was $69/day. They included breakfast, lunch & two snacks/day.

This time, we have him in another center 2 days/wk (their minimum). Its $45/day. Includes lunch & two snacks.

Both places we have to supply diapers, wipes, etc.

[kim]

i have tony in a home daycare. i pay $150 a week which includes all meals.


there is a daycare center in my workplace, it's the Bright Horizons chain and they charge $1100 a month for an infant and you bring everything.

[Nadine]

OK, posting the cost of Israeli day care centers won't do you much good. But let me tell you all that you are so lucky to have centers that are open that long. Here, the regular center for kids aged 6 months -3 years are open from 7am -4 pm. KG is open from 7:30 and some are open until 4:30 pm. That means I have an arrangement from 7:30-4:00 BUT the work day here is 9 hrs a day. How on earth is a working mother supposed to do THAT???
Shoham's place charges 1700 NIS (=$380) per month if the kid was under the age of 1 year and 4 months when the school year starts and 1300NIS (=290$) if they are older than that. The average income here is around 4000 NIS (895$) a month (for 45 hours a week). TG both DH and I make more than that. Someone taking care of your kid at home charges minimum 2000NIS if not even close to 3000 NIS.

[Katrina]

Thank you all for your input! I am amazed at the range of costs for centers. It is insteresting to see what the differences are. In the end, its not the cost that is the factor though...as many of you have said, when you see the right center, you know.

I spoke with another center today and they seem good too. I will be going by both of them this afternoon.

This other center charges $195 for full time (5 days/week, full days) and everything less than that is sorta prorated. For example, 2 full days (say, tuesday and thursday all day) would be $117/week. 3 Full days is $147/week.
You can also go all 5 days, but only 5 hours a day and that is considered part time, and that is $137/week. So there are ranges in there and they are flexible as to determining what schedule you need. Their hourly rate for infants is $8.50 an hour if you go over on part time days, but if you need to change your schedule/days around and know in advance, they can accomodate that instead, too.

They have room for 12 babies but currently only have 4 (and 2 teachers in there right now)

They are a USDA center so they provide Carnation Good Start formula, but if you want to bring in a different kind you can or breastmilk too. They provide all solid foods as well as wipes. You are to provide diapers and a crib sheet that they wash daily.

Overall, both centers sound pretty good. I am sure I will have a more solid choice once I see both centers. Both are close to my house and my husband's office so that is good.

Thanks again for all the information!

[Katrina]

Ok, so I just got back from visiting both centers. You can definitely tell by just walking in how you feel about them!!
The first one, I didn't like. For many reasons, but the primary ones being the fact that they SAY their ratio is 1:4, but there were about 7 kids in the room (both infants and toddlers) and only 1 teacher. 2 kids were in swings and neither were buckled in!! One was only 6 weeks old and sleeping in it while it was swinging... no tray or anything over it..just the baby laying there swinging in the corner of a room, not buckled in!!

I liked the second one a lot. It was very professional and had a lot more staff and a lot less children. They were all great and overall I really liked it. They are also more than willing to take him sporadically on a day here and day there type of basis until I need something more routine, like to go to job interviews or medical appointments or something. They would just work out some daily rate for me for those occaisional days.
Anyway, thanks again for all your help! I feel much better knowing what I am looking for!

[Dennis]

Glad it's working out for you. Regardless of what the center says their ratios are, there are state laws that mandate minimum ratios. The highest I've heard of for infants is 5-1, so if they only had 1 teacher with 7 babies, they're are probably in violation. If you want to be really snarky, you could report them.

Good luck with the second one, if you do decide to go with them.

Dennis

[MaryNH]

In NH, it's $1600 a month for full time care in a center per child.

[Katrina]

Yeah, they were definitely in violation, techinically anyway. The state mandated ratio here is 1:4, and I don't care if they SAY they have that, I want to SEE 2 teachers in there at all times ya know?

SO I had thought we were all but decided on the other center, and my husband visited it with me today, but then on his way back to work, he stopped at another one which he said he liked better and they only have one opening for infants right now. I will be going by later to check it out but the cost would be $150/week for full time care 6:30-6. They don't have part time or drop in care ofr infants, but of course I wouldn't have to take him in all the time.
Paying for full time wasn't exactly what we had in mind, but it would give me more flexibility with my work schedule (when I get a job that is!) and classes I want to take, since I would be paying for all day care, I could use what I needed, when I needed it. And the bottom line is, if we feel better about the care in the second more expensive facility, then that's what really matters. We'll figure out the budgetary stuff later.

We would have to provide diapers, wipes, and food/milk/formula.

So anyway.. we'll see how it goes. I'll go by today once Zack wakes up from his nap.

[kRenee]

So how's the third one look?

I couldn't remember off the top of my head what I paid for infant care, but I looked it up (LOVE Quicken!! ). It was $145 a week, I brought everything.

Now that he's in preschool, it's $447 a month and they supply food. He's out of diapers now, so that's not an issue.

[Katrina]

I thought I posted how it went! Hrmm..

anyway, we really liked the third one. Its a little more expensive because there is no part time option, so we would be paying for care we wouldn;t always be using and its $150 a week. But we have more flexibility with hours and stuff since we would be paying for full time care. We definitely liked the people and the facilities a lot better, so even if we end up paying more, its ok with us for the better facility.
I paid the $40 registration fee, and that holds our spot for 2 weeks. Since I don't actually have a job yet, we are hoping to hold off paying for weekly care until I can pay it and have the need. This was their last infant spot, and we didn't want to lose it.

[Martian Lullaby]

In this area we've been quoted anywhere from $75 - $125 a week, full-time.

[Bev]

Mason is just over two now and he goes to the local Montessori toddler program. They start at 16 months so I don't know what you would do if you had to go back to work when the baby is a year old, as most people do in Canada. Anyway, it is $775 a month (or 193.75/week) and they provide everything but wipes and diapers. When he goes to the next level it is slightly cheaper. There is a 10% discount for siblings. There are two morning snacks, lunch and an afternoon snack. They have a cook on site. There are tons of staff and it is very clean. It is not much more expensive than the two main group daycares in town, but MUCH cleaner and more friendly. Plus it is very close to us and MIL in the event she has to pick him up. I forget what time they open but they close at 6pm. $1/minute late fee.