Chicago filter: Daycare help!
July 7, 2011 11:22 AM Subscribe
We are 12 weeks pregnant! Hooray! Now down to the nitty gritty, and I'm nothing if not a planner. First time mother, so this is all relatively new to me. I need some advice from the wise hive mind about childcare and the search for it in Chicago.
My plan is to take about 3-3.5 months maternity leave and then head back to work full-time. We are due in late January, so I guess we would be looking to start daycare in early May.
Question 1: When should I start looking seriously? I know this is early, but I don't want to miss the boat.
Question 2: Any good recommendations? We are in the Logan Square area, but I would also be open to places in Wicker Park/Bucktown, Irving Park, or Roscoe Village.
Question 3: What should I expect to pay for five full days? (I checked out some rates and they seemed insanely high to me, but maybe I just need to acclimate and adjust the budget accordingly).
Thank you, everyone!
I live in the Boston area. Our in-home daycare provider is $55/day. There are some in the area who charge $60.
When we looked at centers, the cheapest we found was $1550/month for full-time infant care. The second was $1900, and the most expensive program was $2500. We could have paid for a center if we could have lived there.
We found an in-home daycare to be cheaper and to provide a higher quality of care than most of the centers, so I would ask around for references to in-home daycares and check them out as well as centers. Find what you're comfortable with. Learn the differences between the styles and between the individual programs within each style.
We started our search when I was about five months pregnant with Toddler Zizzle. We found a place when I was close to seven months and handed over the deposit and signed the paperwork when I was about eight months, but that was because we quickly eliminated centers with no waiting lists and used a fantastic referral service. Some places will have really long waiting lists, though, so if you have your heart set on a particular program, it's best to put your name on the list ASAP.
I don't know much about the Chicago area in particular, but I imagine there are some urban similarities in terms of cost and availability.
posted by zizzle at 11:36 AM on July 7, 2011
When we looked at centers, the cheapest we found was $1550/month for full-time infant care. The second was $1900, and the most expensive program was $2500. We could have paid for a center if we could have lived there.
We found an in-home daycare to be cheaper and to provide a higher quality of care than most of the centers, so I would ask around for references to in-home daycares and check them out as well as centers. Find what you're comfortable with. Learn the differences between the styles and between the individual programs within each style.
We started our search when I was about five months pregnant with Toddler Zizzle. We found a place when I was close to seven months and handed over the deposit and signed the paperwork when I was about eight months, but that was because we quickly eliminated centers with no waiting lists and used a fantastic referral service. Some places will have really long waiting lists, though, so if you have your heart set on a particular program, it's best to put your name on the list ASAP.
I don't know much about the Chicago area in particular, but I imagine there are some urban similarities in terms of cost and availability.
posted by zizzle at 11:36 AM on July 7, 2011
Just to clarify, there are nannies that cost over $3000 a month, as well, but we just never interviewed those at that rate. :)
posted by TinWhistle at 11:37 AM on July 7, 2011
posted by TinWhistle at 11:37 AM on July 7, 2011
Daycare under the age of two, can be difficult due to regulations regarding child to staff ratios. If you find a reputable place, then you may want to get your name on the waiting list just in case.
posted by Kale Slayer at 11:41 AM on July 7, 2011
posted by Kale Slayer at 11:41 AM on July 7, 2011
We didn't get our act together with daycare until, like, birth. We didn't get into a daycare until our first was 11 months old, and not into the daycare we wanted until 16-17 mo. He was on waitlists for that whole time. What we found was that no one ever (ever!) called us back to let us know there was an opening. We eventually got into our preferred center by calling them regularly. This seems to be how "waitlists" actually work. You have to be on the list, but then once you start calling them all the time you magically move up it because they know you will actually take the spot if offered. We used a part time nanny plus flexible work schedules for the first year, so we were pretty happy with how the first year panned out despite our original intention to use daycare.
posted by pekala at 11:43 AM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pekala at 11:43 AM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Congratulations! The next few months will go by so quickly. I'm a new dad to a 6 month old, and we're in Chicago (Ravenswood). Here's what I've learned:
1. You're correct in thinking that you need to start early to secure a spot in some daycares. In my neighborhood, I've been told that the wait times to get in are anywhere from 9 to 15 months. Start looking NOW. (on preview, pekala's advice above also applies)
2. Get recommendations from people you know with kids. Many of my coworkers send their kids to home daycares, but be sure to check everything out. Home daycares are much less expensive but the quality of care can vary dramatically. Of course, the same goes for the more commercial centers.
I don't know about daycares in Wicker Park/Bucktown or Irving park, but here's a great post about the available daycares in Roscoe Village.
