https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:27:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2806351 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:39:47 +0000 ReadItMama 2806351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask about the teacher designation - since they list it on their tuition chart. They may be on a modified contract (e.g. August-June) or have some agreement with the district that might be a factor. Doesn't hurt to get more info. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2806347 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:33:50 +0000 JennyPenny 2806347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I suspect you could probably bring up the teacher only hours with the school and see why it's labeled that way. I don't see it really as a discount though since you end up paying more per hour, but if you truly don't need/use that extra time then it would save you money in the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2806252 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 11:53:33 +0000 JLC53 2806252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you everyone for your replies. It did make me feel a little better. Its always tough to swallow a price increase when you finally think you are going to be able to save a little money. </p> <p>I am really more upset with the teachers discount... Its a private company and they can give any discount they see fit I guess... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2806006 Sat, 24 Feb 2018 06:51:40 +0000 Anagram 2806006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: I think a $150 price increase for one year is a lot. I think our increase was around $50-$75---how did they justify the increase? Our school sent out a letter saying they hadn't increased in 3 years and had an outside consultant evaluate local prices from competitors and advised the increase to be in line with inflation of expenses. They also are very good at employee retention--DDs teachers have been in her room for 8 and 9 years. And all the rooms are like that, which is rare for daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805997 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 23:43:38 +0000 meganmp 2805997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare had a 21.8% hike and reduced hours on top of that if it makes you feel better! We found a new center. It went from $17,219.70 (for two preschoolers) to $20,988 for a school year (I'm a teacher, so I only send them during school). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805980 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 20:31:14 +0000 Amorini 2805980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally think it’s very interesting but kind of futile to compare daycare costs because, like home prices, they vary so much depending where you live. It’s all so relative! But still interesting!</p> <p>That said, I think if we had 5% increases in daycare costs each school year that I would need to blow off some stream, too! I know it sounds like not a big difference, but ours goes up about 3% each year and that amount doesn’t really change our family budget. For context, our daycare is highly-rated, the best one in our region, and costs almost double of the other daycares. My rant about that is that our daycare is actually not that incredible....it’s that all the other ones are really, scary bad. Our daycare’s higher salaries help retain good teachers and that is definitely worth paying for, imo. (And my rant isn’t directed toward our daycare cost but toward the lack of interest our gov’t has in supporting working families and providing high-quality, low cost care...but I digress...). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805924 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:16:05 +0000 catlady 2805924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do the math myself but someone above said it came to about 5% raise per year? If so, that seems reasonable to me. Ours has been going up by 5-10% per year. That said, my area has an insane COL. I currently pay over $4300 for 2 kids (preschooler and infant) and soon we may be switching our youngest to a better daycare where the rate will go up by almost $500 per month (thank goodness the oldest will be in public school this fall).</p> <p>So I think it sounds reasonable but as you can see, my version of normal is probably insane for most people and I've just gotten used to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805903 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 15:11:47 +0000 JLC53 2805903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: New Jersey, Princeton area </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805900 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 15:01:20 +0000 Anagram 2805900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: I work about an hour outside NYC (in northern Bergen county, NJ) and my youngest commutes with me to a daycare near my school because it's so much cheaper than daycares where I live.</p> <p>Our tuition rate was raised this year and now we pay 1100/month for 4 days a week, with care till 3pm (I'm a teacher. My daycare doesn't offer a teacher discount but there is a lower price for 3pm pickup vs 6:30 pm pickup and those are the only two choices.) I think full time is around 1200 (maybe 1300?) a month.</p> <p>But I live in Hoboken, where daycare for 1 is anywhere from 2,000-2300/month for full time, so I feel like we are getting a great deal in comparison.</p> <p>When we had a nanny, we were paying 3000-3600/month depending on her hours (they varied depending on our work schedules).</p> <p>It's definitely a huge expense. One of the reasons we'll be stopping at 2 kids (among other reasons).</p> <p>Which state are you in? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805895 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:49:49 +0000 snowjewelz 2805895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: I'm like an hour out of NYC too. I didn't want to do home daycare and searched high and low for a more "affordable" center! There are 2 centers literally across from me but more expensive. A huge reason we probably won't have a 3rd... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805894 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:46:55 +0000 JLC53 2805894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: it does, a little... :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805893 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:45:54 +0000 JLC53 2805893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: I am not in a metro city. I do live about an hour outside of NYC. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805880 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:23:12 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2805880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: Ah...I totally misunderstood that. Hmm...I guess if they pick their kiddos up earlier, that's fair, but if they are able to attend during the same hours, then I'd be miffed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805878 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:22:24 +0000 LCTBQE 2805878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In Brooklyn we pay $2000/month for full time care for one 18-month old, if that makes you feel better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805877 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:22:09 +0000 JLC53 2805877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Daycare teachers that work at the daycare have free tuition for their kids, which I am fine with. The pricing on the tuition fee is for school teachers that teach in elementary, middle, and high schools. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805844 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:27:37 +0000 KayKay 2805844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We paid $1600/month for the infant room for DD1 in 2012, so that doesn't seem unreasonable to me. It wasn't a particularly high COL area, but they did provide meals. Also lots of tuition increases are in Sept, so you just joined at an off time (Mar) where you saw a pretty quick increase that fall. I would think that by Mar they would've known what the increase was going to be that fall and could've given you a heads up, but maybe not.