Daycare Poll?

lawby2005 · August 2009

With TTC on our minds and with a bit of prodding from Liza, I decided to call up for quotes for babysitting and just wanted to see how different/similar our areas are re daycare.

So:

Which daycare option are/will you get for baby? Nanny,Daycare center etc?

How much per month?

Hours of operation?

Near your work or near home?

lawby2005 · August 2009

Which daycare option are/will you get for baby? Nanny,Daycare center etc? Hopefully my mom can come up to assist me for 3-4 months then after that its gonna be a daycare center.

How much per month? It's ranging from $500 - $$650 a month for 6 weeks up to 2year olds...for me thats pricey but when I hear of Manhattan and some other prices I feel lucky!

Hours of operation? 7am - 6pm weekdays mainly with additional hours for additional prices

Near your work or near home? I would prefer the daycare near my home if I had to choose.

dee7972 · August 2009

Boy I'm glad you posted this. I'm curious to see the answers you get back from this. We're TTC so I'm sorry I can't contribute.

hocus · August 2009

lawby2005:

So:

Which daycare option are/will you get for baby? Nanny,Daycare center etc?

There are 3 options. In home care, center and or nanny. There is only one center that takes infants and it isn't open yet. I am not a huge fan of the in home care idea, but we're still reviewing all options.

How much per month?

We don't know the price of the center yet. Their manhattan branch charges 1900 a month which is too much around here. A nanny is $600 a week. We're still looking into in home pricing.

Hours of operation?

We *need* care from 9-5 but I am hoping to find something from 8:00 to 5:30 or 6:00.

Near your work or near home?

Near home.

847Christine · August 2009

I have been home w/Evie since she was born, but will be putting her in a daycare center right around the time she turns a year old. I'm not sure what the rates would have been for an infant, but for her as an "early toddler" it will be ~ $1500/month. The center's hours are 7am to 6pm, but they also have parent's nights out on weekends for extra if we want to go on a date, etc. The center we are starting out with is close, but its sister location is literally 2 - 3 blocks away from our apartment & we hope to eventually have her moved there so that DH can take her (he goes in later) & it will still be easy for me to pick her up. Both locations are near enough & since I have a car it should be no problem.

Glad to hear you may be TTC soon!!! GL!

dnagal · August 2009

We use a daycare center. It's part of a small family owned chain (3 centers, all local) I wanted a center because of the extra "accountability" of increased state oversight and a regular flow of parents in and out at all times.

It's $1465/month now, the rates go down as kids get older, because the student:teacher ratio goes up (at 18 months and at 3 years-I think) I think newborns are about $1545.

They are open from 7-6:30, but the rate I pay is for a 9 hr day (9-6) It's a little extra for extra hours.

It's about 10 minutes from home and about 12 minutes from work.

I absolutely love it. She's been thriving there since she started and is well loved by her teachers. When we're ready for #2, we'll do the same.

dnagal · August 2009

Oh, and I'm in Westchester. I visited 4 centers before deciding. The prices ranged from $1400-$1900. I was a little freaked out by the "national chain" (Bright Horizons) concept, although the center was nice, the huge chain thing was a little intimidating and impersonal to me. At another place, the director STANK of cigarettes, so my mind was made up within 10 seconds of touring the place. At the one I chose, the director is roughly my age, well educated and I really connected with her. I loved the abundance of windows (both to the hallways for observation as well as to the outside) and outside time (weather permitting) for all kids, even the tiniest of babies (another center only had outside time for todders and up) I also loved that although the law requires two teachers per class , they usually have three.

By law:

Age Range	Ratio For Center-based Care
6 wks. - 1-1/2 year	(1:4)
1? year - 3 years	(1:4) or (1:5)
3 years	(1:6) or (1:7)
4 years	(1:7) or (1:8)
5 years	(1:8) or (1:9)
6 - 10 years	(1:10)
10 - 12 years	(1:15)

Check this website for NY policies and resources:http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/childcare/daycare_regs.asp

It includes a parents guide for choosing daycare.

another useful website: http://www.daycare.com/newyork/

lawby2005 · August 2009

thanks guys for the feedback. Dnagal, I like the idea of visiting those places. I will definitely do that to give me a better idea of the place.

phreerose · August 2009

and this is why I will never be able to afford kids or a house. Crying

lawby2005 · August 2009

Awh phreerose...you are breaking my heart over here. Maybe we will have to open our own daycare? Coz I think $500 a month for daycare is pricey (well for my budget anyway) but I know in your area and other areas, it is like 3 to 4 times the amount. You should have a house and/or baby, if you really want one (them). It might just require more frugal budgeting? I don't know. Sad

Trust me DH and I don't make much at all (I consider our household income in the po' (not just poor but po') range] but he says I am the queen of budgeting and that's how we have survived.

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