daycare.. how much do you pay?

[Anonymous]

Is anyone getting child care vouchers? How much do they help, how difficult is it to get one?

[Anonymous]

$380/week
3 year old
NWDC

Chose because: Sort of conveniently located, bilingual, includes healthy meals, values diversity, caring staff, and guarantees a free PK3 spot bc they participate in universal PK program. Looking forward to next year’s tuition!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone getting child care vouchers? How much do they help, how difficult is it to get one?

I get childcare vouchers. They were not difficult to get and they help dramatically. Our childcare cost is 1600 for two kids. (Cheap I know, but it’s in pg county and it’s actually great). Out of pocket, we pay 600 for both kids. Vouchers cover 1k. That amount can go up and down depending on the money the state is issued but it’s usually by 100 bucks. Our vouchers are issued from Montgomery county because that is where we live although the daycare is in pg county. All you have to do is fill out paper work. There are no in office or home visits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone getting child care vouchers? How much do they help, how difficult is it to get one?

I get childcare vouchers. They were not difficult to get and they help dramatically. Our childcare cost is 1600 for two kids. (Cheap I know, but it’s in pg county and it’s actually great). Out of pocket, we pay 600 for both kids. Vouchers cover 1k. That amount can go up and down depending on the money the state is issued but it’s usually by 100 bucks. Our vouchers are issued from Montgomery county because that is where we live although the daycare is in pg county. All you have to do is fill out paper work. There are no in office or home visits.

What are the income limits? Does it depend on how many kids you have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone getting child care vouchers? How much do they help, how difficult is it to get one?

I get childcare vouchers. They were not difficult to get and they help dramatically. Our childcare cost is 1600 for two kids. (Cheap I know, but it’s in pg county and it’s actually great). Out of pocket, we pay 600 for both kids. Vouchers cover 1k. That amount can go up and down depending on the money the state is issued but it’s usually by 100 bucks. Our vouchers are issued from Montgomery county because that is where we live although the daycare is in pg county. All you have to do is fill out paper work. There are no in office or home visits.

What are the income limits? Does it depend on how many kids you have?

You will get issued a voucher for each child that needs care. Even children that need before and after care. I do not recall the exact income limit (but it is online).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Small center EOTP DC
$1700/month

Chose it due to location (close to home) and warmth and caring attitudes of director and staff, as well as recommendations from other parents in my neighborhood. Didn’t know enough to ask about things like teacher turnover with my first child, but we have stayed and sent our next two children there as well. Been there for five years, only two teachers have left in that whole time. It is truly like a family (that I pay a lot of money each month).

My middle child had a medical emergency while at daycare and I believe the teachers there saved her life. I am enternally grateful.

Would you mind sharing which center this is?

[Anonymous]

$275/week for in-home for 14 month old. Will move to preschool like setting around 2.5. Falls church.

Chose for warmth, consistent two caregivers, ratio, price (we live in Arlington and this is the lowest I’ve found), not in a basement and instead has lots of light and space, big outdoor areas and lots of outdoor time, happy parents who all are sending their second child there. Also it felt really calm, the caregivers calm nature and confidence really transfers to the kids. It wasn’t busy busy like some places I went which is fine in older years,, but I liked the calm for these early years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In homes for infants in DC can be that high because of the low staff/baby ratio

Or they choose to keep a ratio that is lower than required and use it as a selling point, and they choose to keep kids in small groups that are close in age rather than mixed age.

My kid is in an inhome arrangement where we are getting the same ratios as a nannyshare, plus we get the extra added benefit of licensing/oversight and a structured curriculum, menus, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In homes for infants in DC can be that high because of the low staff/baby ratio

Or they choose to keep a ratio that is lower than required and use it as a selling point, and they choose to keep kids in small groups that are close in age rather than mixed age.

My kid is in an inhome arrangement where we are getting the same ratios as a nannyshare, plus we get the extra added benefit of licensing/oversight and a structured curriculum, menus, etc.

What's the ratio in DC? In Maryland it's 2 infants. $500 seems very high, but I wish I could charge those prices!

[Anonymous]

Last year - In home for 1yr old was $430/week. Close to my house, loving caretaker with a small group of kids also from the neighborhood.

This year - church based full day care / preschool
4yr old - $1250/mo
2yr old - $1400/mo

Close to home, kids love it, tons of outdoor space and special curriculum like Spanish, Art, Music once a week. Much better than the large center where we were paying $4400 for a 2yr old and an infant. We’re not religious, but I don’t mind my kids learning about Jesus to save over $1000/mo.

[Anonymous]

$1990/month
2.5 year old
NW DC

Loving teachers, Spanish immersion, tons of outdoor time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In homes for infants in DC can be that high because of the low staff/baby ratio

Or they choose to keep a ratio that is lower than required and use it as a selling point, and they choose to keep kids in small groups that are close in age rather than mixed age.

My kid is in an inhome arrangement where we are getting the same ratios as a nannyshare, plus we get the extra added benefit of licensing/oversight and a structured curriculum, menus, etc.

+1

I love my in-home child development home for these reasons

[Anonymous]

$1580/month
3 yo
Upper NW DC

Younger ages were much more expensive. Only when he moved to the preschool room did the rate go down. It was close to $2k for 2 yos and 1 yos, more for infants. We chose it because it’s convenient to our other child’s school and low teacher turnover. The space leaves a lot to be desired, but the staff is great, my kid is happy, the preschool program really takes advantage of the area, zoo trips, museum visits, all the local playgrounds, etc.

[Anonymous]

$2490/month
Infant
Center
Bethesda

[Anonymous]

$600/week