Child Care Costs

We live in San Francisco and we spent about $1400/month for a full time (7:30-6) licensed family day care from about 3 months to 2 years of age. There, we had to provide all diapers and food (I pumped and so that was much cheaper than formula). Now that dd is in full time preschool (7:30-6) it is a bit cheaper -$980/month and they provide 2 meals and 2 snacks.

I would say that diapers cost about $25-30/month, babies are free the first 6 months if you breastfeed, and I didn't buy hardly any clothes as she got them all either as gifts or hand me downs. Now that she is over 2 I probably spend about $150 every 3-6 months on new shoes and used clothing.

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There are a lot of things you need to collect that first year: crib, car seat, stroller, high chair. Some things are optional, ie breast pump, bassinet, 200 swaddling blankets. It seems like my friends and I were able to get hand-me downs for at least half the items. But even if you get hand-me downs, there can be costs. I got a used crib, but I had to get a new mattress; I borrowed a friend's breast pump, but I had to replace some of the parts. I think I spent about $1,000 the first year on equipment. I certainly know people who spent more.

I have a one and a half year old and live in Alameda. She goes to a day care center full time and is considered an infant until age two (per state license for day care facilities). The infant room is $1000 per month.

Some people buy diapers through Amazon and join the free two day shipping deal. We buy ours at Costco.

When we were living in SF we had a nanny, that was about $2000 a month, we moved to the east bay and had a small family style day care that was about $1500-1600 a month. Our son in now 2 1/2 and in pre-school which costs about $1200 a month.
Diapers cost about $30 a month. I tried buying clothes on consignment for awhile, but I soon found if I hit the sales at Old Navy and Children's Place I was paying the same for new as I was for used. Same for shoes, I hit the big sales and buy in advance and that's been working well. I do still try to buy coats at consignment stores, that is a better deal.
I probably spend about $150 every 3-4 months on clothing and shoes.
All the best.

Hi, I work full time and I have four children in day care in the El Sobrante area. I pay $625.00 a week for the four of them!