3. The cheapest commercial daycare that we found was $1200 per month, and the most expensive was $2200. We looked at one home daycare and that was $800 per month. We weren't interested in a nanny, but have heard that some can get paid around $40,000 per year. Yikes.
Feel free to memail me if you want to know more about Chicago-specific daycares.
posted by photovox at 11:48 AM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
1. You're correct in thinking that you need to start early to secure a spot in some daycares. In my neighborhood, I've been told that the wait times to get in are anywhere from 9 to 15 months. Start looking NOW. (on preview, pekala's advice above also applies)
2. Get recommendations from people you know with kids. Many of my coworkers send their kids to home daycares, but be sure to check everything out. Home daycares are much less expensive but the quality of care can vary dramatically. Of course, the same goes for the more commercial centers.
I don't know about daycares in Wicker Park/Bucktown or Irving park, but here's a great post about the available daycares in Roscoe Village.
3. The cheapest commercial daycare that we found was $1200 per month, and the most expensive was $2200. We looked at one home daycare and that was $800 per month. We weren't interested in a nanny, but have heard that some can get paid around $40,000 per year. Yikes.
Feel free to memail me if you want to know more about Chicago-specific daycares.
posted by photovox at 11:48 AM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
I live in the Portland area, so I don't know how that compares to Chicago, but I didn't start looking until Baby Rabbit was one month old. I found our sitter the next day using care.com. I went back to work when BR was ten weeks old (and I gave the sitter a deposit to hold her til then).
Of course, I had decided that we were NOT going to do a center because when they're that young, the ratios in the centers are too high (you can't hold four babies at once! Or even two most of the time!) so I concentrated on finding, ideally, a one-on-one care situation. I found a stay-at-home mom close by who had the same values as we did and was willing to work with cloth diapers and breastfeeding.
I paid her $6/hr for full time (37.5 hrs / $225 per week).
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:51 AM on July 7, 2011
Of course, I had decided that we were NOT going to do a center because when they're that young, the ratios in the centers are too high (you can't hold four babies at once! Or even two most of the time!) so I concentrated on finding, ideally, a one-on-one care situation. I found a stay-at-home mom close by who had the same values as we did and was willing to work with cloth diapers and breastfeeding.
I paid her $6/hr for full time (37.5 hrs / $225 per week).
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:51 AM on July 7, 2011
Daycare (in my experience in Southern California and Washington, DC) is between $1000-2000/month for a commerical center. In-homes are cheaper but vary in quality even more commerical centers. (Search around in AskMe for things to look for/to ask.)
Yes, get on as many waitlists as you can that are close to your house and close to your work. Ask all your with-child friends and coworkers for recommendations, then tour before and after baby (the things you'll care about change).
Advantages of having center close to work:
- Possibly you can go and breastfeed instead of pumping (this is a huge advantage, fwiw)
- If kiddo is sick or there is a problem, you can go quickly
Advantages of having center close to home:
- You don't have to commute with a baby (and maybe run home to get dressed/shower?)
- If you're sick, you can drop kid off, and come back home
In my new large urban area, many people do nannyshares because there are so few good daycare centers. In my neighborhood listserv, nannies or shares are advertised multiple times a day.
Things to think about with a nannyshare:
- More flexible than a center if your kid is sick or you're running late
- You have more control over what your kid eats, does, is exposed to, etc.
- More expensive (more or less) (We end up paying a few hundred dollars more a month than we would with a center)
- You may have to pay different types of insurance
- If you're doing things legally you should pay overtime, whereas at a center, you don't have to worry about that
Congrats!
posted by k8t at 12:07 PM on July 7, 2011
Yes, get on as many waitlists as you can that are close to your house and close to your work. Ask all your with-child friends and coworkers for recommendations, then tour before and after baby (the things you'll care about change).
Advantages of having center close to work:
- Possibly you can go and breastfeed instead of pumping (this is a huge advantage, fwiw)
- If kiddo is sick or there is a problem, you can go quickly
Advantages of having center close to home:
- You don't have to commute with a baby (and maybe run home to get dressed/shower?)
- If you're sick, you can drop kid off, and come back home
In my new large urban area, many people do nannyshares because there are so few good daycare centers. In my neighborhood listserv, nannies or shares are advertised multiple times a day.
Things to think about with a nannyshare:
- More flexible than a center if your kid is sick or you're running late
- You have more control over what your kid eats, does, is exposed to, etc.
