https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 11:30:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-542238 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:32:11 +0000 pastemoo 542238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: For us, in home daycare (in someone else's home) is 50 if not 75% cheaper than a "daycare center."<br /> If having kids is more important to you than the exact center--then yes, you will find the money.<br /> You are one sweet mama and you will find a way to make it work.</p> <p>I wouldn't worry too much about the "education benefits" of the center. I read a neat article on the "Goldilocks effect" where babies absorb what they need to learn and tune out whatever is too much or too little for their learning. So long as it is safe, clean, and loving, the other details are much less important. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-538356 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:22:21 +0000 oliviaoblivia 538356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we have two it'll be more cost effective to have a nanny. Nannies around here are about $2400-$2600/ month and infant care is $1800. And with a nanny I can eliminate the cleaning woman. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-538262 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:58:40 +0000 winniebee 538262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As others have mentioned, a nanny share could be a great option! Good luck :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-538260 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:58:00 +0000 Honeybee 538260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we had both kids in daycare full time, we would have been paying around $1800-1900/month. We ended up putting the kids in just two days a week, instead, and I stopped working.</p> <p>Is there anyway your or your DH can alter your work schedule so you can reduce the number of days you need daycare? DH just started a new job that allows him to go to work at 6 so he's home at 3:30 every day and he gets every other Friday off. When I start working again, I'm hoping to work nights and weekends, so we won't need daycare at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-537956 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:37:08 +0000 Bao 537956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think maybe a nanny should would be a good option for you! I don't have experience with it, but I've heard good things and I know it can save you money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-537326 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:49:57 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 537326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KissMeCait: how can you find it frustrating? It has nothing to do with you! OP was looking for suggestions....not a scolding.</p> <p>As others said, I would look into a nanny or nannyshare or babysitter. And then maybe daycare once a week for social interaction? I know lots of centers only offer FT care though.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-537202 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:12:07 +0000 Mrs. Blue 537202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unfortunately, I know all about suddenly figuring out how to pay for daycare for two, when you're only thinking of paying for one! :-) Unfortunately, since they will be infants at the same time, one's tuition is not cheaper than the other. For us, we basically will just have no disposable income. We looked at the nanny option, but it was still more than the cost of two in a daycare center. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536824 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:23:41 +0000 mediagirl 536824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: in our situation, my husband and I would have to stop sending extra to our mortgage each month (we send an extra $600 monthly) and we would probably have to cut back on our retirement savings. THIS is why we're only having one (sigh). It stinks knowing how much more you'll be pulling out to pay for another one in daycare. </p> <p>If I were in your shoes, I would go one month writing down every single thing you buy/spend money on. Keep track of even a candy bar you may buy at the store, your gas, groceries, eating out. Just mark down every time you use your debit card, credit card or cash. At the end of the month, look at that and see what you could cut out. Is it just $200 you could cut out or is it more like $600-$700? </p> <p>I like the idea someone else posed about asking daycare for a lower rate than just 10% off. Heck, our daycare gives us 10% off if we pay in full for a year. If we had another, I would ask for a bigger discount than that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536780 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:02:08 +0000 amy 536780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was over whelming, I would just sit down and do the math of what it cost for 2 kids to attend your daycare center and see if it financially works for you. I have 2 kids in daycare and the first 8 months (we started at 4 months) is tough while the younger one is in the infant room. We did the math and i was still making more then enough to cover daycare and then some. You can also look to see if there is a discount for paying a couple of months in advance if you can swing it. My center offers a 10% for sibling and a 5% for paying 3 months at a time. That 5% does add up since its off each child instead of the 10% which is off the older sibling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536646 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:18:02 +0000 T.H.O.U. 536646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As I said earlier, I am 100% confident that we would find a way to make it work if we had another child right now. </p> <p>Thank you to everyone in this thread that posted <b> USEFUL </b> suggestions. There is a 10% discount for siblings and I think its a great idea to talk to our center and let them know what we could afford and see if they could work with us. I have also been thinking about a nanny/nanny share which would be great, especially paying for 2. </p> <p>As I originally said, we also could look at cheaper options because right now we are at one of the top centers in our area. I know there are places around here that are closer to $500-600/month. </p> <p>In the end, just like when we got pregnant with our first, we were SO scared about finding a way to fit the huge daycare cost into our budget, but now that its fit in there, we have found that we still live very comfortably. With #2, we obviously would do the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536629 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:10:34 +0000 SAHM0811 536629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just became a SAHM after #2 came along. Daycare for my 3 yo back then was $1800/month, so it would have been about $4,000/month for two kids since infants cost more and the sibling discount isn't that significant. I never thought I would SAH, because I could have still taken some (albeit, not much) money home, but at that point we were in the process of moving states, so I would have left my job in a few months after having #2 anyway...</p> <p>We also felt that if we could try to swing it with two kids in daycare by modifying our budget, why not also try to modify our budget by living on one income so our eldest could continue preschool and I could stay at home with the infant? With DH working very long hours too, we honestly have a less stressful home when I'm not solo juggling full-time work, childcare, and household responsibilities.</p> <p>Also, I didn't look into it too much, but I thought universal preschool programs were usually based on financial need. I know they are near me and we wouldn't qualify. Even if we did, I do know they are also difficult to get into, because of high demand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536586 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:59:09 +0000 ShootingStar 536586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a friend who got pregnant with her 2nd and told her current daycare she could only afford an additional $500/month (had been paying $1600 for infant care) and the center agreed to it. But they're not a giant chain, which I think makes them more agreeable to negotiation.