Conference moira::parenting

    Sounds like you are talking about "home-care".  But just in case,
    the center I use will do it whichever is best for me - hourly care 
    at $3/hr or weekly care (no time limit - open from 6:30 - 6:30) 
    $100/wk with a 10% discount for second child.
    
    I have no current experience with homecare. 
    
    -sandy
    

    The daycare my daughter attends has a 'school year' rate and a 'summer
    camp' rate.  This is paid monthly during the school year and weekly
    during summer camp.
    
    The daycare allows you to have 2 weeks during the school year and 2
    weeks during the summer as vacation weeks.  Once this time is used up
    you to pay for the rest of the time whether the child is there or not.

    Sorry.  Yes, I was referring to homecare.
    
    My daughter will be starting Kindergarten next September and
    my son will be in second grade.  I will be looking for a new
    sitter shortly and am wondering what's the best way for payment.
    
    Should I overpay during school so it works out the same when 
    there isn't school?

    
    I think the standard arrangement for children who
    are in a full time homecare situation is you pay
    for 50 weeks a year.  Then 2 weeks without paid
    vacation for the sitter.  If the sitter is sick 
    and cannot take care of your child, you don't
    have to pay.  If you child is sick and you don't
    take them to the sitter, you have to pay.  Afterall
    the sitter was available to take care of the child.
    
    When we found our homecare provider, we put everything
    in writing up front.  I think if you negotiate certain hours
    per week during the school year, summer and school vacation
    hours up front there should not be a problem.  Because this
    is what you and the provider agreed upon to begin with.  There 
    is no reason to pay for hours that you do not plan up front
    for your children to be there. 
    
    We have an infant so we need someone full time.
    
    We pay our sitter for 50 hours.  She may not have our son for
    50, but I know that she is there if I need her services.  
     
    Also when you negotiate, also make sure that your new sitter
    understands what you expect from her.  That was the rules are
    not changing as you go.  
    
    We used Familyworks to find our daycare provider (I live in Nashua) 
    they have a contract with DEC.  
    
    Jeanne
    
    
   

    I have been paying my sitter a little extra DURING school,
    figuring that I don't have to pay more when the kids are
    OUT of school.  But I just realized, there are approx. 37
    weeks of school and only 13 weeks OUT of school.
    
    I think I'm getting jipped!  Also, we didn't have anything
    in writing and she kept changing her terms.  I guess that's
    another reason why I'm looking for someone new.  But THIS
    time, I would like to get everything worked out UP FRONT,
    so there won't be any misunderstandings.
    
    So most people pay by the hour, by the day, or by the week?
    I understand if my kids are sick, she still gets paid...  I
    feel that's fair.
    
    I'm curious if people who pay by the hour, pay even if the
    kids are NOT there.  This is one thing we agreed to pay by
    the day, whether the kids were there for the whole day or
    not and then one day when the kids weren't there at all for one day,
    she "claims" we agreed to payment by the week (which we didn't).
    Another reason for looking for someone else and THIS time, it
    will all be in writing, up front!

    
    We have one child - second is on the way.
    
    I pay by the month, on the 1st and the 15th, in two equal portions. 
    That way I write the check for the same amount and there's no quibbling
    about how many hours, etc.
    
    Our sitter takes two weeks off (unpaid) each year and gets off any
    additional time that *WE* might be gone, but is paid for that time.
    
    IF she's sick, there's another mom in the neighborhood who uses
    homecare and we use each other's sitters for emergencies.  She's
    stillpaid, though, for the day.  Since she also does light housework
    for us, and occasionally dinner prep, I figure it evens out.
     
    
    WE agreed up front what the standard day was and spent a lot of time in
    the first few weeks talking about what was expected... nap routine,
    discipline, TV, priorities, etc.  ANd every so often, I run back
    over the list to keep it fresh in both our minds.   And occasionally I
    have to reset the boundaries, but that's true in almost any situation.
    
