how much do you pay for preschool/daycare?

[Anonymous]

Downtown DC center in federal building
Almost four-year-old
$320/week

[Anonymous]

Full time year round preschool with aftercare for 2 year old: $26K/year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Location: Springfield, VA

DC #1 Age: 4 yo, all day Preschool, open 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., about $1,050/month

DC #2: 2 yo, Center, open 6:45 a.m. - 6 p.m., $276/week

Previously DC #2 was in a state-licensed Home, open 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., $260/week

What preschool are you using? That's much lower than priced than the few I looked into before giving up and resorting to another year of daycare!

[Anonymous]

All of these comments seem much lower than what I am seeing, after touring ~10 daycares the last few weeks in NW DC. They all ranged $450 - $600 per week. Even the in-home daycare we looked at was $500 per week.

Do you ever try to negotiate the rate for in-home or just take what you can get? I thought $500/week was very high especially since it doesn't include diapers or any food, which a lot of the centers include in their price. But I guess there is enough competition out there so they can charge what they want

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of these comments seem much lower than what I am seeing, after touring ~10 daycares the last few weeks in NW DC. They all ranged $450 - $600 per week. Even the in-home daycare we looked at was $500 per week.

Do you ever try to negotiate the rate for in-home or just take what you can get? I thought $500/week was very high especially since it doesn't include diapers or any food, which a lot of the centers include in their price. But I guess there is enough competition out there so they can charge what they want

I don't know of ANY centers that include wipes or diapers. I think both of these items are pretty much always provided by the parents.

[Anonymous]

My four year old is doing 4 afternoons a week 12-3 at a small coop preschool-$375 per month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Location: Springfield, VA

DC #1 Age: 4 yo, all day Preschool, open 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., about $1,050/month

DC #2: 2 yo, Center, open 6:45 a.m. - 6 p.m., $276/week

Previously DC #2 was in a state-licensed Home, open 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., $260/week

Wouldn't it be easier to have them both at the same daycare center?

[Anonymous]

Crystal city
Non-chain center
$1850 for 9 hours/day, infant

[Anonymous]

3yo
Fed center in DC
8-630
$1100 a month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of these comments seem much lower than what I am seeing, after touring ~10 daycares the last few weeks in NW DC. They all ranged $450 - $600 per week. Even the in-home daycare we looked at was $500 per week.

Do you ever try to negotiate the rate for in-home or just take what you can get? I thought $500/week was very high especially since it doesn't include diapers or any food, which a lot of the centers include in their price. But I guess there is enough competition out there so they can charge what they want

I don't know of ANY centers that include wipes or diapers. I think both of these items are pretty much always provided by the parents.

Wow! That's very high.

Also, I have never heard of any day cares (center or in home) that provide diapers or wipes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12 month old
Rockville
Center
1800

Can you share location?

[Anonymous]

1.5 year old
Fairfax
Chain Center
5 days a week (food is included...not an option not to)
$368/week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12 month old
Rockville
Center
1800

Can you share location?

Sure, MCCA Park Street. We've been there since January and it's been wonderful so far.

[Anonymous]

MCCA park street has a long waiting list the last time I checked. Is $1800 full time 5 days a week? If so, the cost is slightly lower than the other centers in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

At first, we did this.

Child 1
Montessori school
$1350
Old Town Alexandria
8-6

Child 2
Infant/toddler
Center
Old town Alexandria
$1600
7-6

But now, they are together so we pay $2560 for both kids to attend the Montessori school. I am thrilled with their care, the kids love it, and even though I don't make a ton of money (60K), I am able to fully fund my 401k with match, put 800 away a month for their college funds, and carry our health insurance (DH's insurance is terrible). That's why I was able to keep working. I feel like I found a diamond in the rough in terms of affordable childcare.