- More expensive (more or less) (We end up paying a few hundred dollars more a month than we would with a center)
- You may have to pay different types of insurance
- If you're doing things legally you should pay overtime, whereas at a center, you don't have to worry about that
Congrats!
posted by k8t at 12:07 PM on July 7, 2011
I have no specifics about where you live beyond the general Chicago area but it was hard, really hard and here is what I learned. Maybe it will help you.
1. we were all set to send our child to daycare and I started looking casually probably the 9th month. Just to know what I was getting myself into. Then I actually searched/went to facilities during maternity leave. The two issues I found widespread was a) finding a place where you get the vibe that its' clean, safe, loving and b) making sure they had an opening and if I liked it 100%, put down a deposit for when you are ready. Usually it's like $75, which at the time, wasn't that big of a deal if it was non-refundable.
2. everything with #1 was thrown into a huge loop when our son acquired RSV at 6 weeks so severe we almost lost him. All pediatricians and specialists said he is high risk, has virally induced asthma, and at all costs, do NOT send him do day care because he would get sick again and with his immune system/lungs, we would see many ER trips. So that whole day care situation was out the door. We looked into family and they were not compliant (i.e willing to do it without high drama and b.s. so we said screw them). So we nearly begged a stay at home mom friend who had a 3 year old to at least try to give it a whirl 3 days a week. We didn't know any better pricing wise so we paid $50 flat.
Well she quit after a month.
3. now in panic mode, we put up ads in Care.com and SitterCity. Yes. I was terrified of some stranger taking care of my high colic kid mix that with some PPD and you got one anxious mom. Luckily we interviewed and found a few good candidates and yes, for $10/hour. We mostly got 22ish year old college students who we prefered they had a child education or nursing background (sense of humor, patience, kind, bla bla bla). We also tried them out first during my stay at home days and DH's days home. We weeded through some more who we saw as a not so good fit and then found two amazing ones. It wound up that one stayed until 15 months--just in time for him to build a better immune system, not go into ER visits with the first cold, and is still our sitter for nights out (she's even coming with us on a much needed vacation). She's great.
Looking back, I would absolutely do the same thing with a second infant. First, private, student nanny care and then at 15 mo, the day care. They do get sick a lot. Mine was sick from the week he entered daycare (hand foot mouth anyone on day 2?) up until the sick season. Now it's a "whatever" and gave his daycare a second nebulitizer machine. He got the best of love and attention, staying healthy, and she taught him some amazing things. And now in daycare he's learned SO MUCH and I'm so happy with how it turned out.
So the $3k nanny or more is out there. But so are $10/hour students who would love the opportunity for experience on their resume/skills and just are a great match.
For daycare costs for a full day, in my SW Side area, it's $51/day flat w/ breakfast. I can leave him there anytime from 6:30am to 6:30pm. We only do 4 days right now.
When I called some places downtown? It was a crazy $800/week. No way. Can't do it (infant prices; it goes down as a child gets older). My friend for an in home care up in the North Shore? She's paying $500 and still isn't getting 1/2 of what our son is getting out of daycare school.
It's all what you may be comfortable with emotionally, expectations, and budget. No one is right or wrong if you and your child are happy. Keep an open mind as to all options. We never would expect scrambling a week before going back to work our entire plans changed.
The only lesson I learned was that using family became dicey and I've heard too many drama stories where I"m happy that I don't have that option. :)
Good luck, congrats, and enjoy every second of the 3 months!!!!
posted by stormpooper at 1:47 PM on July 7, 2011
1. we were all set to send our child to daycare and I started looking casually probably the 9th month. Just to know what I was getting myself into. Then I actually searched/went to facilities during maternity leave. The two issues I found widespread was a) finding a place where you get the vibe that its' clean, safe, loving and b) making sure they had an opening and if I liked it 100%, put down a deposit for when you are ready. Usually it's like $75, which at the time, wasn't that big of a deal if it was non-refundable.
2. everything with #1 was thrown into a huge loop when our son acquired RSV at 6 weeks so severe we almost lost him. All pediatricians and specialists said he is high risk, has virally induced asthma, and at all costs, do NOT send him do day care because he would get sick again and with his immune system/lungs, we would see many ER trips. So that whole day care situation was out the door. We looked into family and they were not compliant (i.e willing to do it without high drama and b.s. so we said screw them). So we nearly begged a stay at home mom friend who had a 3 year old to at least try to give it a whirl 3 days a week. We didn't know any better pricing wise so we paid $50 flat.
Well she quit after a month.