</p> <p>I'd kill for a place that offered part-time for infants like we used to have (most places around here are full-time only until you hit 2 or even 3), so I'd consider that a "benefit" too, even if you aren't taking advantage of it currently (or ever). </p> <p>As much as tuition hikes suck, I just think of the staff and how good they are at what they do...slash how I want to keep them happy to keep turnover relatively low. And that doesn't even account for any increases to their other overhead (lease on the building, insurance policies, etc). </p> <p>I just refuse to total up the yearly costs because it seems absurd ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805834 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:17:47 +0000 Mrsbells 2805834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: daycares do go up regularly but your daycare seems to have really big jumps. Are you I a metro city area? I would want to know if thedaycares in the area also increase rates that often </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805833 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:16:42 +0000 alphagam84 2805833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The raises in price do seem a bit extreme to me. Our center has raised the cost twice since we've been there but each time it's like $5-$10 more per week which I don't love but I can't get too angry about. I'd probably be looking for another daycare if they raised the rates like yours is! Maybe ask why the big and often increases? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805825 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:02:01 +0000 MrsBucky 2805825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved last year and started at a new daycare/school for my son, so I only have two years worth of data to share with you. I would basically expect tuition to increase each year- ours go up in September with the new school year. The full day infant tuition went up $0 between last year and this year (which surprised me!). The toddler room tuition went up $35 or less than 2%. The "primary" room (3-6 years- it's a Montessori school) went up $50 or about 3%. FWIW, for non infants (18mo+) they break out costs between "school day" 8 am- 3pm and "Aftercare" 3pm-6pm. The aftercare costs went up $0, while the full increase was applied to the school day portion. However, the % provided reflect the assumption that a parent requires care from 8 am - 6 pm. I will also note that our school is considered more expensive care for our area.</p> <p>Edited to add: this is monthly tuition, not weekly. They also offer a discount for paying the full year in advance (10%) or twice yearly (5%). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805821 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 12:27:22 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2805821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: I also want to say that deep teacher discounts are also normal. It's considered a "benefit" for them to work at the day care and have their child be cared for at the same time. The discounted amount is likely being listed on their paycheck as imputed income...meaning that they receive their normal income reported as well as the discount they receive as implied income since it's a benefit to them. So they have to pay taxes on the discounted amount. </p> <p>It's sort of like winning a "free" car on a game show. Yes, you win the car, but you have to pay taxes on the car's worth, so technically it's not free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805808 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 11:52:28 +0000 yoursilverlining 2805808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like they raise their rates about 5% a year (or a little more often than a year), which is exactly what ours did as well each year. Our actual rates are very similar to yours, and our center offered no sibling discount. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805799 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 11:38:26 +0000 shabang 2805799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This seems like what we've experienced. Our costs are a bit higher though, and our increases have been higher. And we don't get any break in price for 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805797 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 11:33:08 +0000 hellobeeboston 2805797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, two in daycare is brutal. That does seem like a pretty steep increase over a short amount of time, but doesn’t seeem unreasonable depending on where you live. Our prices were raising when we were at daycare (not that quickly though) and when we had two we ultimately moved to a full time nanny since it wasn’t that much more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805792 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 11:28:35 +0000 petitenoisette 2805792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we left our old daycare we were paying 1200 a month for 3 days for our 2.5 year old. It would have been more but they gave us the rate they were charging for that room when she started at the school as an infant. I had no clue they did that so that was nice (otherwise we would have been paying more than we did when she was an infant). </p> <p>Cost wasn’t the reason we switched but her new daycare is cheaper. It charges by day so it averages out to about 1000 per month for 3 days. They increase tuition at the new year mark and it went up by 2-3 dollars a day. I thought that was perfectly reasonable (and is about in line with the increases you’re getting but just it’s more bc you pay for more days). Our new school though I trust more that the increase is going to their teachers and not as a profit making venture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805782 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 11:14:15 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2805782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While our day care isn't that expensive, I think depending on your area, it's reasonable. Our day care also increases it's rates every September (start of the school year). So that's not unheard of. We certainly paid far more for LO2's infant room than we did when LO1 was there, and they're 3 years apart exactly. I think it's them just keeping up with costs of running the day care and being able to give their teachers cost of living increases. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805775 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:46:30 +0000 nanilani 2805775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know about the increases, but that infant rate would be pretty good around here. When I was getting quotes last month, all but one center had infant rates &gt;$400/week so $371/week would've sounded fantastic. COL is a little above average here but nowhere near say NYC or SF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805774 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:39:09 +0000 skinnycow 2805774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Those don't seem unreasonable depending on your area. Unfortunately I think ridiculous price increases are just the norm now. I don't live in a high COL area and we pay 1,365/month for an almost two year old. For an infant it would be 1,560/month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805773 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:35:11 +0000 Truth Bombs 2805773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every year we've been at our daycare we have seen a $15/week increase so pretty inline with the increases you are seeing, so I don't think this is outside the realm of normal. However, I would take issue with them offering a lower rate to teachers. If you can work with those hours of 7-4:30 I would expect to be given the same reduced rate as a teacher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805772 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:34:52 +0000 erinbaderin 2805772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally sympathize - my daycare costs went up $50 a WEEK this year, so I went from paying $447 (for two kids, 2 and 4) to $497. It's tough to swallow. For me it kind of helps to break it down hourly - my kids spend 50 hours a week there, so really I'm paying $5 an hour for somebody to take care of and teach my child, plus feed them a meal and two snacks. I wouldn't do that at that rate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-cost-increase-1#post-2805767 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:25:19 +0000 snowjewelz 2805767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a high COL area. These are our rates and we are already at a cheaper school, bring our own food &amp; get sibling discount. </p> <p>Infant/toddler<br /> Most expensive (5 days a week, 10 hours a day)<br /> $1490</p> <p>Preschool<br /> 5 days 9-2 $750 per month.<br /> Before care 7-8:45 $8/day<br /> After care 2-5:30 $20/day </p>