Affordable Childcare in NW DC (Logan, Dupont, U Street, Shaw, or Downtown)

[Anonymous]

My husband and I live in the U St/Logan Circle neighborhood, he works at Howard (but there are no daycare openings there from what I understand) and I work on NY Ave., downtown. We just cannot afford $350 a week for daycare (there is almost no point in me working at that rate) for our 7 month-old, and I am very unhappy with his current sitter (she feeds him food that she cooks in her house, gives him juices with sugar added and artificial flavors, and has needed 5 days off over the past 60 days) and I have tried to talk to her, but she is a chronic liar and insisted that she did not give my child anything but formula and water on Friday, despite my son's bright red tongue and cherry/rasberry breath.

I do not want to sacrifice my child's safety, health and development because I can't afford a top notch daycare, a nanny, or to be a stay-at-home mom. There have to be resources for people who earn an honest living and live within a budget. Any suggestions or know of any specific providers that would meet my needs?

Thanks DCUMs!!

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I don't have any advice, but I'd love to hear if anyone else does. I'm in the same boat at you and so all I can say is I feel your pain.

[Anonymous]

i'm sorry but in my experience, there is no "affordable" day care in DC unless you're willing to go in-home daycare. if you were a federal employee it *might* be a little easier.

we're getting ready to cough up somewhere between $275 and $320/week come April, and it's going to kill us. however nanny share would be even more unforgiving. now if you're willing to go in-home daycare you might get a better rate. but if you want one of the top-notch NAEYC-accredited daycares, you're going to have to pay $350/month if not more.

Sorry.

[Anonymous]

There have to be resources for people who earn an honest living and live within a budget.

Yes, there should be, but this is DC and there are a zillion parents trying to place their children within an extremely finite amount of spaces. Demand far outstrips supply, thus, an ability to charge outrageous prices. Honest living and living within your means be damned, as least as far as the local daycare providers are concerned. And it's not going to get any better. There could be 8 mile long breadlines and 30% unemployment and there would still be year-long waiting lists and daycare administrators with their hands out for your paycheck.

[Anonymous]

Infant spots are incredibly hard to find in DC; I guess the costs (rent and caretaker ratios) just make it unaffordable. Unfortunately I doubt that you will find a center in the relatively high-priced neighborhoods that interest you that charges less than $1400/month for an infant. Our center just raised its rates after surveying dozens of other local daycares - at $1400 for an infant (I think, my child is a toddler which was raised to $1200 per month) it's still cheaper than almost all the others. Your best bet is in-home daycares. Alternatively can you press harder to find a spot at Howard? They must have some sort of facility, or if not university students - particularly those like Howard with a hospital - are often great sources for sitters.

[Anonymous]

Original poster here-

Yes, we should press harder with HU, but the realism of it is that there are 18 infant slots for the entire hospital and university, total. They give strong preference to single mothers and really, I am two seconds and a waitlist away from picking a fight and getting a divorce just to get him in, lol. Seriously though, I will go up there again and explain the situation, hoping to get an understanding ear.

Also, I am a gov't contractor, and my position has at least a year before it goes Fed, so I cannot use a government daycare . I did look into it, however- that is a very good suggestion for any federal workers out there. We visited one and LOVED it.

As for in-home daycares, I am not opposed at all. We actually went to interview with a lady named Marilyn (another DCUM actually recommended her). She is a $100 a day, though, which is out of our price range entirely, but if anyone reading can afford that and lives in the Columbia Heights area, she is so amazing. She is our dream sitter, really.

If anyone has the name of an affordable home daycare or any resources for finding one, please let me know. We are trying to find someone reputable through our church as well, so for the poster who is in the same boat, I will surely let you know what I find. It is very comforting to know that we are not alone in this predicament.

[Anonymous]

$100 a DAY FOR IN-HOME DAYCARE??? Has that woman lost her MIND?? Do people actually pay that?? For crying out loud that's more expensive than any other daycare I've talked to!! This woman wouldn't be your nanny but a daycare provider??

I know there is a lady named Julie in Adams-Morgan who has an in-home daycare, but I'm not sure about her infant slots. If you comb these boards you can find her postings around.

You should at least get on the lists for the govt daycares ... although you'll be a lower priority since you're not federal (yet), you never know.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Julie charges about $75 a day, if I remember correctly.

[Anonymous]

$100 per day as a partime or full time?
I know her and She is excellent with children, very trustworthy, the children really love her.She charges $100 per day as partime and $350 full time.

[Anonymous]

$75 a day is 1500/month ... still more reasonable than $2000 a month for in-home. for $2000 a month i can send my kid to any daycare in town.

[Anonymous]

for $1500 a month, you could send your child to almost any center in DC. The going rate is about $350/week.

[Anonymous]

Try United Planning Organization. They are a non-profit and have 10 centers all over DC-all are Nationally Acredited. My daughter attended UPO #9 at 825 North Capitol Street, and we were generally happy with the care. Tuition is based on income.

[Anonymous]

I also understand your distress! I am relocating to DC from Dallas and have found all accredited daycares to have waitlists of atleast 2 years (or so they say). Anyone here interested in sharing a nanny to keep costs down, get the socialization factor, and get the care you want? I would love to discuss with you. I have an 9 month old son. Email me at [e-mail] if so! I will be living in the Kalorama area.

[Anonymous]

First Baptist is $1175/mo. Kid's Corner is $1200. Bright Horizons is $1535/mo. We had a great nanny share for $400 week but it went up to $575 when the other family moved and the "share" fell apart.
With kid #2 on the way I am considering becoming a SAHM and getting certified to provide in-home care for one or two other children. Seriously, you have to make bank, have relatives help or move to the burbs to make it with kids in this town!!!

[Anonymous]

Hello my name is Laura Gallego I'm a home child care provider, my rates are $ 250 weekly and I'm located at 5021 8th street NW if you want information about the center you're more than welcome to contact me at 202- 722-0466 or e-mail at [e-mail]. Thank You.