Input please

angels05

I am sure this comes up frequently, but I just want to put some feelers out.  I am thinking of opening a daycare in my home.  It will be a VERY small group.  3 full time and 2 more after school.  I have had my kids in a home setting for a year and a half and the amount of kids there is crazy.  She has 8 full time and 4 more after school.  My kids are always sick and noone gets any attention.  Also, the daycare would be Christian based.  My daughter fell on the sidewalk Monday and the daycare provider didn't even pick her up to hold her she just gave her an icecube and a washcloth.  When I got there she had streaks of tears and my son was hugging her!  She is only 3.  I want someone to love my kids not just observe them.  What I need to know is this, would you be willing to pay more for a smalll setting like I am proposing.  I would ask for $175 - $200 a week (for one child).  Any feedback is welcome.

THANKS!

tmp-9895

I don't know about pricing, but just wanted to say I think it's great that you want to open a responsible & caring daycare. Good luck!

Bratts29

 I think people are willing to pay for private daycare. None of my kids ever went to a public daycare. I stayed home and watched my gf's kids and when I had my last two (twins) my mother was just retiring, so she watches them. My sister has always had her daughter watched by a private daycare that had about 5 other kids and a couple part timers and she couldn't be happier with the relationship she built with the sitter who is now her friend.

 

The problem with public daycare (as opposed to private) is that the teachers/providers change frequently, there are too many kids, it is harder to keep clean and sanitary, more germs around...the list can go on. I am sure there are pros too, and I have a friend who works in a daycare center, she is a very trustworthy, honest, loving person, but it's the few who aren't that worry me.

 

Good luck with your venture!

MrsModica

I'm not sure about the pricing, but I am sure you have to get licensed through the state and carry extra insurance on your home. I had a close friend who's mother ran a daycare out of her home and these were both necessary. Good luck and I find it very admirable that you want to embark on this! Children do need loving care at all times, not just at home.

lisaohgee

I think that's great, and it's definitely what we want to do for our kids.  We are hoping for a little less per week -- maybe $150 -- based on what a "full day" would be considered.  What I mean is someone who has their kids there for 12 hours should be charged more than someone who has the kids there for nine.

Another thing I think you should do is NOT charge people for days their kids don't have to come; either due to sickness, vacation, holidays, etc.  So if you charged $175 a week, if the kids only come Mon-Thurs, charge $140.

 Where do you live?

angels05

I live in the south west corner of Plainfield butting up to Joliet and Shorewood.  I would love to only charge for days that kids actually come, but parents quickly take advantage of that (I did this 4 years ago in Downers Grove).  Pretty soon, the parents are taking as much time off as possible and the provider is not making any money.  If I do this, I will be quitting a full time job bringing home about $600 a week.  Not A LOT of money, but I will be relying on that income.  I have started the licensing procedure and I am also studying to be a post partum doula!  We'll see!

Thanks for the responses!

Gina

KristiKess

I think $175-$200 is very fair, considering most centers charge at least $250. I'd be thrilled to find a place for $175 when I have kids.

Ankea97

I was just on the phone with Illinois Action for Children talking about daycare- they said that for this area, the "average" per week for a day care center is $223 and for a home center is $141- granted, I haven't seen anything close to those dollar amounts in the city- but I thought it might help since you are in the suburbs.

I'm not sure if they also provide help/advice to centers- but you might want to try giving them a call. ??

I'm also a member of NPN- that has also given me a good idea of costs of daycare. ?I don't know if many members are in your area.?

Ankea97

Oh- and according to Illinois Action for Children- most hone daycares can have up to 8 kids (although some are licensed for up to 12 kids)- they are only permitted to have 3 under 24 months old. ?They must have a teachers' assistant who is over 18 years old. ?Still 2 people taking care of 8 kids sounds like a stretch to me. . . .

Brooke&Phil

Hi angels05,

 Send me an email at bcrepasky@hotmail.com.  DH and I are currently in our first trimester, but will need to find a daycare within the year.  We're located in Plainfield and this may work out well for us.

 Thanks!

Brooke

angels05

Brooke - I sent you an email.  CONGRATULATIONS!  What a great time to be pregnant - are you expecting a Halloween baby?

 Gina

steenbean

I think that sounds like a reasonable price, especially for what the parent would be getting. ?Sounds like you are on top of it all, good luck!

angels05

THANKS!!  The more time that passes, the more excited I am about it.  I just really really want it to work out.  I can't decide how to proceed.  Do I advertise specifically for a newborn?   Do I say I am only accepting 2 children?  I can't start until I have both in place and that may be difficult.  I guess I just need to take it one step at a time and go from there.

 

THANKS!!

giapez80

I think that is reasonable, my cousin runs a home daycare in the Joliet/Plainfield area and she charges about that.  I really hope that her daycare isn't the one you were talking about, although I highly doubt it.  She loves all the kids as if they were her own.  I hope it works out for you!