Our local daycare keeps the price the same $380
Because the kids still wears diapers when they're 2 or 3 sometimes and they get heavy

I'm grateful our provider helped wit potty training and now our first son is doing well with his prek. He went there when he was close to 4 years old

We had 2 kids in Bright Horizons at the same time (ouch!) and had a positive experience. I think you get what you pay for in terms of a daycare setting that is accredited (our location, at least), reliably open/available, and a positive and safe environment. Back when there were less options for workplace flexibilities, being open to coincide with the federal holidays (and the general workday) was very important. If someone called out sick, it wasn't up to me to figure out what to do, the center had to adjust and handle to provide the service I was paying for. Personally, I wasn't up for managing a nanny or au pair, and found the daycare setting to be what worked best.

I feel your sticker shock - we had the same!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just starting to get on waitlists and wow, I am floored. The Bright Horizons near us is $3300/mo for infant daycare. Is that really the going rate? I had anticipated closer to $2500. We are in Arlington.

And they only get more expensive as they age

Not really. Daycare prices decrease from infant to toddler to preschool.

Anonymous wrote:Look at some other places. Bright Horizons is known for higher prices. We pay $2700 for an infant at a non-profit daycare in upper NW.

This. Because Bright Horizons is a chain, people recognize the name and they charge insane prices. It’s always been $400-700 more than other places.

Find an in home. Those are by far the most economical, but sometimes the hours are tighter.

Anonymous wrote:Just starting to get on waitlists and wow, I am floored. The Bright Horizons near us is $3300/mo for infant daycare. Is that really the going rate? I had anticipated closer to $2500. We are in Arlington.

And they only get more expensive as they age

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For this price , nanny share in your home where the baby sleeps in her own crib in her own home, is the best. Agencies have nanny share options and you will never regret. It is a great option - very much like staying home with your baby, especially if you WFH.

I definitely know people who have regrets or switched to daycare after using nannies or nanny shares. Everyone's situation and preferences are different.

+1. It can be hard to agree on everything with the other family.

How long are the waitlists, BTW?

Anonymous wrote:For this price , nanny share in your home where the baby sleeps in her own crib in her own home, is the best. Agencies have nanny share options and you will never regret. It is a great option - very much like staying home with your baby, especially if you WFH.

I definitely know people who have regrets or switched to daycare after using nannies or nanny shares. Everyone's situation and preferences are different.

For this price , nanny share in your home where the baby sleeps in her own crib in her own home, is the best. Agencies have nanny share options and you will never regret. It is a great option - very much like staying home with your baby, especially if you WFH.

Nanny share split 2 ways was about 3,000 each in 2020/21 once you factor in taxes, payroll services, and mandatory overtime. I think you can pay less for daycare (the big chains tend to have higher prices). I find a small, quality daycare to be so much easier than nanny share.

Look for home daycares as well as centers located in public schools or churches.

Where in Arlington. Granted we live on the poorer side in south Arlington but we pay $800 every two weeks for an amazing in home.

Look at some other places. Bright Horizons is known for higher prices. We pay $2700 for an infant at a non-profit daycare in upper NW.

hire someone to come into your home. Nanny share etc Don't pay those crazy prices

Just starting to get on waitlists and wow, I am floored. The Bright Horizons near us is $3300/mo for infant daycare. Is that really the going rate? I had anticipated closer to $2500. We are in Arlington.