child care crisis in DC - thoughts?

[Anonymous]

No comments on any boards on this WTOP series? I think we all know this and are living it! I knew that prices were high for day care (and limited options especially for infants in MD) - so that's why we ended up with a nanny. I feel lucky that we can afford one, I know it is so hard to find quality care. Even for those that can afford a nanny -- getting quality care is still tough. This is one place where you don't want to cut corners (looking at you MBs who pay $12-15/hr).

We should do better in the DC area - such high educated workers, etc. deserve more! Look at places like Raleigh and others where COL is lower and there are many more child care options.

http://wtop.com/parenting/2017/02/child-care-in-dc-region-it-really-isnt-working-for-anybody/
http://wtop.com/parenting/2017/02/child-care-shortage-baby-boom-operating-costs-lead-to-waiting-lists/
http://wtop.com/parenting/2017/02/more-than-college-tuition-we-have-a-child-care-crisis-in-this-country/
http://wtop.com/parenting/2017/02/not-just-a-safe-place-why-quality-child-care-matters/
http://wtop.com/parenting/2017/02/good-for-business-investing-in-child-care-pays-off-in-the-end/

And how crazy that Badger balm lets you bring your child to work! That would stress me out hah.

[Anonymous]

My thought is that it isn't just DC.

[Anonymous]

it isn't just DC. I am a Northern VA transplant to the Shenandoah Valley and quality childcare is difficult to find. There's really only a few places that accept infants that are high quality and they seem to be always filled up and there are huge wait lists. For example, I got on the waitlist when I was 4 months pregnant for the daycare literally up the street from me (1 minute drive) and I am STILL waiting to hear back to see if my child will get into the 2 year old room...he's 20 months today. There are tons of 'in-home daycares' that are mostly unlicensed and questionable. The only ones with availabilities that I found charged $75-$100 a week and had way too many kids in too small a space with too few caregivers and had the tv on most of the day. I'm now on in a nanny-share but basically no one wants to do that.

I spoke with our nanny about this last night. There is a small percentage of parents who genuinely care about quality care and but nannies are not popular. The concept of setting up an equitable situation between families and the childcare provider so that everyone's needs are met is considered bizarre. Another Mom just told me last night that she doesn't think any other Mom is going to be willing to pay 1 week paid vacation or any paid sick leave. No one wants to pay and so most of the time, the great providers leave. I'm left desperately trying to piece together childcare to enable my child's needs are met through childcare and preschool and my nannies needs are met. It's a huge struggle! So DC is not alone though in parents struggling with childcare but the actual struggle is a little different.

[Anonymous]

Nobody forced you to have children and you should know that you will need child care or you will need to stay home and take care of your child. Child care givers also deserve to make a decent living and $10/hr is not a livable wage. $15/hr should be minimum for each child.

Do not live above your means whether this means a house, car, or child that you cannot afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody forced you to have children and you should know that you will need child care or you will need to stay home and take care of your child. Child care givers also deserve to make a decent living and $10/hr is not a livable wage. $15/hr should be minimum for each child.

Do not live above your means whether this means a house, car, or child that you cannot afford.

$15 for each child?! if that was truly the going rate women would start staying home with their children. I realize there are plenty of high earners in the area but the average is around $85k. At $30/hr and 45 or 50 hours a week, plus employmer taxes, it would cost me money to work outside the home! I'm not loosing money AND missing out on quality time with my children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it isn't just DC. I am a Northern VA transplant to the Shenandoah Valley and quality childcare is difficult to find. There's really only a few places that accept infants that are high quality and they seem to be always filled up and there are huge wait lists. For example, I got on the waitlist when I was 4 months pregnant for the daycare literally up the street from me (1 minute drive) and I am STILL waiting to hear back to see if my child will get into the 2 year old room...he's 20 months today. There are tons of 'in-home daycares' that are mostly unlicensed and questionable. The only ones with availabilities that I found charged $75-$100 a week and had way too many kids in too small a space with too few caregivers and had the tv on most of the day. I'm now on in a nanny-share but basically no one wants to do that.

I spoke with our nanny about this last night. There is a small percentage of parents who genuinely care about quality care and but nannies are not popular. The concept of setting up an equitable situation between families and the childcare provider so that everyone's needs are met is considered bizarre. Another Mom just told me last night that she doesn't think any other Mom is going to be willing to pay 1 week paid vacation or any paid sick leave. No one wants to pay and so most of the time, the great providers leave. I'm left desperately trying to piece together childcare to enable my child's needs are met through childcare and preschool and my nannies needs are met. It's a huge struggle! So DC is not alone though in parents struggling with childcare but the actual struggle is a little different.

