How much do you pay for childcare?

How much do you pay for childcare? Is your child in a day care center, child care home, or does a babysitter come to your house? Do you feel that the price of childcare is relevant to the care your child receives? All answers welcome, I'm a stay at home mom who is thinking about returning to work, and trying to get some ideas on how much childcare costs. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. i put my daughter in a daycare center for a while while i was working, and it cost 90 dollars aweek (it was the cheapest one around) and i think she did really well at the daycare, they watched her and she did alot of good activities for her age. but i dont know. if i had taken her to a higher paid one they could have been better, im not sure. i just liked the one she was going to. and i will take her there again when i get another job or whatever comes up to have the need for one


2. Hi! I think it depends on where you live. I live in a small town, and I pay either $5 an hour for 2 toddlers or $25 for a whole day for 2 toddlers. This is in an unlicensed home day care. I wish I could pay my babysitter more, she is worth much more!


3. I recently returned to work but was very blessed to have a best friend who is a licensed child care provider and she works out of her home.

   I have 3 kids in her childcare. on a bi-weekly payment i pay

   150 for my 18 mon old 100 for my 5 year old and 50 for my 12 year. I feel the price is very good because she offers me discounts.Good luck.



4. The cheapest daycare I have found in my area is $115 a week. The more expensive ones don't seem to offer much more as far as I can tell and I checked a lot of them before choosing one. I think that a smaller center with more personilized care is the most important thing for me.


5. Well, I don't have kids.

   But I am a 'nanny'. I go to their house and take care of their almost 2 year old son, and I get $200 a week. (Right now my job is on hiatus due to family problems, but when I do work that's what they pay.)



6. my son goes to a licensed childcare provider. it is actually a private school that goes from birth to 8th grade. originally it was just pre-k-4th, then added middle schoolers, and then finally the little guys received a wing too. :) i think it is really popular because it is stricly preschool till lunch and then switches to a daycare for the younger children in the afternoon. parents that normally don't have the option of a preschool because they need all daycare now have that chance...

   Anyway, the price is $135 per week plus $150 curriculum fees, and then all the monthly field trips and special things. It is a little high for the area BUT they also get Spanish class two times a week and a ceramics teacher comes every other month, etc.

   I was a stay at home mom after I had my little boy but I know he needed to be away from me some and learn to interact with other children so I took a job teaching at the school SO I get his daycare for $55, which is a help.

   Childcare seems expensive but when you think about what they are doing for your child and how much you are paying them an hour to do it, it really is fairly priced.

   The price should be lower/higher depending on what the facility has to offer.

   Good luck figuring out what is best for you. SD



7. I am a stay at home mom, so my daughter is not in childcare. I was thinking about returning to work and looking at daycares in my area when my daughter was born. They cost $600-1000 per month by me (I live in PA about 30 minutes from Philadelhia). I decided to stay home because I was hesitant about putting her in daycare in the first place, and the cost really was not worth it for me.


8. I pay someone to come in Our home to watch my 16 month old son. I prefer it better that way. he has his own toys and bed... I feel much better doing this..

   I pay her $5/hr..... She is a family friend.. and that is all that she asked for....

   Day care where I live is roughly $150-$200/ WEEK.....I think that is outragous!!!! And they do not take any child under age 5-6 (school age) Part time. That is why I do not put my son in day care. I think that full time is WAY too much for a 16 month old.

   Good Luck!!!!



9. I temporaly hire a nanny when i leave home, the state, or country, it cost me $250-500 a week, but she cooks and cleans, and takes care of my 3 dogs and 2 cats. You can also look in the phone book and search childcare and call up the local ones and ask the price. hope u find one!