eIn Home Care Vs. Day Care

J.--

I paid $9 an hour for one child, many years ago, in my home. Then I paid more than that for two children, in my home. I never did day care outside the house, but I did do half day preschool at some point, and it was not cheap.

You need to do what works best for you, but I would think twice before leaving my children in the care of someone whose only toys for a 2 year old and a 4 year old are from a dollar store. Is she going to sit your kids in front of a TV all day? Would you want that? (I never allowed TV when I had childcare...other than for the sitter herself if my children were asleep.)

You can go to yard sales and pick up toys your kids like, and bring them to the sitter's.

You say she has 10 years experience, but what age was she sitting for? How can she not have appropriate toys in the home? Also, if she is an experienced sitter, how can she think that the junk from dollar stores would be sufficient and appropriate for these children?

Being a working mom and dealing with childcare is a struggle. I know how difficult it is to find quality care, especially for part-time hours, but before you jump into this, I would make sure this is what you really want and need.

(Over the summer, you may be able to do well with a college student in the home, giving you more time to find appropriate care.)

It does cost more because a daycare can take on more kids per provider, so they make more per hour. $9 is a small amount when you consider she has to purchase health insurance for herself. If you can't afford it, use a daycare center.

I think that $9 is too little. I pay $10 per hour for babysitting, and a lot of that is just sitting and watching TV. Personally, after 10 yrs of experience, $9 an hour wouldn't cut it for me. I would want to make sure that they are happy so that they don't up and leave when they get a better offer.

When we had in-home day care, we paid her the same amount we would have paid a Day Care facility to watch our newborn son ($235/week).

Last year, we had one in an infant room and one in a toddler room at a day care facility, and at our peak, it cost $415/week. Our end of year statement (which included 2 free weeks and 12 weeks at part-time) was $19,870 - at $9/hr, you're offering her the equivalent of ~$18K/year if it was full time.

This is not a fancy day care - this is just the going rate in our local area.

My friend had her kids in in-home day care until recently when she wanted more structure. She paid $25/day but was unhappy with the extra commute, lack of instruction, etc.

I hope this is somewhat helpful. It's so hard to know what to do - has she provided any guidance?

I have an inhome childcare. I charge $25/day/per child for full time (8 hour day but anything over 4 hours is considered full time). I provide snacks/lunch , potty train....the kids I watch go anywhere that my kids go to (Parks/playgroups/playgrounds) I surely hope that she would do more than just take them to the playground for that price. But you are up north so I guess everything is more expensive there. Also everyone here that I know offers discounts for siblings.

I am starting my daughter in daycare this summer and I am paying $275 a week for full time care. In my research I have found that in home childcare typically costs less (closer to $200 a week for full time care).

I guess the key is, how many kids will she be watching? If it's just your two girls, it's probably accurate. When I was in college I was a full time nanny for 2 girls and got paid $300 a week, and that was 9 years ago.

my babysitter charges $20 a day if it is a full day and $10 for a half day. She also has a child who is my son's age. She watches other children also.
She feeds him and I do not have to do anything but provide diapers and a change of clothes in case of any accident. Any person I worked with charged $25 a day for her daughter. If you took the kids to day care it would cost you $368.00 according to your calculations. The problem with the day care is they have you under a contract and if the kids are sick you will have to leave work to pick them up whereas you would have a little more leeway with someone watching them at home. At least she is willing to go and get them some toys at the dollar store. May be bring some extra things you have over to her house. Bottom line is to outweigh the good and the bad with day care vs someone who can provide your children more personalized attention and who has a lot of experience.

No, $9/hr is not too much. If this lady is spending one on one care, as in like a nanny, then they should be actually paid more. If it's not in your home, but in her's, then I would think she'd charge you a set amount per day, like $40/$50/day seems about fair, but I live in Texas, so rates may vary differently. When I was doing in-home childcare, I charged $125/week for full time care, which was about $50 less a week than traditional daycare.