    
    Jamd

    
    Licensed day care providers in Mass are restricted to having 6 children
    at a time.  2 under the age of 2 (I think).  In any case, if you are
    taking up one of those 6 slots, it's up to the provider how to deal
    with that.  Some go by a flat rate, due to the fact they can't take
    another child even if your's isn't there.  Others go by an hourly
    arrangement, and that allows them to take in another child as long as
    that one is gone when your's gets there.
    
    When my kids were in day care, I paid a flat fee for the week.  I paid
    more when my kids were sick (staying at day care) or for days off and
    vacation time.
    
    
    
    

    My son (2.5) is in a daycare center and has been at the same center 
    since he was 4 months old.  In the past when he attended daily from
    7am - 4:30 pm I paid a flat rate of $80/week for 5 days at 7-10 hour
    days and only for the time that he was there.  3 months ago I moved to 
    2nd shift at work and now my son is only at daycare approximately 1
    hour a day so the center switched charging to hourly at $2.15 per hour.
    On a regular basis he does not attend, and the day care center just
    asks that I notify them if he will not be there so that they can allow
    a drop in to take his place.  It seems I have been fortunate with this
    center-they are open from 6:30am-12:00mid Mon-Thurs and from 6:30am-
    2:00am on Friday and Saturdays so I have never had to use a sitter.
    He has always been at the daycare or at one of his grandparents' homes
    if he was not with me.  The center also offers a summer program of
    swimming lessons and 8 field trips for only $55 (above regular hourly
    rate).  This center has been perfect for me due to it's flexible hours,
    charge by the hour, etc. since I work 2nd shift and go to school two
    days a week.  
    
    Check your area and/or Digital's daycare referral programs--there were
    more options than I was aware of until I started researching.
    
    Regards,
    Pam

Hi

I'm 5.5 months pregnant and would like to know what to expect for daycare
expenses.  I'm interested in finding out what the going rate is in Southern
N.H. for infants, and for toddlers over 1 year old (do the rates go down
when they turn 1?), licenced daycare centers and licensed and non-licensed 
homecare providers, full-time.

Thanks, Pam

In 1990, we paid $90/week for 30 hrs/week (homecare - in provider's home),
we provided diapers snd snacks.  Provider did lunches.

In 1991, we researched the cost of learning centers and daycare centers.
On average, for fulltime (7 am - 6 pm), it was $130-160 week  (for infants --
or toddlers who are still in diapers).  

We chose a toddler learning center for $130/week, we provide the lunches, 
they provide the snacks/drinks.  Field Trips (once a month from April through
September are (on average) $8.00/each). We also pay "extra" for private Red Cross 
swimming lessons (the center has an inground pool) during July/August.  
Most centers charge a yearly registration fee ($25-30) and your Pedi has to 
complete a "physical/vaccination" form (for the Center).

Both homecare and daycare required that we provide diapers, formula and/or
baby food.

Infants (or toddlers "still in diapers") are generally $15-20/week more (on
average $130-150).  You also get a discount if you have more than one child
at the same center.  Some centers also give "referral" discounts/bonuses.
Some centers provide transportation (from home and/or school) at no additional
cost  (well, I'm sure it's built into the tuition!).

The Digital Dependent Care Reimbursement benefit does help defray the cost by
allowing up to $96/week non-taxable, BUT you can tie up several weeks investment
between submitting receipts and JH issuing the checks - once a month).  You
also will lose any money which exceeds the year's total daycare expenses, so
estimate the cost accurately!).

Seems like a lot of money, but you need to first evaluate/decide what it is your
requirements (and wish list) is from a provider and then find a match.  Somehow,
the expense(s) just seem to "work themselves out"  (e.g. with the DCRA benefit,
fulltime (10 hrs/day) daycare was only $15/week more than 6 hrs/day homecare and
offered us and Juli more benefits/activities/flexibility/convenience and met more
of our needs.

Jim/I (and Juli, too!) really enjoyed checking out the various centers and
interviewing the directors/staff ... even now, we'll occasionally check out
another center or two.

