Looking for Advice on Childcare in Chicago, IL

hi R. my name is M. im 24 and had my second child in october I was very close on returning to work so i got a list of daycare providers from action for children and found a great lady named Carmen with an in home daycare and she was willing to work with my income im sure if you talk to some in home daycares they will work with what you can afford. Or if youd like this ladys info i would be glad to share it with you. I got luck and found a mom on this site that need a nanny and allowed me to bring my boys along. let me know if i can help in any way ____@____.com

R., I live at Irving Park & Pulaski and there are many in-home day care centers that are in my area that are good and reasonably priced.

If you think that is an option for you, let me know. Maybe I can pass along some names and numbers.

L.

Hi R.,

Couple of things, one, you are not alone. I was in a similar situation, luckily my son's (he's 15 months old) father does try to see him from time to time, and occasionally we get some money. He loves his son, sometimes it just takes some time for them to come to terms with reality. But that is not always the case. I know a couple of other single mom's that the dad is just not in any way around. It can go either way, but as I said, remember you are not alone.

I started a "club" for single moms a couple of weeks ago. There are a lot of us in your shoes. If you would like I can add you to the list and you can get some real support as well. We also do babysitting coops.

Now, as for child care, I ran into the same problem. You have a couple of options, start looking NOW for a good quality home day care setting. They usually run about $180/week for a decent one and some centers you can find for about $200. One of our single moms has a center downtown that she pays $205 for? Depending on where you live/work you can find some decent prices, but you also get what you pay for.

I personally decided it wasn't worth it. I quit my job, sold my condo, sold the majority of my stuff, kept my son's, and moved into a studio apartment until he was a year old. I had some money put away but not a lot, I spent a couple of months deciding what to do and settled on being a nanny. I get all the perks of being a stay at home mom, and don't have any of the financial burden.

Money wise, it isn't even all that much of a sacrifice. I was making about $50,000 and after taxes (I don't pay them now) and day care fees, I am only making about $350 a month less than I would be if I was working full time at a comparible job. Plus I would have to be working at least 50 hours a week, plus commuting time, at the end of the day I would spend only a couple of hours a week with my son. That wasn't ok with me, so I found an alternitive.

They are out there, and available, you just have to look hard enough, and think outside of the box.

Any way you decide to go, lean on others around you, come to a single mom's club meeting, join PWP, etc. It does take a villiage, particularly when you are doing it alone.

Best of Luck,
Jen

Hi R.,
I went to daycare action and they were for a time allowing families making too much to apply for a some programs. Offering daycare assistance and such.

http://www.daycareaction.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.vi...

Also, even if the father does not want to be a part of the babies life, by law he has to give you 20% (after taxes) to support the baby. Its tough thinking about these things but only you can take care of you and your baby,no one else will make sure of it. You can have the money come directly out of his check and you can either have the money desosited into your account or receive a check.

I wish i had some advice about daycare but mine is outrageous and I do not even know how i do it.

Good Luck! Be strong your baby needs a strong mama.

Hi R.,

Firstly, I commend you on your decision to keep this baby. I was 30 when I found out I was pregnant, and it was two weeks after I had broken up with the father. My son is now 3 and a half, and I don't regret my decision to become a single mom at all. It was the best thing that ever happened to me!! Not to say it isn't hard, it IS. His father is now very involved, but we went through a lot of pain and struggle to get to this point.

My son goes to a wonderful daycare in the city, Windy City Kids at 600 W Washington, but there are good centers throughout the city. Most take infants as young as six months, so for a few months you might have to have a nanny. I had a nanny for him for two years, and I wasn't making much money at the time. I moved into a studio apartment in order to be able to afford it and cut WAY back on other expenses. Things are different now, I got a job making a lot more money, and I am sure you will be able to make things work for you and your baby, too. I recommend joining a single mom's group, there are lot of mom's on this site always looking to get together and maybe you could work out a babysitting arrangement with some of them.

Anyway, best of luck to you.