3. now in panic mode, we put up ads in Care.com and SitterCity. Yes. I was terrified of some stranger taking care of my high colic kid mix that with some PPD and you got one anxious mom. Luckily we interviewed and found a few good candidates and yes, for $10/hour. We mostly got 22ish year old college students who we prefered they had a child education or nursing background (sense of humor, patience, kind, bla bla bla). We also tried them out first during my stay at home days and DH's days home. We weeded through some more who we saw as a not so good fit and then found two amazing ones. It wound up that one stayed until 15 months--just in time for him to build a better immune system, not go into ER visits with the first cold, and is still our sitter for nights out (she's even coming with us on a much needed vacation). She's great.
Looking back, I would absolutely do the same thing with a second infant. First, private, student nanny care and then at 15 mo, the day care. They do get sick a lot. Mine was sick from the week he entered daycare (hand foot mouth anyone on day 2?) up until the sick season. Now it's a "whatever" and gave his daycare a second nebulitizer machine. He got the best of love and attention, staying healthy, and she taught him some amazing things. And now in daycare he's learned SO MUCH and I'm so happy with how it turned out.
So the $3k nanny or more is out there. But so are $10/hour students who would love the opportunity for experience on their resume/skills and just are a great match.
For daycare costs for a full day, in my SW Side area, it's $51/day flat w/ breakfast. I can leave him there anytime from 6:30am to 6:30pm. We only do 4 days right now.
When I called some places downtown? It was a crazy $800/week. No way. Can't do it (infant prices; it goes down as a child gets older). My friend for an in home care up in the North Shore? She's paying $500 and still isn't getting 1/2 of what our son is getting out of daycare school.
It's all what you may be comfortable with emotionally, expectations, and budget. No one is right or wrong if you and your child are happy. Keep an open mind as to all options. We never would expect scrambling a week before going back to work our entire plans changed.
The only lesson I learned was that using family became dicey and I've heard too many drama stories where I"m happy that I don't have that option. :)
Good luck, congrats, and enjoy every second of the 3 months!!!!
posted by stormpooper at 1:47 PM on July 7, 2011
Oh and childcare centers follow DCFS rules. 4:1 ratio, max 10-12 babies.
Make sure they have strict security rules---passcodes, driver license for other people picking up, not on the pickup list? Can't pick up your child. Are people paying attention? One chain place I looked at--I could have walked out with a kid, no one would have noticed. Not good! Ours greets everyone and says goodbye. They see exactly who is here coming and going.
Nutrition. One place was serving McDonalds and Smores. That is not DCFS (or even AAP) compliant. Ours does zero sugar, preservatives. Pays attention to allergies.
Med policy--do they even give doc approved meds w/ a note? Some won't even do that.
What is the sick policy? Usually fever needs to be away 24 hours before returning, sometimes a note for severe issues, notes for communicable strains goes to parents (i.e. hey there's strep in X class).
Safety in general--cleanliness, room situation (hazards?). The same "smores place"? They had a friggen kiddie pool right next to a dumpster. Um hellz no. (reported their @ss). Gloves for diapers?
Teachers--do they look happy? Do the kids look happy? Hear any disciplining going on? Is it loving but firm? How to they do stress coverage? How often is turnover? What are their requirements (ours doens't allow teacher aids, which have bare bones experience).
Kids--do they look happy? What will they do/learn? What is their method? What is their biting, hitting, etc. policy if another kid acts up? Usually it's watch, then reprimand, then probation, then kicked out.
posted by stormpooper at 1:56 PM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Make sure they have strict security rules---passcodes, driver license for other people picking up, not on the pickup list? Can't pick up your child. Are people paying attention? One chain place I looked at--I could have walked out with a kid, no one would have noticed. Not good! Ours greets everyone and says goodbye. They see exactly who is here coming and going.
Nutrition. One place was serving McDonalds and Smores. That is not DCFS (or even AAP) compliant. Ours does zero sugar, preservatives. Pays attention to allergies.
Med policy--do they even give doc approved meds w/ a note? Some won't even do that.
What is the sick policy? Usually fever needs to be away 24 hours before returning, sometimes a note for severe issues, notes for communicable strains goes to parents (i.e. hey there's strep in X class).
Safety in general--cleanliness, room situation (hazards?). The same "smores place"? They had a friggen kiddie pool right next to a dumpster. Um hellz no. (reported their @ss). Gloves for diapers?
Teachers--do they look happy? Do the kids look happy? Hear any disciplining going on? Is it loving but firm? How to they do stress coverage? How often is turnover? What are their requirements (ours doens't allow teacher aids, which have bare bones experience).
