Anonymous wrote:21:12 Our child is at A Childs Place in Fairfax

This place has a 1 yr wait list - we're on it My Mom is going to fill in for the few months after I go back to work and before I can get an infant spot. She's outta town, so that means my retired parents will live with us for a few months. The other center nearby that we considered charges a similar amount has an even longer wait list, and isn't adding to it. UGH!

I'm the 15:31 poster.
16:08 poster, thank you for sharing your experience.
2months!! and 1year!! My eyes are wide open now.

And, 01:08 poster, thank you for your email.
I sent my reply.
Again, thank you all for sharing info/stories.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if last poster is reading this thread, but I am gonna try my luck.

I'd be interested in your home daycare program and wondering if you could share some information with me.
I am expecting my first child this summer.
Is it possible to shoot me an email when you have time?
movesale03@@@gmail.com
(please remove extra @)
Thank you.

Hi, i do read the boards and I sent you an email.

Im the 16:08 poster. It took me 2 months to find a good infant daycare provider. It has taken me a year to find a good preschool.

I'm the 15:31 poster.
Thank you for your tip.
I understand the range you mentioned above is the average in this area.

I am just overwhelmed by this "daycare searh" these days even way before my baby is born. :-O

Hoping to find a good care provider, that is all.

There are plenty of home daycares that charge between $200 and $300 per week for daycare. I'm not sure if you will find anything under $200 per week. Definitely go this option if you need to save money. Many preschools are also outrageous with their fees, but this is when you'll be pickier about your daycare facility.

Not sure if last poster is reading this thread, but I am gonna try my luck.

I'd be interested in your home daycare program and wondering if you could share some information with me.
I am expecting my first child this summer.
Is it possible to shoot me an email when you have time?
movesale03@@@gmail.com
(please remove extra @)
Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:

How do single mothers do it, or people on a lower income? Thanks.

There are assistance programs, like a PP mentioned. But there is also a large dependence on unlicensed care, relatives, and ad hoc care. The lack of reliable, affordable child care is a major reason why many low income women are unable to get out of poverty.

Big reliance I have seen is family caring for kids, as well as parents alternating work schedules which cuts down on daycare needs.

I have been a provider for close to 30 years. Others directly in my neighborhood charge $250+, while I have heard even higher just outside the perimeter of where I am located ($300+). I just have never chosen to charge those higher prices, esp when you are faced with a single parent. While i do not have a preschool program in place, the kids are still learning, having fun and overall, safe from harm while their parents work. My overall goal was to be able to provide that safe environment at an affordable cost as well as enabling me to stay home with my kids. I love my job, esp when I hear the parents and family complain of the traffic getting to and from work!!

Anonymous wrote:

How do single mothers do it, or people on a lower income? Thanks.

There are assistance programs, like a PP mentioned. But there is also a large dependence on unlicensed care, relatives, and ad hoc care. The lack of reliable, affordable child care is a major reason why many low income women are unable to get out of poverty.

Many low and lower income people rely on informal child care arrangements, i.e. the granny next door, a SAHM willing to look after a couple of kids, etc. Usually they are completely unlicensed arrangements, but they are not necessarily bad or unsafe. Not necessarily what is thought of as "high-quality" either, but many, many children are looked after in these babysitter-type arrangements and do fine. These will be much less than $1K per month you will spend on licensed, inspected home daycares.