D.

Hi,

I am in your exact childcare situation. I went to action for children to get referrals for providers in my area. Even though it is geared towards subsidized accepting providers. They, of course, will take your child in.

There is also a free publication called Early care and education guide that has listings for daycare centers. However, many dont take infants. Another resource is Todays Chicago Parent.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to e-mail me. I understand what you are going through as I am a single parent.

Thanks,
V.

Hi R.,

First, let me give you huge respect and credit for the decision you have made to keep your baby. You will never regret it, although it will be very hard at times. A nanny can be expensive, but one option might be to share a nanny with another family. This is where you bring your baby to someone else's house or they bring their baby to your house and you share the cost of a nanny. You should check out North Side Parent's Network-- if you join the group on-line for a small fee, you can access their discussion boards on the website. There is one dedicated to nanny sharing that is very helpful. Best of luck,

A.

Hi R.,

Congrats on your pregnancy! I was in almost the same situation a couple months ago. I am almost 25 and five months pregnant now. Things can be very hard especially when you feel all alone. Recently my unborn babie's father has made a change for the better, but that does not always happen. After I have my baby I am going to stay home and try to babysit for others to make extra money. I will be living in the bridgeport area, but willing to travel anywhere north of there. Please contact me if I can be of any help to you, childcare or otherwise. I do get public aide and I was employed full time. It covers all the prenatal care. Are you sure you make too much? Have you applied. My number is ###-###-#### if you would like to ask any questions.

Best Wishes,
Sarah

My advice to you is to get lists of daycare around your neighborhood, and put the baby on a list now. I truly believed there would be childcare for my child until the people at the centers told me the wait list is about 10 month long. Start now! Try at community colleges, try at hospitals, ask your doctor. And you might want to try actforkid.com they can send you a list even though you don't qualify financially. Good luck, D.

It depends so much on what neighborhood you live in or work in for convenience. You can try the Day Care Action Council of Illinois, oh, now called Action for Children (www.daycareaction.org) They will give you a listing for the areas you ask for. I never ended up using the ones I got from them but it's a place to start.

Hi R.,

Wow dont you just hate these men that think they can tells us what to do. I went thru what you are going thru but I was 17yrs. The father was not around and I went thru it by me self. I never collected no kind of Aid. But I do have allot off family that were supportive to me. You hang in there and have that Baby. If you would like to chat I am here @ ____@____.com

If you are thinking of a child care center you must get on several waiting lists now! They are usually over a year long, but I hear that the suburban centers have shorter waiting lists. I good place to start is the NAEYC (National Association for the education of Young Children) website (NAEYC.org, I think). They accredit centers and their standards go above and beyond state requirements. They look to make centers the best they can be.

I think there is also a list of licensed home daycare centers on the city of Chicago's website - but I have never looked at it. They tend to be cheaper than many centers. There are many good ones out there, the draw back is less oversight, and fewer requirements for the caregivers training.

Good Luck to you.

R.,
I'm a childcare provider but i live in oak Park. Where in chgo do you live. If the father doesn't want to be there for the baby he still has obligations. There is child support and the court will make him help pay for childcare. which will take alot of stress off you and the financial burden. I also am a single mom and had to go thru this process also.
Hang in there it will get better.
C.

Hi

Are you looking for someone to come to your home? A drop off or an in home daycare? I know of a few of each- so just let me know...I sympathize with you- good child care can be hard to find.

M.

HI R.,

I am also 27, mother of a 6 year old, and of course is not easy, but I will try to find a number for you for someone who may be able to help you out once your baby is born and you have to consider an inexpensive childcare provider. In the meantime, I noticed you said the Father won't help. Well, once your child is born, he has no option. I work for a family law attorney, and while I cannot give you legal advice, I can tell you that he will have to be financially responsible for his son/daughter regardless of whether he wants to be involved in his/her life in any other aspect. You will see that you and your baby will both be very good!! Let me know if I can be of any help in the future.