question about in-home childcare??

**mommy2three** · 01-04-2004, 07:24 PM

my sil just asked if i wanted to watch their baby while they are working. it wouldn't start till march. the baby is due beginning feb. my question is what to charge her. she told me to come up with a price. i want to give them a deal, but i want it to be worth it for me too.

PLEASE HELP.

**sixfreds** · 01-04-2004, 07:46 PM

my advice is find out what other moms who do in-home day care get and then if you want to give her a deal then give her a break and tell her less...

I used to do this for a neighbor about 40 hours a week and I was paid $150 a week, this might seem low low but really he was the same age as the triplets so it was really nothing extra :~)

But all areas are different I know that the places around here usually get between $200 and $250 for full time day care....

Or if you don't have any whay to find out what others are getting just some up with a number that is something you would pay for the same deal and base it off of that...

Good luck!!
Eileen

**MJsLady** · 01-04-2004, 08:08 PM

Misty, it depends greatly on your area. Out here for an infant you are low at $115 a week. For age 2 and up it is the norm to go with $80-85.
I am thinking of doing this too (as a former preschool teacher I have lots of experience!) but for our area i would charge $65 for the 2-5 year old age range I am aiming at, $15 below the norm.

**Mom23boys** · 01-04-2004, 09:47 PM

I would call around and see what everyone else is charging for infants and preschool age, so you would have an idea of what to charge and how much of a break to give them.

**PrairieRose** · 01-04-2004, 09:50 PM

Misty it's great you want to give them a deal but do make it well worth your own time and trouble or you will resent it. It's a lot of work, as you well know having kiddies of your own. (don't cha just love babies though

)

**mommy2three** · 01-04-2004, 10:18 PM

thanks everyone. i guess i should have mentioned i would have him mon-fri for around 10 hrs. a day. she checked with a daycare and they wanted $140 a week. i used to work at a daycare from 1995-2000. when i quit, they had just raised the price of infants to $128 a week. so, i'm guessing $140 a week is probably the going rate for a daycare around here. i'm not sure what people charge in their home though. i really wish she could give me an idea of what she was looking to pay. i think i might have to try to talk to her more about it.
you all don't know how much we really need this right now. we just got a MAJOR increase in our property tax and it raised our mortgage payment over $50 a month.

i was starting to look for a part-time job, when she mentioned me keeping the baby.
anyway, thanks soooo much for you input. i'll let you all know what happens.

**frugalmel** · 01-05-2004, 01:01 AM

Keep us posted Misty!

**MJsLady** · 01-05-2004, 09:55 AM

Misty, I can only say what I would do. Out here I forget the daycare center rates, but it is higher than you mention, it was about that 2 years ago and they go up yearly.
I would say $100 a week, giving them a $40 break, if it is too much (which would mean they can not AFFORD that much, not that they don't WANT to pay that much) Ask her what she is willing to pay.
Lisa is right though, make sure it is worth your while to do. Get what you need to out of it and a little spare to treat your self to something extra.

**Michelle** · 01-05-2004, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by Mom23boys
I would call around and see what everyone else is charging for infants and preschool age, so you would have an idea of what to charge and how much of a break to give them.

Definitely do this...it really depends on your area. And like Lisa said, make it worth your while too because you don't want to end up resenting people, especially family.