Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it ever occur to anyone, as it does to me, that we need a daycare solution from our government more than we need expensive health care reform? These prices are outrageous!

It has never occurred to me because I don't think the government is capable of solving all my problems. Paying $1600 for 4 weeks of childcare only boils down to $10 per hour. That's really not outrageous- trying finding a Saturday night babysitter that will accept less than $10/hour.

+1 from over here

Agreed that these prices are really not outrageous. Have you ever tried taking care of a room full of kids, including changing all their diapers, potty training them, etc.? Daycare providers are saints and deserve every penny they earn!

And I realize the prices in the DC area are probably above average, but it's NOTHING compared to NYC, where I live right now (I'm moving to DC next year so was cruising this site to look for preschools and daycares). We pay $2,250/month for 3 days a week (8am-6pm) for our one year old, plus paying a nanny for the other two days of the week...comes out to about $2,700/month for one baby! And the worst part is, the daycare is literally the ONLY one within 30 blocks that had ANY space. We wanted a place that could take him the full five days, but were out of luck. Baby just turned one, and we are still on waitlists for places that offer 5 days...

Anonymous wrote:I'm at Heritage Learning Center too, we love it there!

Just curious. I can't tell from the web-site. Are the children predominantly special needs or handicapped? The web-site says that it accommodates any children provided the established program meets the individual needs of the children. I can't tell if they mean that it is a program designed for special needs students or if it is a program that takes all children but can accommodate special needs. It's a little out of our way, but the rates are about 2/3 what we pay and for two, an extra $1000 per month is a lot.

$1640 for an infant plus $1260 for a four-year-old in an Arlington center equals $2900/month.

I also think the govt should provide care for kids at younger ages, like the French crèches do. I don't think our child care options have adjusted to the new dual earner reality of so many American families.

Anonymous wrote:Does it ever occur to anyone, as it does to me, that we need a daycare solution from our government more than we need expensive health care reform? These prices are outrageous!

What solution do you propose. There is already a 3000 kid waiting list in Fairfax county, that is to receive subsidized care. The solution is there, but I think most of here are paying ENOUGH for our own kids, and aren't looking forward to the tax hikes that are already coming to pay for these solutions.

We will have two (one toddler, one infant) in a licensed center in Alexandria full-time for just about $2,000/mo starting in January. Making the switch from a center where one was about $1,600/mo full-time.

Toddler in a center in Alexandria. $350/week.

I'm at Heritage Learning Center too, we love it there!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One child, 3 years old, $800/month M-F fulltime (includes meals, music class, and is bilingual). Small licensed daycare center, PG County.

Mind sharing where this daycare is?

I'm the PP you quoted. Heritage Learning Center.

Infant in Gaithersburg--$2000/month; 5 days a week

$1275 for a 3yo in Takoma, DC at a center based facility

Hyattsville, MD. When son was an infant, I paid $1,000/mo. Now that he's in the 1 year room, it's $960/mo

Anonymous wrote:One child, 3 years old, $800/month M-F fulltime (includes meals, music class, and is bilingual). Small licensed daycare center, PG County.

Mind sharing where this daycare is?

22 months, 1500/m in a center, NW DC.

About $1400 for an infant and $1000 for a 4-year old, full-time care with food provided. In Silver Spring

Please. The last thing we need is for the federal government to run one more thing. They can't even balance their budget! If it was run by them you would be paying for it through taxes anyway. Having children is expensive and these caretakers make a lot less an hour than you do. People on a budget should look at home daycare or shared nanny for the first 2-3 years and then move into a preschool for 1-2 years and then go straight to public. It's a lot for 4-5 years, but then it's over.