$40 a Day too much?

[summerrluvv]

Too high IMO. Especially the fact that you can't even claim it.

I paid $45 a day in a center for 9 hours a day for an infant and everything is expensive where I live. I now pay $42 a day for full time at an in-home provider. Does your school offer before/aftercare? It's probably a lot less than $30 a day if they do.

 

[LisaNJ25]

200 a week is expensive, considering she's an older kid, and it's part time. Around here, a center would charge about $150 a week for an even younger child, and that's all day.

I agree.. I watch an 19mo and get $125 a week. 9 hours a day. I know that is on the low side.

 

[brekin67]

That sounds very expensive to me. I pay $67 per week for before and after school daycare at a nice facility who transports to and from school. During non school days it is $87 per week.

 

[RooRach0906]

Hi there! I'm looking for feedback on daycare costs. My cousin has been charging me $40 a day to watch my daughter for about 4 1/2 hours. She's in Kindergarten, & my cousin takes her to school with her kids, then picks her up after school & watches her for about 3 more hours. She also gets all her errands done, etc. while driving my daughter around with her. Does this seem like a fair amount in your opinion? She is also paid under the table, so I can't take advantage of child care tax credit.

I provide childcare for two little girls one is in Kindergarten and I take her to and from school and I have no children and so its not like im headed there and I keep her 2 1/2 year old sister... breakfast lunch and snacks are included and I get $50 a day for both.. so I do think you are being over charged esp since she is family I occansionally watch my niece as well and I get 20-25 a day for her.
For the girls I break it down that I get $30 a day for the 2 1/2 year old because I have her all day and feed her all the listed meals and $20 for before and after school for her sister b/c yes im driving her but she only has snack here.
I will say too that during the summer I get paid the same but I am not driving her so it makes up for it a lil bit.
I live in VA and my rates are low but they are for a reason.

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

I pay my DD6's babysitter $5 a day for 2 hours. She picks her up at my house after Kindergarten (half-day) and takes her to her house a couple blocks away. I pack my DD's lunch everyday and she is the only child that she watches. We lucked out when I went back to work because we have known her for years (she is my DS's bestfriend's mom). She only asked for $3 a day but we felt she deserved more and give her surprise bonus every once in a while.

 

[llori7]

I think that seems high. My son goes to daycare all day and I pay $192 a week. So it works out to $38 a day. It is $45 if you pay by the day, but that includes 2 meals and they learn. I would think $20-25 would be good for your cousin to watch your daughter.

 

[mkel34]

We paid $300 for the first child a week when they went 5 days, I think it was a 20% discount for the second. Also, you don't get to choose to pay hourly, 4hrs-10hrs same thing to the daycare and they get 2 weeks paid vacation and sick days paid. Also, if your child doesn't go due to illness on the child's scheduled day, you pay. $40 a day for peace of mind knowing someone is taking good care of your child and transporting from point a to b is a good deal in my mind.

 

[4Pirates&APrincess]

I am a licensed daycare provider and I charge $20.00/day for 1/2 day care including meals and snacks. I also provide transportation to and from school.
Like many of the op, I too believe that you are paying too much. I do know that most of the schools here have a YMCA program for before and after school. That would probably save you money and you could deduct it.

 

[madancer]

Thanks again for all the additional responses! It has been extremely informative hearing from you all, and I truly appreciate it. As much as it is frustrating thinking that I really am overpaying, I feel like I probably shouldn't leave my cousin hangin' if I did make the decision to switch. I just need to make it a few more months before the school year ends. It's a little financially painful, but I suppose it's the right thing to do. Thanks again everyone

 

[MinnieForMe]

I think it's a good deal! My mom did daycare in her home many years ago and received $10 an hour per kid.

It all depends on the experiences you want your child to receive. If she's happy and you feel safe with your cousin, then I would thank her and pay her what she wants!

 

[klj27]

I think it is a little high, but worth it if you are happy with the family care your little one is receiving. It sounds like she gets a play date everyday and is treated like family.

I charge $45 a day for part time and $40 a day for full time kids. I claim it on my taxes and I will only sit for two families at a time which means there is a low adult to child ratio. I do have them bring all their own food, milk, diapers, wipes, etc. I also claim it on my taxes and I do not charge for sick/vacation days.

 

[Justsyd2]

I think you're paying her a fair hourly wage. I know that most people who have responded are comparing your babysitter to child care, but it's not the same thing. Paying a babysitter $10.00 an hour is fair. I think you're fine

 

[Zookeeperof4]

Wow that is a bit high. I had my two kids in daycare for before school care...2 hours a dayX5 days and paid 80$. Then when I left that job I decided to try a preschool....for 5 days a week and 4 hours days they charge 112 a MONTH!!!!! (the first year I did it I was thinking they cant be learning that much its to cheap....yet the kids that come out of that program are reading before kindergarten and the teachers at the public school could tell where they went.)


