How Much for In-home Daycare

Personally, I think that is expensive. I have 3 kids and I pay $155 a week. My sitter does take 3 weeks vacation - one at spring break, one during summer and then over the holidays BUT we dont pay her for those weeks AND I can take one additional week on my own without paying her as well. We are in Schaumburg where they go. My kids have been going there since they were 8 weeks and she was always the same rate (until the past month where she raised her cost $5 per kid). When I break it down I only pay $31 per day.

I run a small home daycare (with openings now, btw) and I charge $40/day. My clients do not pay for the first 3 "times" off (sick, etc.). I do take vacation - 1 week @ Christmas and 1 week over the summer that is not paid.
Good Luck to you!
J.

B.,

I have an in home day care myself and just want to say that if you feel your child is in a safe environment and is doing well then you should be thankful. Day care centers charge approximately $75.00 a day here in Naperville and do not provide the personal attention I feel every child deserves. Depending on how many hours a day your provider has your child would make a difference of whether or not it is reasonable. I charge based on each individual situation and try to be flexible for the parents so they do not feel they are working just to pay for their childs care. If I am not open for some reason (other than paid holidays) then I do not charge the parent because I know they need to pay another care giver for that particular time I cannot sit. I also do not expect to be paid for vacations or days off I choose to take. If my parent takes a day off (ie. if the child is sick or for some other reason) then the parents do need to pay me as I count on that money and that is my paycheck.

I hope this helps you!!! Take care and good luck!!!

B.,

I pay $30 per day for my 3 year old in an in-home licensed daycare. I know the cost is more for an infant but I am not sure how much. We do not pay for her vacations or ours but we do pay for all of the major holidays. I think this is unusual. Most providers get some paid holidays.

Hiya -- that doesn't sound too terribly much for licensed practitioners, i am guessing she has yrs of experience and follows the DCFS rules.

I do inhome daycare as well, but have not become licensed as I only like to take in 1 or 2 kids at a time, and I like to do only part-time work. Being licensed requires lot of DCFS paperwork that I don't have the time or want to do. I do otherwise follow DCFS rules w/ the exception that I put TV on for a half-hour more than they allow per day (I do 3 one-half hour increments during the day). (i think DCFS allows for 1 hr of tv a day). I'm in glen ellyn and charge $40 a day for infant to 1yr with a $5-less increment for each yr of age. If I were licensed I'd charge $50 flat fee for all kids though :) The need to keep paperwork would be enough of pain for me to justify the extra $.

However, on the licensed side of things, my sweetest girlfriend is a daycare provider, licensed and accredited, and though she doesn't charge as much as your provider, she does charge for the other holidays and sick days. She also has 13 yrs teaching experience. She is also incorporated w/ the state of Illinois, and she has to have a $1million homeowners insurance policy. I'd say her higher charges pay for your peace of mind and for her additional charges to have her business Inc'd and the required HO insurance amount. I, myself, have a $500,000 HO ins policy and a rider on my auto because i take the kids out, and I do mostly all organic; for these reasons I do charge a little more than a typical license-exempt provider.

Good luck to you and I hope your mind is settled a bit between licensed and licensed-exempt provider charges, and that you are happy to have your child in a nice, safe, comfortable place.

HI B. - Yes I think that is reasonable as far as rate. With most home daycares I've run across, unless it's a friend or family member or drop in facility (even more specifically, not set up as an actual tax-reporting business) you will find you have to pay whether you send them or not. Because this is their income that they depend on.

I send my kids to a home daycare as well and have found it to be excellent for our kids. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or want to compare your contract or something.