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 |  | Average: $611/month |  | High: $300+/week |
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According to the U.S. Department of Labor[1] , there are several types of child day care for youth under five: child care in a child's home; care in an organized child care center; or care in a provider's home, also known as family child care. Older children may participate in before- and after-school programs or private summer school programs.
Typical costs: |
- Assuming full-time day care for a 2 year old child on weekdays, according to Runzheimer International, the U.S. national average cost for full-time day care is $611 a month.
- Large cities such as Boston and New York are most expensive, with average daycare costs of a little more than $1,000 a month. Contacting two KinderCares in the San Jose area about infant day care, we received quotes of $300-$330 a week, plus annual fees.
- Cities like San Antonio, TX, and Jackson, MS, have the lowest average prices, around $350-$400 a month.
Related articles: Nanny, Baby Sitter, Summer Day Camp, Stroller, Diapers
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Discounts: |
- Parents may also qualify for tax credits or an increased tax refund. Visit the National Women's Law Center for more information.
- Many people try to reduce day care costs by asking family members to help out or by splitting the costs for a nanny or a baby sitter with neighbors or nearby friends.
Shopping for child care and day care: |
- BabyCenter[2] suggests talking to other parents about their experiences with local child care centers.
- The Better Business Bureau[3] offers a list of child care centers.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. For medical decisions, always consult your physician for the right course for your infant or child.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
Page 6 of 6 - << Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6
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| Posted by: ba-parent in Sunnyvale, CA. | Posted: September 27th, 2019 02:09AM |
| Provider: Appleseed Montessori | Child's Age: 9 months-5 years |
At our nearby Montessori, the cost starts around $1700-$1800 in the infant room (which has the lowest student:teacher ratio) and gets down to around $1250 a month in the pre-K room. The upsides: we like the program, we visited around 4 to find the one we liked the most. The downsides: even with daycare, sometimes schools are closed and you have to scramble. Kids are finally old enough for public elementary school - yay! Tip: if it's competitive to find a good school in your area and you know you'll need it, start looking BEFORE the baby is born for the most selection. Schools like to schedule openings well in advance, so, say, if they know a child is leaving the infant room in 6 months, they want to line up a child to take that spot 5 months in advance. Crazy, right? |
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| Posted by: Desperately needing answers in Cleveland, OH. | Posted: August 19th, 2019 03:08AM |
| Provider: In home | Child's Age: 7 5 5 4 3 |
I babysit 5 children in my home for 200 a week I provide 95% of the food and I 100% of the time pick them up and 50% of the time drop them off If The parents pick them up I watch them for 10 or more hours a day if I drop them off I have them for 8 it started off at 5 days a week M-F now I’m having to give up one of my weekend days to watch the kids granted this is for a family member but I feel as if I should be making more money than this especially with school about to start up and I’m going to be having that responsibility as well |
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| Posted by: a user in Warner Robins, GA. | Posted: June 20th, 2019 07:06AM |
| Provider: | Child's Age: 8 and 10 |
I watch 2 kids for free from 8 til 5 and was wondering how much I should ask for food money they eat breakfast lunch and snack and drinks all day what is s fair food price. It’s costing me more food, fruit and etc |
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| Posted by: Tia Patito in riverside, CA. | Posted: March 19th, 2019 02:03PM |
| Provider: Myself | Child's Age: 4 months |
I'm taking care of my 4 month old niece at my home. Since my kids are 21, 18 and 13. Getting back to that isn't fun, especially when my kids baby years were a breeze and my niece isn't. (I was lucky). She is 4 months old and a handful. She is paying me $100 weekly. No idea what the going rate is. Is that amount fair? Btw from 7:30 am to 4pm she maybe sleeps 2 hrs if I'm lucky and while she does sleep if I get an inch away from her she wakes up. So, anything that needs to get done at home cleaning, cooking.....SHOWER! Has to be done either before 7:30 am or after 4:15pm Help! |
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| Posted by: Sarah's Dream Camp in Doraville, GA. | Posted: November 29th, 2018 06:11AM |
| Provider: Sarah's Dream Camp | Child's Age: 6Months- 7th graders |
I am a retired teacher. I have a in home daycare. I love Children & love to teach them. It has always been my top love heart and soul to give back. You ask why I retired. The be school had a set format for all Children. Each child learn differently. That's how I teach. I meet the child right where they are. Then take them where they need to be. If you give me that chance you will see a change or a blessed & better him or her from within. |
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| Posted by: a user in Springfield, MO. | Posted: September 13th, 2018 08:09AM |
| Provider: Tanya wool | Child's Age: 6+9 |
I watch a 6 yr old and a 9yr old and curious how much I should be making. I have them for 3 days for over 12 hrs each time and on the 3rd day I have them for close to 24 hrs and I’m only getting paid 50$ a week. Am I being taken advantage of? |
