Daycare for two

[f14mama]

So we're in the midst of negotiating cost for 2 in daycare, at the time we start the nugget, DS1 will be almost 3 and getting ready to start pre-school (full days). Both will be full time 5 days/week. I'm asking for no higher than $400/week for both, this is definitely doable for other daycare's in the area that I've checked with. However, our current daycare is giving us a hard time and say it may not be possible.


We do really like our current daycare, mostly because DS has a bestie in his class that he loves. His mom and I even meet up to have weekend playdates for them. The center is great, I like the teachers, but it doesn't have anything that amazing in my mind that we can't get in other places I've looked that are much cheaper.


Does anyone have any input or thoughts? The thought of traumatizing DS if we change daycare keeps me up at night.  

[sodapop]

That's a tough one. Is pre-school at the same daycare he is in now? If so, it could be a good timing to switch him at that time. Also, how is your DS with changes? Is it worth the savings? I don't know at how much more than the $400 they would accept.

My son doesn't like changes so we try to keep those to a minium. He's starting kindergarten next Septembber, so we will not have two kids in daycare at the same day. I feel you though, daycare is expensive around here.

[kris24824]

Kids are so resilient. DD just started a new daycare from an in home to a pre-school and I thought it was going to be really difficult, but she loves it! Starting a new school around the same time as the baby starting daycare might not be so bad.

I'm not sure where you are located but your price point is definitely doable in my area (Sacramento, CA). We were paying $170 a week for an in-home and our preschool is $187 a week. An infant with a second child discount would be $233. So just over your budget. We are likely thinking DC#2 would go to an in-home though and not where DD goes.

[f14mama]

sodapop, Yes, preschool is the same center, we would just keep him there until Kindergarten. He's not good with change, when he moved to the toddler room he had a tough time. Will you guys have to do after school care for Kindergarten? Or do you get full day?

kris24824, thank you, hearing this makes me feel so much better. I was thinking we would start him at the new place during my leave 2-3 days a week part time to ease him in. And we are about an hour out of Philly, so kind of high, but nothing like if we were in the city. 

[sodapop]

Jan 15, 2016 13:40:50 GMT -5 f14mama said:

sodapop , Yes, preschool is the same center, we would just keep him there until Kindergarten. He's not good with change, when he moved to the toddler room he had a tough time. Will you guys have to do after school care for Kindergarten? Or do you get full day?

kris24824 , thank you, hearing this makes me feel so much better. I was thinking we would start him at the new place during my leave 2-3 days a week part time to ease him in. And we are about an hour out of Philly, so kind of high, but nothing like if we were in the city. 

It's full day kindergarten. The timing is great because I'll be on mat leave for the whole year so we won't be needing before/after school care. We'll need it the next year. It's offered at the school so it won't be too bad.

I like your idea to start him 2-3 days while you are on leave. Do what's best for your family, he will adapt.

[pismoduo]

Another thought to consider - is there a Head Start program nearby? A lot of times the Head Start programs will have a set up with a daycare nearby - the kids do part of the day at Head Start, and then the Head Start program will bus them over to the daycare for the remainder of the day. It'd bring your DS down to part-time (sometimes slightly cheaper) and help him be even more prepared for pre-school/kindergarten.