Bizarre? Try impossible. There is a small percentage of parents who can afford nanny care. Period. They aren't willing to offer benefits because they can't afford the salary in the first place. They need affordable, quality, group care, and we need to subsidize it with tax dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it isn't just DC. I am a Northern VA transplant to the Shenandoah Valley and quality childcare is difficult to find. There's really only a few places that accept infants that are high quality and they seem to be always filled up and there are huge wait lists. For example, I got on the waitlist when I was 4 months pregnant for the daycare literally up the street from me (1 minute drive) and I am STILL waiting to hear back to see if my child will get into the 2 year old room...he's 20 months today. There are tons of 'in-home daycares' that are mostly unlicensed and questionable. The only ones with availabilities that I found charged $75-$100 a week and had way too many kids in too small a space with too few caregivers and had the tv on most of the day. I'm now on in a nanny-share but basically no one wants to do that.

I spoke with our nanny about this last night. There is a small percentage of parents who genuinely care about quality care and but nannies are not popular. The concept of setting up an equitable situation between families and the childcare provider so that everyone's needs are met is considered bizarre. Another Mom just told me last night that she doesn't think any other Mom is going to be willing to pay 1 week paid vacation or any paid sick leave. No one wants to pay and so most of the time, the great providers leave. I'm left desperately trying to piece together childcare to enable my child's needs are met through childcare and preschool and my nannies needs are met. It's a huge struggle! So DC is not alone though in parents struggling with childcare but the actual struggle is a little different.

Bizarre? Try impossible. There is a small percentage of parents who can afford nanny care. Period. They aren't willing to offer benefits because they can't afford the salary in the first place. They need affordable, quality, group care, and we need to subsidize it with tax dollars.

Totally agree!

[Anonymous]

^^ +1

[Anonymous]

I may be the exception but I didn't find childcare in DC area to be that hard to navigate.

DC 1. Went to a nanny share ($1,700/month), then to a very nice home daycare ($1,200/month), then to a full-time immersion preschool ($1,200).

DC2. In a very nice home daycare in my neighborhood ($1,300/month) and will be there probably till age 3. At which point she will go to the same immersion preschool ($1,200/month).

What is the crisis? Other than it's a big expense? There is a lot of demand because people keep having babies but there are also a lot of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I may be the exception but I didn't find childcare in DC area to be that hard to navigate.

DC 1. Went to a nanny share ($1,700/month), then to a very nice home daycare ($1,200/month), then to a full-time immersion preschool ($1,200).

DC2. In a very nice home daycare in my neighborhood ($1,300/month) and will be there probably till age 3. At which point she will go to the same immersion preschool ($1,200/month).

What is the crisis? Other than it's a big expense? There is a lot of demand because people keep having babies but there are also a lot of options.

A nanny share for $1700 a month? That's $425 a week. I'm guessing that you didn't pay employer taxes or overtime either. (I'm an MB), which is illegal and unethical.

Do you live in DC proper? (DC the city?). Your price quotes make me think you live a little further out. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible to find "nice in-home day care in the District.

Also, $1,700 or $1,300 a month is a crisis for many families. Just because you or I can afford it doesn't make it less of a crisis for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I may be the exception but I didn't find childcare in DC area to be that hard to navigate.

DC 1. Went to a nanny share ($1,700/month), then to a very nice home daycare ($1,200/month), then to a full-time immersion preschool ($1,200).

DC2. In a very nice home daycare in my neighborhood ($1,300/month) and will be there probably till age 3. At which point she will go to the same immersion preschool ($1,200/month).

What is the crisis? Other than it's a big expense? There is a lot of demand because people keep having babies but there are also a lot of options.

A nanny share for $1700 a month? That's $425 a week. I'm guessing that you didn't pay employer taxes or overtime either. (I'm an MB), which is illegal and unethical.

Do you live in DC proper? (DC the city?). Your price quotes make me think you live a little further out. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible to find "nice in-home day care in the District.

Also, $1,700 or $1,300 a month is a crisis for many families. Just because you or I can afford it doesn't make it less of a crisis for others.

Yeah, this made me laugh. As if $20K is not a lot of money. And as if you can find a nanny share for $20K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I may be the exception but I didn't find childcare in DC area to be that hard to navigate.