</p> <p>But, I also think that if money is a giant issue, then it may be better to wait and space them out more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536505 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:42:00 +0000 KissMeCait 536505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't mean to be rude but why would you be "NTNP" if money is an issue? You can only "make it work" to a certain extent. Eventually, the money runs out and you've cut back on everything possible. I know this isn't helpful to the question posed but it's something that I see constantly and honestly, I find it kind of frustrating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536482 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:36:55 +0000 littlek 536482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you get a discount for 2nd child? I know our daycare offeres that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536290 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:23:55 +0000 keiki_mama 536290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd like to try for a second child soon and the thing holding me back is childcare costs. I hope you'll figure out something that works comfortably for your family :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536283 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:22:19 +0000 twinmama 536283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you have to have an honest look at your budget and determine if you can swing that much extra. To me, a few hundred a month is 'make it work' territory. We live comfortably, but don't have nearly a thousand a month in non-essentials. Remember, you will have other expenses associated with a 2nd child too (diapers, medical, etc).</p> <p>But as others have said, there might be alternate options that reduce costs - nannies, nanny shares, a SAHM friend that might be willing to take on another child. We have twins, and while I made a decent salary, it was the most practical for me to stay home until they hit school age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536163 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:45:40 +0000 LindsayInNY 536163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy - A nanny share would be my ideal situation too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536138 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:36:18 +0000 Modern Daisy 536138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is why I'm planning on doing a nanny share. My goal is for the nanny to be watching my baby and two others at the same time so we can split it 3 ways. If we did this with two babies it would still be waaaay cheaper than daycare x2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536136 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:35:57 +0000 purrpletulips 536136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we were pregnant with #2 we started a discussion with our daycare to see if there was any flexibility in the cost because we knew we couldn't afford to have both kids in daycare but really liked the center. They were willing to offer us a reduced rate (because we were "family") however it still was more than we could reasonably afford even after making cuts to our already tight budget. We ended up taking DD out of daycare and are with a private sitter which has worked out great for us and is the same price as just DD in daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536135 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:34:47 +0000 Foodnerd81 536135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The daycare closest to my house, which is known for being one of the more expensive ones, to be fair, is $2900 for full time infant care! But I live in an expensive neighborhood (which is why we are moving) in the most expensive state for daycare in the country. But my point is, if we found something slightly more reasonable, I would still end up taking home a little tiny bit of money at the end of the month. With two, I'd be paying to work. I wanted to be a SAHM anyway, but the math makes sense that way anyway. </p> <p>I know a few people who opted to stay home for a few years when they had 2, because it was less expensive than working. But they were in situations where they could get another job reasonably easy after taking a couple of years off-- that really depends on your field. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536127 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:32:28 +0000 Bookish 536127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's actually the main reason we will be spacing our kids out. We can't afford 2 kids in day care, and there honestly would be no 'making it work,' there would be us going into debt or having to sell our house. I'm definitely jealous of those who can swing it, but two kids in daycare would cost us more than my salary, and it isn't gonna happen! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536115 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:26:15 +0000 Anagram 536115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeeeah. right now I'm leaning towards waiting till our first LO is 3, because some schools in Hoboken/Jersey city have free preschool at 3. But it's a lottery system AND dh wants to have the second a little closer together.</p> <p>Day care here is around $1500-$2000 for 1 infant, so having two.....there's no way. I only make about $4000/month after taxes so that would be my entire salary and I would just stay home.</p> <p>At least in my profession (education), I don't feel like you miss TOO much by taking a year or two off, but then you have to look for a new job again, and possible go down in the pay scale to get hired. The only other option is to make sure I keep working in this school district so that in 3 years I'll be tenured. And that means I could take a whole year off to be with the LOs and they would hold my job.</p> <p>But definitely, day care for two is crazy expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536097 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:13:13 +0000 LindsayInNY 536097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm trying to figure that out with one kid! Daycare is roughly $2,000/month here if not more. DH only wants one kid because of that. It's super frustrating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536087 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:06:09 +0000 autumnlove 536087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will have two in daycare in the fall and we need to cut on food, eating out and other splurges! It will be around 2K for two kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-536086 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:04:05 +0000 T.H.O.U. 536086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bump??? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-534762 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:52:45 +0000 banana 534762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: That's how I felt too. I didn't know where we could possible cut. But we ate out quite a bit before #2 so cutting this out saved us a lot. We were also smarter with our groceries (we bought bulk, frozen, and just stopped wasting food). Oh, and we also asked our family members to give us gift cards instead of buying us gifts. This was HUGE for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-534715 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:45:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 534715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Free VPk doesn't start here until 4 and even then its only half days (you pay for the other half of the day). So unfortunately that is a bit farther apart then we would like them. </p> <p>@banana: I just have that sinking feeling that there is no were else to cut but you are right, I'm sure we could because we do live comfortably. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-534708 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:44:11 +0000 Mrsbells 534708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know a few people who have two kids and most of them end up going with a nanny instead of daycare.<br /> For me this is one reason why I want my first child to be atleast 3 before baby number 2 that way the first one can go to free pre-K </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-534707 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:44:05 +0000 banana 534707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You'll make it work! We were freaked out about daycare costs for two, too. But somehow we manage. We don't eat out as much and I cut down my own personal spending budget by a lot. So we make it work. You will too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-costs-for-2-kids#post-534690 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:41:02 +0000 T.H.O.U. 534690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are currently NTNP for #2. One of my biggest concerns it the cost of daycare! We currently aren't saving any money month to money (except a small emergency fund). I have no idea how we would cover the cost of daycare for 2 even with a 10% sibling discount. </p> <p>The daycare center we use is one of the better ones but infant care is over $900/month and toddler care is around $800/month. I know we could look for somewhere a bit cheaper, but I just don't know if I would be happy and comfortable with anything less than that. </p> <p>I had the same fears when we were having #1 and wouldn't you know, you just make it work. You find the money. Is the same true for #2? </p>