Paying for childcare....

[birch113]

Feb 12, 2015 7:41:00 GMT -5 danisgossipgirl said:

Feb 11, 2015 23:27:42 GMT -5 erien22846 said:

A registered daycare is suppose to have no more than three under 18 months.  Our provider will have 4 under a year old this summer.  And all of her kids are under the age of 4.  DH and I are considering finding a new daycare.  She has a helper but I don't think she is there every day.  The helper is definitely not there all day because she's never there when we drop off or pick up.  I just have a difficult time paying a premium for an in-home daycare that doesn't follow the state regulations.  I want my baby to have SOME attention.  

I have been sending DS to daycare while I'm on maternity leave.  Taking care of an infant keeps me plenty busy.  I'm not sure how she does it with so many children under 4.  

That is... Wow. Regs here, in home or center, are 4:1 under 3yo, 10:1 for over 3yo, and ratio defers to youngest child in the group. 4 babies and 4 toddlers/preschoolers is crazy for one person hence why it's not legal. I'm pretty sure I'd feel obligated to report that to the state. 

Agreed. I can't even imagine. I'm losing my mind just thinking of my LO going into a 4:1 ratio. :-( I can't imagine a group that large and only one adult.

[rayray007]

Feb 10, 2015 19:18:56 GMT -5 2jelplus1 said:

Feb 10, 2015 18:07:07 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

We live in the Midwest and hourly rate is 3 dollars for in home child care. I also know she doesn't take a tax deduction.

Is that a typo? $3/hour/kid? Who is willing to work that cheaply?!? It's less than 1/2 of minimum wage. How do they make ends meet? What is the ratio of adults to kids?

We pay $35/day which works out to $3.8something and hour. She has 6-10 kids, depending on the day. When she has more than 6 or whatever the magic number is she hires a helper. So let's say she has 10 kids. $350/day. Or about $39/hour. Out of which she pays her helper. Min. Wage is $10, so let's say dcp makes $29/hour. Out of which she still has to buy supplies, food etc. on the other hand she can deduct so many expenses, including her house and utilities, for tax purposes. I can't decide if it's worth it or not.

[2jelplus1]

There are a lot of factors (like deductions) I hadn't considered but watching 6 kids seems like an exhausting way to make -20/hr. Does make me feel a lot better about paying my nanny $15/hr for one baby.