Good luck,
Dottie

    Our experience is with a center that starts w/toddler ages and goes up
    to private kindergarten (in Nashua, NH).  For the toddlers, it is
    $4/per hour for part-time and/or drop-in care.  This does not include
    lunches and snacks; you must provide.  For full timers, it is $120/week
    including lunches and snacks.  We only use part time.  The center is
    open from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm.  Both part and full time must provide
    diapers and wipes.  Full timers get milk and juice included, part
    timers do not - you must provide.  I do not know what the costs are for
    the older kids; not there yet! 

    I use a center here in southern Nashua - $3/hr for part-time and
    drop-in care - snacks provided - lunch $1 extra.  This is for 12 months
    and over - I don't believe they take infants less than 12 months.  They
    also have a weekly rate - $100 (lunch/snacks provided) with a 10%
    discount for additional child.
    
    -sandy
    

    Pam, 
    
    I went through Familyworks.  They are located on Amherst St. in
    Nashua.  Their services are free to DEC employees because they
    have a contract.
    
    I called and they asked me a number of questions.  As they were
    asking, the woman typed in the information into their database.
    Then she ran a "match" to see if they had anyone.  She found
    3 matches and mailed us the print outs.    
    
    The print out has the person's name and address and phone number.  
    Also gives info on how many children they care for.  If they are
    licensed, or certifications.   What they provide.  Smoker/Non Smoker.
    If they take the baby out the in car etc.  Last it lists the rates.  
    The range for an infant I found it to be from $80.00 to $120.00, 
    some are negotiable.
    
    We provide food, formula and diapers until he is 1 year old.  Then
    we only need to provide diapers.  
    
    Finding Familyworks has been the best thing that ever happened.  We
    have an excellent daycare provider.  Her home has been inspected for
    for safety by the fire department, and also the health department for
    licensing. 
    
    Good luck.
    
    Jeanne
    

Thanks to everyone who replied to my questions about childcare.  I'll 
definitely contact Familyworks when we start looking into it further.
Thanks for the tip.  I didn't even know such places existed.

Pam

    
    Prices differ depending on where you live, how old the child is, what
    type of daycare you are looking for, etc.
    
    This year, my daughter is in Kindergarten, but it is a "private"
    kindergarten in the daycare center --- it costs me $105 per week, and I
    provide the lunches and snacks.  This is the best money I have spent,
    since there are only seven children in the class and she is getting a
    better education than had she gone to public kindergarten (25 children
    per class).
    
    Next year when my daughter is in first grade, the rate changes to $65
    per week and this is for the "after school" program from 3 - 6pm.  This
    price does not change during school vacation.  The only time this price
    would go up is in the summer for the "Summer Camp" program (it would
    probably go back up to $105/week) and it includes swimming lessons.  
    
    Good luck in your search
    Debby
    

    I would like some advice/suggestions about daycare costs.
    I have 5 children ranging in age from 3 to 5 months.
     (3 year old boy, 18 month old girl, and triplet 5 month old boys)
    
    Presently we are staying with my parents so they can help us with
    all the children.  I have arranged it so family members help care
    for the children while I work 2 days a week.  
    
    This situation is temporary.  We will eventually go back home
    (Bedford) or sell that house in move to the Stoneham/Reading
    area.  We will be looking for someone to come to our house
    3 days a week to care for the triplets (in the fall), at that
    time they will be a year old.  My father will continue to 
    take care of the older 2 children while I work.  I would like
    to hire someone 3 days a week.  I don't know if one person
    could do it, how much I should pay them?????????
    
    I am also open to any suggestions about live-in or live-out
    nannies, although I would prefer live-out.
    
    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
    
    Dawn

    I would like to know what the going rate is for daycare centers (NOT
    family daycare) in the Littleton-Westford-Chelmsford area of
    Massachusetts, for toddlers and preschoolers.
    
