What would you pay for quality childcare?

My wife is going to start providing childcare for an 18 month old and an infant. We are in the state of Colorado. What would you pay for quality daycare if your income is that of a teacher in this state?

Public Comments

1. Yeah. It ensures that your kids are being taking care of in my opinion.


2. I tried putting my kid into daycare. Ten bucks a day per child. Bad mistake. That daycare put my kid in front of the tv and gave him violent video games. He comes home and tells me that's ALL he did for the couple of hours.

   All daycares will do that if you pay ten bucks a day. Unfortunately, not a lot of people can even afford more than that. So, you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either charge cheap and treat the kids cheap, or charge high and no one will come.



3. Depends on the qualifications and certifications of the provider. Is she licensed to have a home daycare and is able to be tracked and monitored? Does she have a criminal history registry number proving she hasn't committed any offense against children? Does she have a food handlers card and is she trained in first aid and CPR/Infant CPR? What is going to be offered during the day? How long are the hours and what days each week? Are parents providing food, diapers, other supplies? Parents will ask those questions (or they should) and your answers will help them decide if your rates are reasonable. She will need to pay taxes on income received from the business. I would look at other similar daycares in your area and request rates (say you are looking for childcare yourselves) and ask about their numbers. That will give you and idea about what is reasonable and working for others, then decide your rates based on that.


4. You have to pay well, to receive good care. $10 a day? I have never ever heard of such craziness. That is less than $2 an hour.

   I have no idea what teachers make in Colorado. I can tell you about in home child are where I live though.

   Most in home care I am aware of is about $40,00 a day per child.. You have to charge over time for lateness too. You can decide your own rate but I have heard some charge $1 for every minute late. This is to make sure they don't get stuck with kids there late every day. :) Child Care Centres do this also.

   Not going to make a fortune even on that rate unless you have more than 2 children in care.

   Still, for parents it is a better deal than child care centres where infants run about $1200.00 per month for care.

   Don't let your wife sell herself short. It is a huge amount of work looking after two babes. Especially if you have some of your own.

   If you can't get a fair rate, find someone else.

   Good Luck



5. 14% of the parent's income. they get to claim it on their taxes too.