Cost of daycare for young families now?

[Katie]

I was stunned when my daughter told me how much daycare is costing her. Then she said that it was a real bargain, that it is usually much more than $800/mo, with two weeks paid vacation, stat holidays and sick days for the caregiver. The news just touched on it tonight, saying that it is costing anywhere from $1000-$1200/per child per month. How can anyone afford to work with that cost??? No wonder families are getting smaller.....

What is it like where you live?

[Cindylou]

We just talked about this at lunch today, of all things, Katie. All 6 of us: my girlfriend, her daughter who brought along her new baby, which is my girlfriend's second granddaughter, too, born just 4 days after my Zanna's birth, my daughter-in-law, myself, and Zanna all met for lunch today at a local restaurant. The 2 babies, both barely 2 weeks old, were absolutely perfect.....sleeping through the entire lunch. But this cost of daycare astounded me too. My friend's daughter says she pays $1200/month for full-time daycare. My kids (grown) have never had to pay daycare prices because for 1) I helped watch Tully her first 2 years, for 2) my other daughter-in-law, who just had Zanna, is going to utilize both of us Grandma's for daycare coverage as well. And we're free! But those daycare prices are just outrageous, aren't they?! CL

[Gilbert P]

Hi

Our day care was so expensive, My wife stopped working and was a stay at home mom for nine years. It was very good for our son to have mom at home.

Gil

[Katie]

Crazy times. My daughter said she basically has no money left at the end of the month, but it helps build a pension, etc. in the long run, plus keeps her fingers in the pie for work when little ones grow up a bit.

I was a stay at homer too, Gil. Even though it was a 'priceless' job back in my day, the benefits of looking after others' children seems to have gotten a lot more lucrative.

[Cindylou]

I think it is wise for your daughter to keep her fingers in the pie at work, so to speak, as you say. I don't know about Canada, but here in the U.S., the really good jobs are far and few between. And I say that as also a stay-at-home Mom for my first two boys. My youngest son was the only one I had to put in daycare, as my husband (ex now) was heading back to school, law school, when I was pregnant with him, and you're not allowed to work your first two years of law school, at least where he was attending. We had moved out to west Texas for him to attend, uprooted the two older boys from their schools with the relocation, and there I was, out pounding on doors, trying to get in the work force, and trying to hide my pregnancy like a 15 year old! I did manage to land a good social service job, but generally low paying. Obviously, the stress of it all proved too much on the marriage so it collapsed. But I found a jewel "the 2nd time around" and hard to believe we have been together for 22 years already! You get a lemon, you make lemonade! CL

[KanRunMo]

My day care for my 3 kids was $400 per month. A wonderful woman and former teacher came to my house to take care of the kids. She also "insisted" on cleaning up the kitchen, folding washed clothes and fixing dinner if I left her some food and instructions. She and her husband shared in a car pool to take my daughter and friend to dancing school. I didn't realize I had it so easy until all the kids were in school and I came home to a dirty house. I did have a good job with benefits so it was worth it to me since I was better at my job than at housework. I did miss my kids but was usually able to take off work for birthdays, school plays and kids sports events. My husband was usually helpful also.

[Cindylou]

Yes, $400 for 3 kids does sound like quite the bargain, doesn't it? And it sounds like you were getting a lot more bang for you buck than just daycare. I'm sure you were extremely thankful to have this good woman. She sounds like a jewel. CL

[Justin]

My day care for my 3 kids was $400 per month. A wonderful woman and former teacher came to my house to take care of the kids. She also "insisted" on cleaning up the kitchen, folding washed clothes and fixing dinner if I left her some food and instructions. She and her husband shared in a car pool to take my daughter and friend to dancing school. I didn't realize I had it so easy until all the kids were in school and I came home to a dirty house. I did have a good job with benefits so it was worth it to me since I was better at my job than at housework. I did miss my kids but was usually able to take off work for birthdays, school plays and kids sports events. My husband was usually helpful also.

How many years ago was this, if you don't mind me asking? $400 is insanely cheap for 3 kids for an entire month.

[KBear]

Here it's about $130-180 a week, depending on the age of the child and the facility. My kids have all done Mother's Day Out before they went to school (Eli will go this fall) and it's Tuesday and Thursday from 9-2 and is $180 a month. It's a nice break to do stuff I can't do with kids or that is easier without kids (or just come home and take a nap! LOL) With my first daughter I had an in home day care when she was born (started it 2 years before having kids). When she was almost 1, I just didn't enjoy it anymore and went to work outside of the home. I did that for 8 months and then became a stay at home mom and got preggo with number 2 baby. For us, when we computed the real cost of working (daycare, gas, wear and tear on vehicle, time spent commuting, work clothing, etc.) it just didn't make sense for me to work. It was like a hundred dollars a week I would actually make after it all and we decided for that price, it was worth it for me to be home. Luckily hubby got a big new contract right around that time, that more than made up for my income. I don't plan on ever working again, I like to be able to volunteer at the school, go on field trips and be home with the baby (plus after school care is almost as much as daycare). It's a sacrifice either way and it comes down to what is best for each family.

[Katie]

I think a lot of the issues with moms staying home full time is that they lose their job skills and get displaced after a long absence with several children. So if they really need the income after the children go to school, it is a significant hardship. They also lose a lot of their gov't pension contributions, even though there are 'credits' up here for staying home, it still doesn't balance out.

I think my daughter would like to work part time, but the extra costs that you described would be the same, so she would lose even more. Thanks to moms like you who are able to stay at home, we have parents who can help at the schools, etc. Those who have to work are usually really thankful that you can take up that slack.

Your child care costs are so much less, Kathy. Are they licensed daycare facilities?

Oh, for the good ol' days.....