    If I relocate to this area, I'd want a center with nice sunny rooms,
    experienced daycare providers, a structured program, daily art, music,
    exercise and outdoor play.  Food provision negotiable.
    
    Thanks,
    Laura
    

    Laura (.16),
    
    I sent my daughter to Bright Horizons in North Billerica (close to
    Chelmsford, Rt. 3, Rt 495, etc) last year and was very pleased with it.
    You might want to call them for their current rates at (508) 667-3103. 
    The director's name is/was Suzanne Regan. 
    
    Bright Horizons is a chain in eastern MA and some other east coast
    areas. They are not cheap but run a very high-quality operation, in my
    opinion. The director of the center my daughter currently attends
    (Children's Village in Cambridge, MA) used to work for B.H. -- let me 
    know if you would like me to ask him any questions. 
    
    Lucy

    -.16
    
    Laura,
    
    My 2 kids attend Buds to Blossoms daycare in Littleton.  It's small
    center (total of about 20 kids amongst infant, toddler and preschool),
    with all the qualities you mentioned.  The schedule is fairly
    structured, with free time twice a day for favorite activities.  I
    already have a huge box of artwork by my 27 month old, can't throw
    anything away you know.  
    
    The going rate there is $185/week for an infant, and $165/week for a
    toddler.  There is a 20% discount on the total for 2 children.  If you
    are interested, contact Linda Kiernan at 486-4775.

    I have done a dir/title=daycare, but didn't find what I was looking
    for.  If this is posted somewhere else please let me know.
    
    
    
    We are expecting our second child in May, right now we have a 3 year
    old.  My in-home daycare provider is having a hard time deciding what she 
    should charge for both children.  Right now I am paying $80.00 a week -
    this is for a 5 day week from 7:45 - 5:20 a day.  She keeps asking me what
    I think she should charge me...that's such a hard question to answer!  I 
    really need an answer from her soon, our mortgage just went up and I need 
    to start budgeting this NOW.  
    
    What I was wondering is what other families are paying for two children 
    going to an in-home type care that paid roughly what I do/did for one 
    child ($80.00/week).  I should also note that she does not claim, 
    therefore we cannot take advantage of the tax break - which I feel should 
    be taken into consideration (especially when I found out yesterday what it
    would be for 2 children)!
                           
    Thanks for any feedback.
    
    
    
    Robin

    Robin,
    
    For reference, can you tell us where you are located?
    
    My initial take is that even for under-the-table, you are
    currently getting an incredible bargain! But then, I live
    in the Boston area...
    
    Lucy

    Robin,
    
    I don't have this problem, but my brother is going through the
    samething with his daycare provider.  My siter-in-law is due to have
    her second baby in 4 weeks (due March 13th).  I asked my brother what
    his daycare provider was going to charge them for watching a toddler
    and an infant, and I think he said about $150.00 a week.  I'm not sure
    what she charges them right know just to watch my neice.  From what
    others have told me that have 2 kids in daycare $150 is a good price,
    since infants do need alot of care.
    
    
    Liz

Assuming everyone in this discusion is in the greater Boston/Maynard 
area, I'd like to know how you find places with which you are
comfortable in that price range.    I just started doing research and
everything sent to me by the Digital Child Care people is MINIMUM $150
for ONE infant (this is over the table). 

Thanks

    
    Alot depends on they type of care you want a center is usally more
    than a home care enviorment, not to mention the towns.  The price
    changes from town to town.  But $150 is the going rate for a child
    under 2 years of age at most places.  
    
    Lisa

    I should have put this in my other reply, but I forgot.
    
    I live in Leominster and pay my daycare provider $85.00 a week.  My
    son is 3+ and he is there from 7:00am - 5:30pm and she feeds him
    breakfast, lunch and supper, plus snacks.  She is a great daycare lady
    and does alot with the kids she watches.  She charges $110 for infants
    and for school age children who are only there a few hours a day she
    charges the parents $3.00 and hour.  Like one of the other replys
    stated depending on where you live and what the provider wants to
    charge and if it is a center or a home daycare.
    