DC 1. Went to a nanny share ($1,700/month), then to a very nice home daycare ($1,200/month), then to a full-time immersion preschool ($1,200).

DC2. In a very nice home daycare in my neighborhood ($1,300/month) and will be there probably till age 3. At which point she will go to the same immersion preschool ($1,200/month).

What is the crisis? Other than it's a big expense? There is a lot of demand because people keep having babies but there are also a lot of options.

A nanny share for $1700 a month? That's $425 a week. I'm guessing that you didn't pay employer taxes or overtime either. (I'm an MB), which is illegal and unethical.

Do you live in DC proper? (DC the city?). Your price quotes make me think you live a little further out. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible to find "nice in-home day care in the District.

Also, $1,700 or $1,300 a month is a crisis for many families. Just because you or I can afford it doesn't make it less of a crisis for others.

We did pay all taxes on it, the hourly rate was $19/hr. Don't think this is out of the ordinary today. The nanny share was in upper NW DC.

Yes, home daycares do not exist in NW DC but the article is about "DC AREA". Not the district. I live in a close-in suburb. As do many of you. The article did not limit its comments to the most expensive areas of DC. "DC area" covers a lot of ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody forced you to have children and you should know that you will need child care or you will need to stay home and take care of your child. Child care givers also deserve to make a decent living and $10/hr is not a livable wage. $15/hr should be minimum for each child.

Do not live above your means whether this means a house, car, or child that you cannot afford.

$15 for each child?! if that was truly the going rate women would start staying home with their children. I realize there are plenty of high earners in the area but the average is around $85k. At $30/hr and 45 or 50 hours a week, plus employmer taxes, it would cost me money to work outside the home! I'm not loosing money AND missing out on quality time with my children.

That should be the minimum going hourly rate. I'm home with my kid during the day and work at nights and weekends about 25 hours total. I work at the job that doesn't really even require training so almost everybody can do it. Plenty of those jobs out there, but they are just not good enough for many. I myself don't call it a real job, though it has fed me the last 20 years.
Yes, you could be losing money (I think you meant "losing money" and not " not losing money") and missing out on quality time with your children, but it's because of the hours and job you choose. I'm convinced you can do what I do for living and we do hire everybody almost weekly. The hours are flexible and you can stay home with the kids and work around your DH work if you have DH. If I calculate all the money I save by being home with the children plus part time work, I make a good living. DH has activities planned just for the time I work, I do things with DC when he works and we do things together when we both are off. Must be your job keeping you there and not looking for a better option. Don't cut somebody's pay because you don't make a whole lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody forced you to have children and you should know that you will need child care or you will need to stay home and take care of your child. Child care givers also deserve to make a decent living and $10/hr is not a livable wage. $15/hr should be minimum for each child.

Do not live above your means whether this means a house, car, or child that you cannot afford.

$15 for each child?! if that was truly the going rate women would start staying home with their children. I realize there are plenty of high earners in the area but the average is around $85k. At $30/hr and 45 or 50 hours a week, plus employmer taxes, it would cost me money to work outside the home! I'm not loosing money AND missing out on quality time with my children.

That should be the minimum going hourly rate. I'm home with my kid during the day and work at nights and weekends about 25 hours total. I work at the job that doesn't really even require training so almost everybody can do it. Plenty of those jobs out there, but they are just not good enough for many. I myself don't call it a real job, though it has fed me the last 20 years.
Yes, you could be losing money (I think you meant "losing money" and not " not losing money") and missing out on quality time with your children, but it's because of the hours and job you choose. I'm convinced you can do what I do for living and we do hire everybody almost weekly. The hours are flexible and you can stay home with the kids and work around your DH work if you have DH. If I calculate all the money I save by being home with the children plus part time work, I make a good living. DH has activities planned just for the time I work, I do things with DC when he works and we do things together when we both are off. Must be your job keeping you there and not looking for a better option. Don't cut somebody's pay because you don't make a whole lot.

NP here- no one's pay is being "cut" by not spending $30/hour on childcare. Again we come back to this old argument-- that someone "should" be paid X. People are paid what the market can bear. Nannying has a very low barrier to entry and so there is more supply than demand.

If you think any particular job "should" be paid more or less than what the market suggests, you need to look at artificial methods of economic intervention-- namely the government. If childcare had more support from our collective tax dollars, carers and parents would both be in a better place.