Kids--do they look happy? What will they do/learn? What is their method? What is their biting, hitting, etc. policy if another kid acts up? Usually it's watch, then reprimand, then probation, then kicked out.
posted by stormpooper at 1:56 PM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Finally, they often give little reports on their behavior, diet, poop/pee count, and then a special "hey he loved doing xyz today". He's in a new class this semester w/ new teachers. I still get the report but w/out the "he loved xyz today". And it kind of sucks.
posted by stormpooper at 1:58 PM on July 7, 2011
posted by stormpooper at 1:58 PM on July 7, 2011
Response by poster: This is all really wonderful information. Please, keep it coming! Thank you, all!
I think I would be comfortable with an in-home daycare, provided that I like the environment and the providers. Doing a little Googlin', there are some options close to both work and home. Would you all suggest also checking into those now as well? It feels kind of strange to start calling now, but I understand that people are on the ball and there are wait lists.
I'm in a bit of a pickle since none of our friends in the area have infants...I feel like I'm striking new ground for us all.
Oy!
posted by knmr76 at 2:26 PM on July 7, 2011
I think I would be comfortable with an in-home daycare, provided that I like the environment and the providers. Doing a little Googlin', there are some options close to both work and home. Would you all suggest also checking into those now as well? It feels kind of strange to start calling now, but I understand that people are on the ball and there are wait lists.
I'm in a bit of a pickle since none of our friends in the area have infants...I feel like I'm striking new ground for us all.
Oy!
posted by knmr76 at 2:26 PM on July 7, 2011
Lots of great answers above. I am in Los Angeles not Chicago, but I can echo others recommendations to start looking now. Waitlist times here are similar to what others have described above. I found that daycare centers had waitlists (of 9months to over a year - insanity!), whereas home daycares didn't tend to bother with waitlists, you just call up and they tell you if they have no infant spaces, or will have one coming up in x months. Some of them will also be really helpful and refer you to other home daycares they know, who might have a spot.
Note that there are licensed and unlicensed home daycares. Unlicensed might be an informal arrangement with a friend or a nearby mom who has a similar age child, licensed tends to be a little bigger. I'm not sure how it is in Chicago, but here, licensed daycares are limited in the number of kids they can take; small home daycare - 7 kids total, only 1 infant. Large home daycare - 14 kids total, only 2 infants. This is why infant spots are so hard to find, they are in such limited supply!
My kids are at a large home daycare which is fantastic, 12 kids and 5 staff in a house that has been almost completely given over to the kids, including her yard. We looked at a daycare center, which I didn't like for an infant, it felt very impersonal. We also saw a few other in-home daycares, which varied from similarly great to the one I chose, to awful one room in somebody's crowded apartment, with 5 sad kids watching TV all day. Call around. If someone says they have a spot, ask to visit. In my experience you will know almost immediately if it is a good or bad place to be.
I didn't look into nannies, since they cost even more than daycare centers here, but a nannyshare might be a great option to consider too, especially for a newborn.
posted by Joh at 2:58 PM on July 7, 2011
Note that there are licensed and unlicensed home daycares. Unlicensed might be an informal arrangement with a friend or a nearby mom who has a similar age child, licensed tends to be a little bigger. I'm not sure how it is in Chicago, but here, licensed daycares are limited in the number of kids they can take; small home daycare - 7 kids total, only 1 infant. Large home daycare - 14 kids total, only 2 infants. This is why infant spots are so hard to find, they are in such limited supply!
My kids are at a large home daycare which is fantastic, 12 kids and 5 staff in a house that has been almost completely given over to the kids, including her yard. We looked at a daycare center, which I didn't like for an infant, it felt very impersonal. We also saw a few other in-home daycares, which varied from similarly great to the one I chose, to awful one room in somebody's crowded apartment, with 5 sad kids watching TV all day. Call around. If someone says they have a spot, ask to visit. In my experience you will know almost immediately if it is a good or bad place to be.
I didn't look into nannies, since they cost even more than daycare centers here, but a nannyshare might be a great option to consider too, especially for a newborn.
posted by Joh at 2:58 PM on July 7, 2011
Another piece of wisdom: the qualities that you look for in infant care are not the same as toddler care.
posted by k8t at 8:07 PM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 8:07 PM on July 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Question 3: Not only check daycare centers, but check for home daycare providers and a nanny service, as well.
In our area, a nanny actually costs considerably less than a daycare center, but still more than a home daycare provider. A daycare center in our area costs about $1200 per month per kid; a home daycare costs about $600, and an in-home nanny costs about $800-1000. I am not in Chicago, but I am still in a major metropolitan area. We live in a middle-middle class neighborhood and everyone in our immediate area has nannies that come to the home because the daycare centers are too expensive!
posted by TinWhistle at 11:33 AM on July 7, 2011