    Liz

    
    I was paying my in-home sitter (she claims it) $105 for 3 ten hour
    days.  My daugher is also 3.  When the baby came she wanted $160 for
    the two of them.  From my research in the Worcester/Auburn/Oxford area
    two children ran anywhere from a low of $120 to a high of $180 for 
    3 ten hour days.  (my current sitter also does breakfast, lunch and
    dinner)
    
    Sue

    I currently pay $115. for one infant, but my sitter said if there was 2
    she would charge $200.  This is for in-house, licensed daycare, in the
    southern NH area.  
    
    

    
    
    Sorry, I forgot to put my location in...we live in Milford, New
    Hampshire.  
    
    I cannot believe some of the prices of the replies.  How do you do it?! 
    I have never paid more than $85.00/week for Kati's (my 3 year old)
    daycare.  I even paid at one time $60.00 a week.  She was going to
    charge me $100.00 for TWO - and she claimed!
    
    I am still interested to hear of what other people in this area are
    paying for two.
    
    
    Thanks for the replies so far.  After reading these replies, I guess I 
    feel fortunate to be paying what I am paying.
    
    
    
    Robin

Wow.  We were paying $175/wk for JC from age 8 months to almost 2 years, in
Worcester (Licensed, in-home).  We are currently paying $150/wk (different 
sitter) in Marlboro.  JC will be 3 in May and this fall we plan to enroll
him in pre-school two mornings a week (2 1/2 a day).  We plan to
discuss with his daycare provider about dropping the rate then, since he
will be potty trained and not there for 5 hours a week.  BUT, since she is
the one that will be dropping off and picking him up from the pre-school, she
probably won't reduced the rate much, if at all.

Hamp

    Hi,
    
    I currently have in-home daycare for a 5 year old and a two year old.
    I pay $175/week for about 50 hours.  Our provider does claim so we do
    get the tax break.  Her rate for 1 child is $100, second child gets a
    25% discount.  This was also true when my children went to a day care
    center.  We live in northern Worcester county.  Lunch is included and
    breakfast if necessary.
    
    Good luck - I'd push for the discount on the second child especially
    since you can't take the tax credit which translate to a fair amount of
    money.
    
    Sue

    My kids (4 & 2) attend a daycare center in Hudson MA.  I pay
    $250/week for full-time care (7:30am-5:30pm).  This includes 
    the 10% discount for 2nd child.
    
    Wendy

    We pay $125/week for 7:30 - 5:30 (hours not concrete) for our toddler.
    She's been there since she was 7 months old.  This family is a neighbor
    of ours and they feed her lunch and dinner quite often...we send food
    for lunch, but she usually eats whatever they're having.  They also
    give her snacks whenever she's hungry.  She only takes care of 1 other
    infant...and that may end this summer.  Also, if we aren't there, we
    don't pay for that day or portion of the day.  We don't have a formal
    contract.
    
    Our first daycare provider (when our daughter was an infant) charged
    $2.50/hour (same price but she charged in 15 minute increments...both
    plus and minus).  Her contract charged a slight discount for siblings,
    but most places we checked out charged the same fee for the second
    child.  At the time we were there, she had another infant (hers),
    a 4-year old son, and 2 toddler girls.  When it became apparent she
    couldn't handle so many children (stress-wise), we left.
    
    These are both private homes in the Dudley/Oxford MA area.
    
    I think that the basenoter is getting a terrific bargain in price.  I'm
    still amazed that people north of Hudson are paying $150 and up for 
    homecare!!  Sometimes we feel like we don't pay enough, and yet
    $500/month is all we can afford.  Daycare centers tend to charge more
    than we pay.
    

    Some days I think I'm in the wrong business!!
    
    -sandy
    

    I have two sons, one 3 1/2 and the other is 1 1/2 and I send them to a
    home daycare I pay $160.00 and they get breakfast and lunch and snacks,
    and they are there anywhere from 7:00 to 4:15 M-F.. My kids Love her to
    pieces and so do we.
    
