In home child care. How much to charge?

[ah1126]

I am thinking about watching a friends child during the day to make some money so I can stay home. She is 4 years old and I would watch her at least 3 days a week. I have no idea how much to charge.

If you do this, how much do you charge? Or if you leave your child, how much do you pay?

Thanks for the help!

 

[katied]

We paid $10/hr for an infant. This was for 1 on 1 care, in the caregiver's home, when we were between nannys. (Our Nanny's rate was $15/hr)

But, I know this can vary quite a bit by geography.

 

[*Seanaci*]

I charge $20 a day for the 8 month old I watch...if I have him more than 5 hours. If I have him less than 5 hours a day, I charge $10.

 

[riley2008]

I think this varies too greatly by location.

I live in south Texas of a city/area of about 80,000 people. Most people here in our office pay about $25.00/day on a contracted schedule - usually no more than 10 hours per day (7:30am-5:30pm). (They pay even if their child gets ill or they are on vacation.) If it is less than 5 days a week, the cost is more - $30-$40/day. (A co-worker needs care for her child only three days a week and she pays for the whole week as it's less than the 3 day charge.)

 

[momof4crazykiddos]

This varies greatly! I live in a small town in Indiana and just checked into this and the cheapest I found was $16 a day and the most expensive was $25 a day.

Barbara

 

[3happydancers]

When I watched a neighbor's child, the parents offered 50.00 a day and I accepted. The child was 6 months old when I began watching her and I had the priveledge of having her for 3 + years. The 50.00 included: 8 1/2 hour day (sometimes longer if the mom had a meeting at work), and as the child grew, I was eventually responsible for supplying lunch and snacks. If the parent was late picking up the child, then I was responsible for dinner as well. The parents did want me to begin library classes with the child, but I declined due to cost of gas. This was when our gas prices started rising sky high. No additional money was offered and I never did get a raise (which was ok but I felt at some point if I kept adding food and activities out of pocket that I was actually taking a pay reduction and I felt that I provide much for $50.00)

I was also a caregiver that spent lots of time playing outdoors, going for walks and engaging the child in other activites (not just sitting in front of the TV. The child had a designated toy section filled with books, puzzles, music etc. all supplied by me), all age appropriate according to the child's growth, remember I had her for 3 + years. All in all, I felt I provided much for the price paid.

Take into considertion the going price in your area, what you are willing to offer in terms of environment for the child, and that the price I am quoting was from 4 years ago.

 

[4Seasons]

I charge $20 a day for the 8 month old I watch...if I have him more than 5 hours. If I have him less than 5 hours a day, I charge $10.

That's less than half the going rate where I live (about an hour south of Washington DC) and it just gets more expensive the closer you get to the city.

Obviously the cost of living where you are will dictate what you charge, but don't cut yourself short. And make sure you outline your arrangement in writing. I've seen too many friendships end because of "casual" childcare arrangements.

 

[sunlover13]

I pay $5 per hr for my childcare. This includes providing snacks, lunch, etc.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I love these threads because it really shows the differences throughout the country. Here is the going rate is about $75/day for an infant $60 for an older child!

 

[kymmyk13]

Wow, I do not know how some people afford daycare. For DD5 full time 5 days a week is $60.00 that includes lunch and snacks and thsi is at a home daycare. At this daycare they charge $70.00 a week if the child is in diapers.

 

[here757]

i have used home daycare with my son who is now 7..
one sitter didnt claim the income to the irs.. so therefor i couldnt claim the credit.. she only charged me 60.

the ones who claimed it charged me 90 plus

 

[mjkacmom]

I love these threads because it really shows the differences throughout the country. Here is the going rate is about $75/day for an infant $60 for an older child!

That sounds high for an unlicensed home daycare! For a potty trained child, I think $5 an hour is plenty (although I would pay more than double for someone who came to my house, of course). I'm in the NYC metro area.

 

[RooRach0906]

I watch two lil girls (one is 2 and one is 5 and before and after school.)
I have them Wen 7-6:15-30
Thurs 7-6
Fri 7-4

I get $150 a week for both. The breakdown is for the 2 year old I get $25 a day feeding her Breakfast, lunch, and snack. For the 5 year old I get $25 a week to take her to and from school and then apr $17 a day for Before and after school and snack.

In my area these are cheaper rates.

 

[abmitch01]

we're paying a college student $10 an hr for an 11 and 12 yr old this summer

 

[indimom]

I'm a licensed in-home child care provider in Indiana. I charge $90 a week for full time or $20 a day for part time. I provide two meals and one snack a day. I only charge for the days the children are in attendance, but most providers I know charge year round or only allow a set number of unpaid vacation days. I had planned to raise my rates two years ago, but with the state of our local economy, I chose not to. I will probably have no choice but to raise my rates this fall, most likely to $100 a week and $25 a day for part-time.
Our local Y (the only licensed center in town) charges about $125-165 a week depending on the age of the child. You might look at your local centers (if you have any nearby) to give you an idea of the going rate in your area.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

We live in MI and pay $4 an hour (or $7/hour for 2 DDs) for GREAT in-home, licensed daycare. They go on field trips and follow a preschool/pre-k curriculum everyday. I feel very fortunate to have found her!

 

[DebMcDonald]

As someone who previously did home daycare for 5 years, this varies from state to state and town to town within the state. I charged $35 a day for preschool in my house from 7-5 daily and provided all meals and allowed them to deduct it at the end of the year. (I was also licensed). One of my very good friends, 20 minutes from my house charged $55, her town has a different clientele.

 

[mpls_mm]

We moved from Minneapolis a year ago, we paid $50 per day at a center. The going home rate was slightly less at $35 a day. Now we live in Iowa and the center is $90 a week and home daycare is $75 a week.

 

[anl]

I keep a baby and they pay me $500/mo. for about 8 hours a day. She is a baby, so I don't provide any food for her. That's a little more than what a daycare would charge.

 

[ah1126]

Thanks for all the input! I am going to go with $5 an hour. I am happy with that and they seemed happy with that. This will be a great way for me to be able to make some money and stay home with my sweet new baby.