DC Area pays on average $18k for Child Care (Reston: rent, mortgage)

[justtitans]

Child Care Cost Skyrockets; Costs More Than College in Some States (http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/Child-Care-Cost-Skyrockets-Costs-More-Than-College-in-Some-States_42167610 - broken link)

Overall, the NACCRRA study showed that Mississippi has the cheapest average annual rates for infant day care in a center at $4,650 per year. The most expensive is Washington, DC, where parents shell out $18,200 a year on average.

SMH, it is insane what we have to pay in this area for child care!

CORRECTION TO TITLE: Meant to say just DC, not DC area, sorry.

[claremarie]

In child care, as in many other things, you get what you pay for. And it costs a lot more to pay rent in DC than in Mississippi and other largely rural states.

[hilsmom]

and if you have 2...and then of course you have to do weekend classes and what not or you're a BAD parent. haha

[OaktonRes]

I send kids to Reston day cares (aka "pre-schools'). $1800/mon (for full time) is the average price with my experiences. I have nothing left after kids' tuition payments.

[The Dissenter]

I'm DEFINITELY not having kids.

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by OaktonRes

I send kids to Reston day cares (aka "pre-schools'). $1800/mon (for full time) is the average price with my experiences. I have nothing left after kids' tuition payments.

per child or combined?

We're only going to be paying a little bit per week now that we only need two days of aftercare for our daughter starting K. Of course, we just took on a bigger mortgage by moving from a TH to a SFH, so we're not really seeing relief, but it is a personal victory to not be sending a couple hundred per week to childcare. We're hoping for another kiddo at some point, but it is going to be tight when we add a large childcare payment back in the monthly budget.

I totally get why people get nannies and au pairs - it is many times cheaper than 2 in a center. I also get why people quit their jobs after #2 when they didn't after #1.

[michgc]

I went part-time after my 1st, and after my 3rd I quit. Although, it did backfire, in that the economy tanked, and now I cannot go back. Many people stay just to keep their foot in the door even if they only break even.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by OaktonRes

I send kids to Reston day cares (aka "pre-schools'). $1800/mon (for full time) is the average price with my experiences. I have nothing left after kids' tuition payments.

I believe it. I did an inquiry in bristow va and the prices aren't much different. My wife and I maybe having a second child and I have found out from a few daycares out there that I'm also looking at $1800+/month for both kids. Yikes!

[shamrock847]

Keep in mind the $18k/yr figure was for infant day care which is the most expensive kind.

I think $1K/mo per kid ($12k/yr) is not unusual around here for non-infant day care in a center (five days a week). It can be more if you work extended or unusual hours. So $1800/mo is for 2 kids is not surprising or unreasonable at all.

There are home based options that are cheaper, but these are typically word of mouth things within a neighborhood. If your kids are in school, there are also before and after school only options (like SACC) which are cheaper, but you still spend a lot of money on camps or back up care in the summer and on days when school is out.

Au Pairs are generally cheaper than nannies but you usually have to provide room and board and they are typically for a limited time so you have to hire a new one periodically. A full time nanny will run you (I have heard) $30k - $50k per year depending on hours, live in/live out status, benefits (if any), whether they are "legal" and whether or not you pay social security taxes or have some sort of shady cash only arrangement. I'm certainly not recommending people employ illegal workers or not pay their taxes, but that is a choice some people make.

Given child care costs, a lot of families are just breaking even or possibly losing money by having both spouses working, especially after you include taxes, commuting, work wardrobe, and such. I think a lot of people don't realize how much it costs them for both parents to work (often $40-$60k per year). On the other hand, as mentioned earlier it can be worth it to keep a foot in the door, to stay current in your field, or to maintain seniority etc.

[CAVA1990]

Wonder why the banks haven't gotten into marketing "child care loans" like student loans that can be paid off later when parents move to higher income levels.