    It took me 4 or 5 sitters to finally find one we all Loved! In the two
    in half years I have been using her, she has been out sick just once.
    
    Lynne

    I pay 160.00 wkly for 2 from 7:00/4:00.
    

It would be most helpful if replies would list general town/area location 
in addition to price.   I am following this note with peaked interest, 
but since price seems to vary tremendously with location, price alone 
is not enough information. 

Thanks for sharing this ! 

    For 2 kids in Beverly, Mass. (north of Boston, south of New Hampshire):
    in-home, under-the-table, from 7:30 till 4:30 five days a week, it's
    $170.  I bring their food for lunch/snacks, plus supply diapers/wipes.
    The sitter drops off/picks up my son at nursery school 3 days/week;
    she does get all the paid holidays (all the ones we don't get here at
    DEC. :-)).  
    
    Then at 4:30, she takes them over to a neighbor's house, and that
    person minds them till 5:30 or 6, when I get home, for $50 a week. 
    This person is my substitute sitter as well, but I can't afford to pay
    twice for holidays anymore, so I just take a vacation day or work from
    home.  Total cost $220/week.
    
    I hope the cost will go down in the fall when James goes to
    kindergarten.

    My note was 450.14 and I live in Nashua, NH!

  I live in the Dallas, TX area. I have one 3 yr old and one 3 month old.  
It's $68.00 for the 3 yr old and $85.00 for the infant.  I get a 10% discount 
on the infant which brings the total to $144.50/week.  The hours are from
6:30am-6:30pm.  My daycare is the best.  They have excellent meals for the
kids and a wonderful staff.  Childcare is just more affordable in Texas.
My oldest was born in Nashua, we moved back to Texas when she was almost
1 and we saved considerably on childcare cost with the move.

-Lisa

    I live in Hampstead, NH and I currently pay 90.00 a week for my
    daycare provider...She is very flexible with her hours as long
    as she knows in the am (or as soon as I know) what time I will
    be there in the evening.
    
    I spent some time in Kansas in the spring and the daycare there
    charge 1.35/hr for infants going down with age - I think it
    was .85/hr for after school care....
    
    Does anybody know whay daycare costs are so expensive in the East???
    
    -/andrea

    EVERYTHING is more expensive in the east!  Seems people charge what the
    market will bear, and we've been bearing it!
    
    And some of us - just barely  8^)
    
    -sandy
    

    My kids go to daycare three days a week.
    
    For Caileigh, who is six, I pay $25/day (8-6), whether she has school
    (1/2 day kindergarten) or not.   This is in-home care in Auburn, Mass.  
    
    For Paige, who is four, I pay $29/day (available 7-6), though it would
    be $125/week if she went full-time.  This is at a daycare center in
    Westboro, Mass.
    
    When they were an infant and toddler, I paid $310/week.
    

    for a daycare center with trained teachers, a playground, etc., for a
    toddler?
    
    L
    
    who dreams of heading South if she gets the tap  ;-)
    

We had both our kids in Primrose (full time) and it cost
about $165/week, total for both.

We switched to another daycare and it is now only $144/week
and it will drop $10/week once Samantha is out of diapers (and
properly potty trained, of course...:-))

These prices are for daycares in Woodstock, GA (southern Cherokee
Co.)  Primrose seemed to have 'teachers' and were fairly picky
on the length of time the kids were there.  This new center
has more friendly staff and no real mention was made of the
length of stay.  We drop off around 8am and pickup around 6pm.

Dave

ps Anthony is 4 and Samatha is about to turn 2.

	In October -92 I went on a round of visits to daycare centers in 
 	Acton/Littleton MA.

	I was looking for daycare for my infant son, he was then 3-4 months.
	In all I visited about 6 centers and prices for full time care for
	an infant ranged from $165 to $235 per week.


