DC home-based daycare lists?

[Anonymous]

Hello! I'm a first-time expectant parent and we've learned we're having twins! Therefore we're especially concerned about getting more affordable childcare. Can anyone help me find a list or resources for home-based daycare providers? If it makes a difference I'm due June 29 so we will likely need daycare starting next October or November.

I'm also open to nanny shares but I imagine with two infants that may be just as expensive as the larger daycares. (For reference our preferred daycare center would cost $3705 per month for both babies.)

THANK YOU!

[Anonymous]

Here's the DC database of all licensed child care centers, both center and home based:

http://childcareconnections.osse.dc.gov/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello! I'm a first-time expectant parent and we've learned we're having twins! Therefore we're especially concerned about getting more affordable childcare. Can anyone help me find a list or resources for home-based daycare providers? If it makes a difference I'm due June 29 so we will likely need daycare starting next October or November.

I'm also open to nanny shares but I imagine with two infants that may be just as expensive as the larger daycares. (For reference our preferred daycare center would cost $3705 per month for both babies.)

THANK YOU!

Get on a ton of lists now since you will need two spots.

A lot of spots open up in the beginning of September as kids "age out" to go to pre-K or preschools...so Oct/Nov is a little later than ideal for openings. Although you may want to take spots in September and ease them in part-time while you are on leave though that's obviously extra expense.

I doubt you'll find a nannyshare willing to take on two infants--for two infants, you either need a daycare or a full-time nanny of your own.

[sarah1513]

thank you, funny enough I found that just after I posted. I'm also more than open to any recommendations or suggestions!

I'm just feeling very overwhelmed at the cost of this to be honest. (And it's not an option for one of us to stay home because we'd still need more than one salary to get by.)

[Anonymous]

Ask your neighbors. I found asking around with people who lived close to me revealed options for in-home care that I didn't find online.

[sarah1513]

Any advice on whether our own nanny would be cheaper than a daycare center?

I'm trying to identify good places to get on lists now like you suggested. It's hard to a) find places that are b) convenient to either our home or one of our workplaces (I won't be driving but my husband does) and c) within the realm of possibility of affordability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask your neighbors. I found asking around with people who lived close to me revealed options for in-home care that I didn't find online.

Were they licensed?

[Anonymous]

sarah1513 wrote:Any advice on whether our own nanny would be cheaper than a daycare center?

I'm trying to identify good places to get on lists now like you suggested. It's hard to a) find places that are b) convenient to either our home or one of our workplaces (I won't be driving but my husband does) and c) within the realm of possibility of affordability.

Do you drive at all?

Nanny would cost more than daycare center, for sure.

[Anonymous]

Get a nanny. Trust me, you do not want to
Get two newborns ready and out the door and bottles prepared etc.

[Anonymous]

Well, it may be easier to get a nanny but for us it comes down to the cost. It's not feasible if the nanny costs more than daycare--we'll already be spending out of savings to cover everything with the expense of twins.

My husband drives our one car. So in theory he could handle drop off and pick up via car, but we need to have somewhere that I'm able to handle without the car, too.

Does anyone have recommendations where to to get even a rough idea of nanny cost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello! I'm a first-time expectant parent and we've learned we're having twins! Therefore we're especially concerned about getting more affordable childcare. Can anyone help me find a list or resources for home-based daycare providers? If it makes a difference I'm due June 29 so we will likely need daycare starting next October or November.

I'm also open to nanny shares but I imagine with two infants that may be just as expensive as the larger daycares. (For reference our preferred daycare center would cost $3705 per month for both babies.)

THANK YOU!

DC doesn't have many inhome daycares, certainly not in the desirable part of town - due mainly to cost of real estate. I am not aware of any in NW DC. When we lived in Trinidad a few years ago, I saw some signs for childcare in the townhouses but honestly it wasn't the place where I'd want to leave my child.

I sympathize with your problem. I don't think, however, that there is affordable childcare out there for you in DC. Your options are paying top dollar for a nanny (with an associated convenience and benefits) or moving to the burbs where great inhome daycares are plentiful.

For reference, my daughter attended a great inhome daycare in 22043 for $325/week. That's with all meals included, lots of time in the fresh air, own playground etc.

[sarah1513]

Thanks for the reference point about in-home care. There is actually one located just a few blocks from us but unfortunately they will only have one slot opening next fall.

We're not able to afford a nanny it seems and not looking to move, so it looks like we'll be supplementing off savings for a few years given the ridiculous cost of childcare! (If they actually paid most of the staff better I would be less inclined to call it ridiculous.) We've got two waitlist applications in so far and hoping to find another couple places at least.

[Anonymous]

Au pairs seem like the cheapest option for you

[Anonymous]

Are all au pairs live in though? We aren’t able to do that.