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| Posted by: Quiet Strom in Atlanta, GA. | Posted: August 2nd, 2018 05:08AM |
| Provider: Myself | Child's Age: 4 and 3 months |
I been babysitting for my sister on and off for 3 years when it comes to my 4 year old niece and didn't get paid once and now she had another baby who's 3 months and I just now said to get paid which is $220 a month I watch them from 6am to 6pm sometimes she pick them up late. I work over 78+ hours a week. How much should I be getting paid cause I know $220 ain't cutting it |
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| Posted by: Collins c in Easley, SC. | Posted: July 16th, 2018 04:07AM |
| Provider: | Child's Age: 5 7 |
I am watching my wife's co workers kids not sure what to charge her i am a stay at home dad with a 17 year old daughter , a 14 year old son and a 15 month old daughter also have 6 month old grandchild so i am great with children the kids have 3 meals and snacks while here 5 days a week 10 hours a day when school starts back they will catch the bus here and be dropped off here I will be helping with home work any idea what would be reasonable price |
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| Posted by: Sitter average cost in MONROE, LA. | Posted: March 13th, 2018 08:03AM |
| Provider: In home | Child's Age: 0-5 |
I've lived in 3 stays and to answer ya'lls question the going/fair average is 3$/child/hr and I send all food, drinks, snacks, diaper changing supplies and they don't provide any travel at those rates . I'm a single parent with an average paying job. I have a 2yr old and 4yr old and sometimes get a discount of 2/hr/child. So I believe any less then that and unless it's a favor it's fair. Hope this helps. Coming from the parents side any more then that on an average job wouldn't even be cost effective to go to work. |
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| Posted by: Tina R. in Covina, CA. | Posted: December 13th, 2017 08:12AM |
| Provider: | Child's Age: Infant to toddler |
I charge $800 per month for full time care in my home for up to 10 hrs a day. Part time is $400 per month. Drop ins are $60 a day fullyime and $35 part time. |
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| Posted by: LANIE PIERCE in Texas, TX. | Posted: August 13th, 2017 02:08PM |
I have been asked to keep a 3 yr old who still poops and pees himself 5 days a week 10 plus hours a day. She offered 350 and that's 1.87 an hour. I said 4 an hour is that too much? |
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| Posted by: Exhausted .. in N/A, OH. | Posted: July 10th, 2017 02:07PM |
| Provider: | Child's Age: 18 mos |
I've been watching a little one of a family member since she was about 3 mos old. Our original agreed upon price was $30/day. Now, 15 mos later, I'm still getting the same rate plus $20 a month to cover all food. I have her 40+ hours a week .. that's $1.25/day food allowance. I'm cutting into what I "make" to take care of the little one. I feel like the rate should go up considering the age and the fact that I'm covering all food and snacks. |
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| Posted by: a user in Cincinnati, OH. | Posted: May 1st, 2017 05:05PM |
| Provider: Mel | Child's Age: 1 |
I babysit 18hr a week and get paid 50.00 is that just awful????? |
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| Posted by: LeTia P in lufkin, TX. | Posted: April 19th, 2017 10:04PM |
| Provider: Angels of Joy Home Daycare | Child's Age: 8mo old & 2yr old |
I met this young girl and saw that she needed help with child care. I offered my help not knowing it was going to bite me later. She is a teen mom with 2 kids. She has a foster parent but can't afford to pay but 90.00 A Month!! I keep the kids 4-5days a week. I take them to school pick them up bring them back to my home. Feed bathe comb hair and put into bed. What should I do to get more money? I feel like they ate walking all over my kindness. What should I charge for each child. |
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| Amount: $250.00 per month |
| Posted by: bimal in Kansas, KS. | Posted: February 7th, 2017 05:02PM |
| Provider: Manhattam day care | Child's Age: 2 year |
I provide 3 meals and snack in every school day |
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| Posted by: Dannielle in New Berlin, WI. | Posted: January 5th, 2017 05:01AM |
| Provider: innovation station | Child's Age: 6 weeks - 12 months |
August of 2015 i was a new mom deciding if i would return to working day shift & put my son in childcare or if i'd work night shift while my husband worked dayshift & do w/o childcare.
I searched nearby childcare centers & this one was great because it was within walking distance of my factory job. however 35 hours of childcare per week was going to run me $311/week!! That was a grand total of $1244.00 a month while i only made $1989.00 a month... i hated the idea that more than half of my hard earned paycheck that I normally kiss goodbye on bills would be going towards childcare. Unfortunately it wasn't much different anywhere else.
Obviously i switched over to working 2nd shift & later on switched to 3rd shift. my son is soon to be 17 months old, and my marriage has suffered greatly as well as my health due to the stress of being a opposite shift "single" parent. still married but going days w/o seeing my husband and without a support system puts a strain on us. |
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| Posted by: Catonsville, MD in Catonsville, MD. | Posted: September 6th, 2016 04:09PM |
| Provider: | Child's Age: 16 months |
I provide 10hrs of care for $225 per week. No set hours. Parents can't keep to a schdule. Parents are always late. I do not charge if child does not show. They never give me a heads up. Just don't show.
I provide 3 meals and snacks.