	The place that charged $165 had recently lowered their price by $10
	it was a small center, the lady indicated that they had had a shortage
	of kids during the summer, my guess is that they lowered the price 
	to get more children, although she did not come right out and said so.

	Most of the places charged $180-$190's, the most expensive center  
	($235) was way above the other centers. (Still very popular with no 
	current infant openings when I visited)


	Hope this helps some


	/Malin

    RE: .33  Not really.  This only works out to about $3-$4/hour.

    Mike in .46 alludes to something that I have felt since becoming a
    parent: there's no reason that a high-quality child care provider
    should not be paid as much as any other job that requires comparable
    skills (and I believe these skills are wide and many). 
             
    This doesn't seem to jibe with the way the U.S. currently sees child
    care, but I personally don't mind spending money for good daycare and
    babysitting. Some of my friends think this is money wasted, but I see
    it otherwise.  
    
    Lucy

This is not meant to refute the sentiments in .47.     

I wanted to point out that the figure of $3-4 in .46 is per child.   I
believe that the limit of children to adults in family day care is 6
(with certain age restrictions).  That equates to $18-24 per hour. 

Granted, there are self employment taxes and insurance to the minus 
side, and tax deductions of the house to the positive side, and I'm 
sure many other pro's and con's.  

RE:.47

	My feelings exactly, one wonders why anyone would want to become a
daycare provider or teacher when parents expect so much but aren't willing to
pay more!

	The national average for daycare workers salary is something like 15k
That's a job that has 10hr days, no breaks, no paid vacations or sick days, no
benefits and a LOT of responsibility!!!!  Don't think I would take a job like
that.

	I know my home daycare must do better than the average, but even so,
it's a tough job!  She is in Pepperell MA and charges $3/hr with a discount for
the second child.  [average in the Pepperell/Groton area seemed to be $2.50-3.00
per hour]  She takes in 5 children [mine is the only one fulltime at 10hrs/day] 
I figure that at the most she makes 25k/year, I feel she should be worth much
more!

    Brad (3yrs) is at a LaPetite Day Care in Gwinnett County (Metro Atlanta) I 
    pay 67.00/wk plus one dollar for Dental Care.  They brush their teeth with
    disposable toothbrushes.  When he was an infant it was 76.50.  That is with
    the 10% corporate discount.
    
    Sasha

    very timely to find this note now....
    
    AJ goes to the sitter for roughly 2-1/2 hours a day on school days. 
    It's a half hour, usually like 15 minutes in the morning and no more
    than 2 hours after school, again usually more like 1.5 hours.  His dad
    picks him up and usually is there by 4:30.  I have been paying her as
    if he were there the full 2.5 hours per day for 5 days, just for the
    sake of consistency, it's $3./hour for "part-timers".  I just feel she's 
    giving me a slot, that realistically she could be getting a full week's 
    pay for, so why not pay the couple dollars more to round out the time?
    
    Now just for curiousity sake, last week was school vacation.  Except
    for one day SHE took off (for her birthday and I didn't pay for it) I
    had to pay her hourly rate for something like 37 hours.  I tried to
    push back, just a little, when I arrived to pick him up last Friday
    night with checkbook in hand, I asked her OK so what's your weekly
    rate, and I'll just divide it by 4 (4 days care), she said oh no it's
    37 hours at 2.50 per hour.  Her rate drops 50 cents if it's 4 or more
    hours.  She is on the food program if it matters, she provides snacks
    on school days, lunches on non-school days.  So I wrote the check and 
    decided that next vacation I'll take a couple days off, it might end up 
    being cheaper.  We're in south Oxford, near the Webster line (Chaffee 
    school area for those that know the area).
    
