Daycare provider charging different rates per families

[Anonymous]

I was talking to another parent last night at pickup and the cost of child are came up. She mentioned that she pays x amount for our daycare and was wondering how people can afford three kids etc. The amount she said was almost $400 less than what we are paying the provider. Our kids are the same age. I couldn't believe it. I thought we all paid the same. The daycare only has 8 kids there. Is this normal? I want to confront the provider.

[Anonymous]

$400/month I should add.

[Anonymous]

I'm at a center where people pay different rates. Some have fed preference, some have sibling preference, etc.

[Anonymous]

Are you paying for the same hours? Is the other family's kid a sibling of a child that had been with the provider before? What do you know exactly about the rates/discounts? Or maybe they are better at negotiating than you.

[Anonymous]

Yes we are paying for the same hours. This is an in home daycare, not a center. Our kids are the same age-we both only have one. I didn't know you could negotiate child care and thought we all paid the same. The other family is not related to the daycare provider at all.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's illegal and they can charge differently. Did you sign up at different times? Maybe by the time you signed up the rates had gone up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes we are paying for the same hours. This is an in home daycare, not a center. Our kids are the same age-we both only have one. I didn't know you could negotiate child care and thought we all paid the same. The other family is not related to the daycare provider at all.

She may be getting vouchers.

[Anonymous]

I suspected this at my last inhome daycare but didn't bother to find out due to ruffling feathers. 400 is a big difference.

[Anonymous]

She probably asked as much as she thought you can pay. Talk to her or find another provider. That is a big difference.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's a sliding scale based on income? You have to ask.

[Anonymous]

Daycare providers ( in home) will often time drop rates when necessary to fill up spots. They basically charge what they think they can get and adjust accordingly. Don't hate the players hate the game!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was talking to another parent last night at pickup and the cost of child are came up. She mentioned that she pays x amount for our daycare and was wondering how people can afford three kids etc. The amount she said was almost $400 less than what we are paying the provider. Our kids are the same age. I couldn't believe it. I thought we all paid the same. The daycare only has 8 kids there. Is this normal? I want to confront the provider.

Her rates may have been cheaper at a earlier date, she may give sibling discounts, some may have longer hours/earlier. Doesn't matter she's providing the service, what her contracts are with other parents would only be between them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspected this at my last inhome daycare but didn't bother to find out due to ruffling feathers. 400 is a big difference.

At a home daycare you are paying a lot less to begin with. Look at what center's charge and get away with, quality is lower with too many kids. If there is only 8 your child is getting more personalized care.

[Anonymous]

My old in home provider used to charge based on when you started. So as an example, when my DD started, our rate was $150/week. That was my rate as long as I continuously stayed with her. My rate was kept in place when my second child entered her care.

I know that by the time my second child entered her care, her published rates had increased from the $150/week that was published when I started with my DD.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Again, there are no siblings. We started before them so we should be paying less if that's the case. We pay almost $400 more a month- we are actually paying close to what the center near our house charges.