I think I am being taken advantage of. |
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| Posted by: Curious but wants to be Helpful in FREDERICKSBURG, VA. | Posted: August 18th, 2016 06:08PM |
| Provider: | Child's Age: 2 1/2 yr, 5yr |
I am often the go for my friends as a babysitter as I love kids, have every non electronic toy here under the sun, arts & crafts, do parks and museums and try to find fun ways to incorporate learning for my own 3 and 13yr as well as their's. Well my neighbor who I don't know well has asked me if I would do before and after care for her 5yr old, who has once again been kick out his of daycare for bad behavior, and her 2 1/2 yr old who is not fully potty trained. I have never asked anyone to pay me to watch their kiddos but this would be different situation. I would hate to ask some to pay alot so my question to all of you would be what be a appropriate amount for a 7am-6pm 3meals a day not potty trained 2yr as well as before and after care for a troubled 5yr old |
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| Posted by: S.B.N. in Alexandria, VA. | Posted: August 18th, 2016 12:08AM |
| Provider: | Child's Age: 8 months |
We pay 325/week for childcare. Open hours for infants are 7a-4:30p, and you can use up to 9 hours in that span of time each day. Daycare hours are 7a-6p. No food or supplies are included. If your child does not attend for a day or a week, you still pay. If you go on vacation for 1 month, you will get a break on paying for 2 weeks of the month your child is not there. Essentially, you are paying for your spot. One thing I dislike is that although parents do not get monetary credit for time your child is not at school, when your child is not there and the plume of kids is low, teachers start getting sent home early, with no pay. This makes no sense to me since parents pay regardless of attendance in most cases. My child's teacher does an amazing job with her and I feel it is unfair to have an unsteady income based on when my child is out sick or on vacation, especially since I pay for those days. Seems wrong.This daycare was one of the cheaper options near me. Most are $400+/wk. |
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| Posted by: Gram Gram in Richmond, VA. | Posted: June 8th, 2016 02:06PM |
| Provider: grandmother/aunt | Child's Age: 3, 1, 1 |
Ladies,
Childcare is an important duty. Children soak up most basic knowledge, human behavior and social skills in their first 5 years of life. Anyone who provides this care(WELL) deserves so much more than they receive, but to all you grandmas, aunts, friends, etc... who are taking care of those bundles of joy for a loved one-thank you for caring enough to do it for less than you deserve and to all you mothers who have a loved one caring for your bundles of joy-I ENCOURAGE YOU to go online and find out what the average cost of daycare, nannies, etc... is for your area and then THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS that you have family who cares about you and your children enough to care. BELIEVE ME=YOU ARE NOT PAYING ENOUGH and BE SURE AND THANK THEM OFTEN AND APPRECIATE THE PEACE OF MIND!!!!! |
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| Posted by: Alisha Smith in Wichita falls, TX. | Posted: April 28th, 2016 05:04PM |
| Provider: | Child's Age: 2 and 3 |
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| Posted by: Mullarney in Nampa, ID. | Posted: April 20th, 2016 02:04PM |
| Provider: Myself | Child's Age: 4 month old |
Going to be watching a 4 month old, I've done community connections in California but now that we've moved, and I'm not going through a second party for payment. I'm not sure on the price I should be giving. It will be at least 30 hours a week. I know I was asked because daycare is too expensive for the child's family so I don't want to charge too much. |
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| Posted by: Mrs. Stanley in Syracuse, NY. | Posted: April 14th, 2016 06:04AM |
| Provider: Little kings and queens daycare | Child's Age: 9 yr, 7 ur, 1 ur and 10 months |
I provide care for four families. I watch the infants from 7-8 am until 2:30 for the 10 month old and about 5 for the 1 yr old and I charge them 110 per week each. The other two are school age and comes for about an hour in the am and one of them comes after school and both comes during vacation one pays 50 every two weeks and the other pays 65 every two weeks...I feel like I'm getting nowhere and the more I speak to other providers the more I think my prices are way too low! |
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| Posted by: Keisha Lewis in Ocoee, FL. | Posted: March 9th, 2016 03:03PM |
| Provider: Heavenly Touch | Child's Age: 7 months, 2, 2, 3 and 9 |
I charge 60 a week for the toodlers and the 9 year just comes for free with her 2 year old sister. I charged 80 a week for the infant. Should I charge more. The 2 and 3 year old are brothers they come every other week. |
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| Posted by: Janett in Long Beach, CA. | Posted: February 18th, 2016 12:02PM |
| Provider: Myself | Child's Age: 22 month |
Getting 80 dollars a week for watching a 2 year old baby girl from 6am to 5pm feel like I should ask for more but he's a friend and afraid of loosing job because need money.what can I do. .. |
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| Posted by: aplussolo in raleigh, NC. | Posted: November 2nd, 2015 03:11PM |
| Provider: busybodies daycare | Child's Age: 6mo-12years |
I was looking for affordable childcare in the raleigh/durham area and I came across felecha and busy bodies... it was great. Shes a great teacher and the price was right. She sends home these cut-a-grams that tell us exactly what my child has learn for the day. I would call her if I were U. 919-79-2345 |
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External Resources: |
- www.bls.gov/ooh/About/Career-Guide-to-Industries.htm
- www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-find-good-daycare_5924.bc
- www.bbb.org/en/us/category/child-care-centers
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