    We're new to her, we've only been doing in home care since the first
    of the year.  Our school system offers "extended day" kindegarten, this
    is a loosly structured classroom that is held during the period when
    the child is not in regular kindegarten.  If he goes all 5 days it
    averages out to $8./day for about 3 hours of care.  We provide all his
    lunches, drinks and snacks in a lunchbox.  The children buy milk weekly
    in their regular kindegarten class.  Prior to that I paid a high school
    student $3. per hour to come to the house.  It was the sitter who
    didn't work out, not the situation. (sitter from H*LL we called her,
    she just had some real BAD habits and friends)
    
    Lyn

    
    Does anybody know who I would ask to get an official answer to this
    question?
    
    My babysitter used to care for my daughter and one other in her own
    home - but since the other little girl grew up and I am expecting
    another in June, my babysitter has decided to just care for my
    child(ren).  She claimes all the money I pay her on her taxes, so it
    never occurred to me that I should be paying FICA for her - but this
    discussion makes me think maybe I AM responsible.
    
    - Carol

    Seems to be that she is running her own business, since it is out of
    her home.  If she claims the income, does she also claim expenses for 
    the cost of conducting business?
    

but everything I've read (and I've read a lot lately :-) suggests that
someone working out of their own home is in business for themselves.  I.e.,
you do not need to worry about FICA, etc.

    A personal opinion, nothing more, is that it would seem that it is HER
    business, running out of HER home.  You do bring your childrent THERE
    right?  It would be just the same as if you brought them to a regular
    daycare center (such as KinderCare for example).  At the centers they
    take care of paying the taxes to the government, not you.  I also think
    some providers might even take a tax deduction for using a portion of
    their home for a business.
    
    The way I see it, whether the daycare is in a home or a storefront,
    it's still the *providers's* business, she is her own employer and
    therefore responsible for submitting her own taxes to the goverment.
    
    Lyn

    I use a center-based day-care in Westford Mass.  The cost is $200/week.
    That includes a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack.  They
    are open 7:30-5:30, although my son is usually there for shorter days
    than that.  We are required to take a week's "vacation" (i.e. take him
    out for 1 week each summer), but still have to pay for that week.  We
    are allowed 5 sick days per year, which means if we call in the am and
    say he will be out sick we don't have to pay for that day. 
    
    My center used to be a restaurant, before it was bought by the day-care
    owners and converted into playrooms, sleeping rooms, etc.  So, it has
    a nice kitchen and they employ a full-time cook, and the kids get great
    food--hot food in the winter.  Some days when I go in there and smell
    the freshly baked muffins or cookies, or when I see the varied and 
    interesting lunches they have there, I wish I could eat there!

    My sister-in-law is planning to move from Orlando, Florida to Brighton 
    with her three kids, ages 6, 4, and 2.  She's hoping to secure a teaching 
    position in the Boston area, and will need day care for the 4 and 2 year
    olds, and probably part time for the 6 year old.  I'm not sure, but she'd
    probably use a center over in home care if it were cheaper.

    I'd like to give her a rough cost estimate for day care, but I have
    no idea what the prices are like within the city limits.  Most of the 
    replies in this string refer to metrowest areas.

    Does anyone have an idea what cost range she should expect?

    Thanks,
    Cara

    From what Ifound in the Newton area, a family day care situation, where
    you take your child to a provider's home runs from $3.75 - $5.00 per
    hour.  Centers run $175 - $250.  This was based on sources I checked 2
    years ago and info from friends.  With 3 kids, she might want to
    consider one of the au pair agencies, 

    What would I expect to pay for full time day care in the Worcester
    Area.  Lets say about 45-50 Hours a week including Breakfast and Lunch. 
    I prefer a private Home and not a center.  Does anyone out there have
    first hand experience on this question.  If so Please send me mail at 
    PACKER::BACZKO
    
    Thanks
    Les

	I'll send mail, too, but in case anyone else has the same
	question:

	I found the average in-home price in Shrewsbury to be $120/week
	for toddlers, and between $120 and $140 for infants.  Most
	offered meals and snacks (and that should include formula
	if you use it for your infants), and took 2 weeks unpaid
	vacation per year.  Most also take paid holidays, beyond
	those which we get at Digital.  

	Again, these are *averages* for care from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

	Karen