I would call around to see what the daycares charge per day in your area. That way you can get an idea about what places charge. Then go over the pros and cons of paying a stranger or family member to watch the kids.

 

[Leader of the Club]

My son's school offers extended day Kindergarten (with an extra 2.5 hours of instruction time) and before and after school care. I think the total is about $640 per month. Now, when school is closed for holiday and weather, so are they. I thought that was way too much to pay, but it sounds as if you are paying more than that.

Also, keep in mind that spring break and summer break are quickly approaching and if you are counting on your cousin keeping your DD then, you may not want to rock the boat.

On the other hand, $200 a week would pay for a very nice summer camp experience--depending on your location.

 

[dizluvah]

I am shocked to hear that some people believe $5 an hour is acceptable for childcare - you can't get a teenage babysitter around here for less than $8 - $10 per hour. IMHO the op is getting a GREAT deal - you can't put a price tag on piece mind knowing a trusted family member is watching your child.

 

[andrews_dad]

True, I'm in PA and daycare is obscene. (approx 400/wk)

I am in PA as well, and I pay $133 per week for a nice daycare in a local church. 2 teachers in his room with 6 kids (1 year old). Our newborn will cost $143 in the same daycare, as cost is usually higher in the infant room. That is full day, 5 days a week, breakfast, lunch, and snack provided. So, I pay less than $30 a day per kid for full time with meals. I would not be pleased with your charge.

 

[HM]

I'm curious about how you reached that agreement in the first place, if you are now questioning it.

Sitters around here get $10/hr or so. So it would be right in our area.

 

[descovy]

I am shocked to hear that some people believe $5 an hour is acceptable for childcare - you can't get a teenage babysitter around here for less than $8 - $10 per hour. IMHO the op is getting a GREAT deal - you can't put a price tag on piece mind knowing a trusted family member is watching your child.

I think that "daycare" and "babysitting" are two different things.

For a babysitter... come to my house, focus only on watching my kids... because I want a night out or whatever... $10/hr is appropriate. Not to metion, this is occasional, not a set schedule, and for short durations (a few hours now and then)

Daycare is a whole nother deal. Either the provider is taking care of more than one kid (everyone shares the load) or is like OP's cousin, running errands, living life with child in tow.

Consider, you have a baby and work full time (8hours+ 1 hour commute) that $10/hr you think is reasonable is $90/day... $450/week... $1700 mo! Yes $1700/mo for one child, full time if at $10/hr. Imagine you are an average family with 2kids and you put them in $10/hr daycare. That would be $3400/mo!! Would you still find that reasonable?? How would you even afford to work??

In my area (suburban Houston) fulltime childcare runs $700-$900/mo... yes about half what you "pay a teenager to babysit"

Effectively that is, $5/hour... as I say, either the provider is charging 5 kids that rate (making $25 an hour!) or running around doing much of the same things she would do, kid in tow or not.

Now, would I ever dream of going out for 4 fours on a Saturday night and only pay $20? No, but that's different...that's BABYSITTING

 

[mjkacmom]

I am shocked to hear that some people believe $5 an hour is acceptable for childcare - you can't get a teenage babysitter around here for less than $8 - $10 per hour. IMHO the op is getting a GREAT deal - you can't put a price tag on piece mind knowing a trusted family member is watching your child.

There is a difference between a teenaged sitter (we have always payed more than $10 an hour), and a daycare situation. For example, my gf watched a preschooler every day from 8 - 3:30, except for 2 days, when she dropped him off at preschool at noon. She was paid $25 a day, and she's a certified teacher. She also had her own child at home every morning. Now, if she went to the child's home, alone, and her only responsibility was to watch that child, then $10 an hour is a good rate.

 

[puffkin]

I also think that is high, at least in my area. I pay $197/week at a very good preschool/daycare center for FT care for my almost 4 year old. That includes meals/snack. He is there from 7:45-5:15 M-F. I believe wrap around care for school age kids (including transportation) is $135/week. This is for a licensed center and you would get full tax deduction.

When I had my son in a private home daycare I paid $140/week for fulltime. This also included all food. She did not drive with the kids or run errands. She was a bit pricey for a home daycare in my area, but I really thought she did a good job. She had a couple of latchkey kids that she got off the bus and she charged $50 a week for them ($10/day).

Obviously prices vary widely but it seems like my area is a really middle of the road Cost of Living area.