https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:04:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769567 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:24:21 +0000 JLC53 2769567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally understand your frustration... I didn't realize that it was a common thing for daycare to increase rates every year and I found it shocking. The daycare my son goes to, which I absolutely love, has increased rates over 10% since we started. I am actually paying $40 more per month then I did when he started in the infant room for the toddler room. My husband and I are considering having a second baby next year, but the daycare costs scare me. They only give a 10% discount on the older sibling. I guess we will figure it out, but I wish I got a 10% raise every year... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769492 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 21:58:00 +0000 Truth Bombs 2769492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: agree on the waitlist point. My daycare always has a crazy long waitlist. They have zero motivation to negotiate their fees at all and I wouldn't expect them to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769475 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 20:06:35 +0000 yoursilverlining 2769475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our center raised the price 5-6% per year and offer NO sibling discount (or any other discount). I wouldn't question it because what are your options? I don't know about your area but my daycare always had a fat waitlist. You stay or you leave. I would determine what you and your DH are most comfortable with - either staying or looking for a new center - and go from there. I feel like there is no win with stuff like these. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769466 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 19:34:29 +0000 autumnleaves 2769466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask and I don't think they should be put off by questions. That being said, our old daycare raised the price every year and I think our new one does too. I learned with the new one that they will negotiate price - we did this when we went with them and I hope they continue to be flexible when the rates go up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769464 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 19:29:36 +0000 erinbaderin 2769464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: This is an amazing discount! We get $10 off. Not even off each kid! It's so low that I don't know why they even bother offering it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769454 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 17:56:26 +0000 Truth Bombs 2769454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have had a $15/week increase every year since we started so this seems pretty par for the course to me. I have a feeling your increase has very little to do with increased costs and is mainly just a reaction to the market. I think the director is well within her right to say "We feel this is a fair price for our services in this market. If you feel you can get comparable care elsewhere for less money, you are free to do so". The only part of this that I would be unhappy about is if she lied to my face and told me increases were due to staff raises that didn't happen. However, I would keep in mind that just because one or two teachers told you they didn't get a raise, that doesn't mean no one got a raise. It sounds like you didn't have any real plans to move to a new center if you weren't planning on pulling either of your children until they reach Kindergarten. I would probably do some shopping around to see if the increase prices them above comparable centers before I got too up in arms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769449 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 16:58:33 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2769449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were also told that the price is still reasonable compared to other schools of the same sort of level (I can't remember the exact wording in the letter)... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769447 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 16:54:58 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2769447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our preschool would have gone up 8% this year if we stayed. The reason we were given was to keep up with the new minimum wage which is going up by a lot.eta, not that the teachers were making minimum wage but the support staff like janitors and I guess cafeteria workers (it was 2s-8th grade) so they would be giving raises to everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769442 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 16:31:37 +0000 meganmp 2769442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our care costs just went from $17,500 (two kids for the school year) to $22,166. I about died when I saw that. I talked to the woman in charge (public access preschool) and she was really sympathetic to what I had to say, but was quick to point out that it's still the cheapest care in the area. That being said, I'd move if you are unhappy and can get the same or better care at the same or better price with the same or better commute to/from daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769434 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:24:07 +0000 ShootingStar 2769434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably just go with your plan to move them when you older LO goes to kindergarten. I mean you can ask, but you probably won't like the answer given what she said to the other parent.</p> <p>We don't go to a super expensive daycare (but by no means cheap!) and for the past two years they've increased every classroom (infant/toddler/preschool/pre-k) by $8/week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769427 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:01:05 +0000 DesertDreams88 2769427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think people are getting 8% raises every year (if so, wow, I need to rethink things) so why should daycare go up 8%? Living costs in general climb about 2% each year, so 8% is too big a jump unless you're going to see an increase in quality (lower ratios, more space, more enrichment, more activities, more hours, etc) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769418 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:31:41 +0000 avivoca 2769418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: I need to talk to our center about this too. Last year, they gave us 10% off of both children, but this year we are only getting 10% off our oldest AND rates have increased.</p> <p>OP: I would ask about it. That is a significant price increase and while I know you have to pay for excellent care, prices jumping that much would give me pause. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769417 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:28:00 +0000 HappyBaker 2769417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Oh man that's rough! We were SO mad when we found out lots of our friends at the daycare had been getting 15 or 20% off for years, I generally don't agree with them offering different discounts since its so unfair but if they are doing it for some people they might as well do it for me too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769416 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:27:09 +0000 wrkbrk 2769416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: What do you hope to accomplish in raising the issue? Genuine question; not being snarky. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769415 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:26:36 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2769415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: I think I may have to talk to our center about a bigger sibling discount. It used to be 10% but now its only $40 flat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769414 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:23:33 +0000 HappyBaker 2769414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is in line with what our daycare does every year, so does not surprise me. It's like you expect it to get cheaper since your kids are getting older but then they raise the rates so its either more or just the same. </p> <p>That being said I'd ask if they can offer you any additional discount in order to help you guys choose to stay and leave your younger daughter there for longer. Last time our rates went up a ridiculous amount we found out other families were getting more than the 10% sibling discount - my husband talked with the director and she ended up giving us 20% off both kids, which is a huge savings. They've honored that discount every year since, which has been huge in keeping us there. I agree its super frustrating that you pay SO MUCH and the teachers make so little, and in return the quality of the teachers isn't that great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769406 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:03:26 +0000 Mrs D 2769406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: Actually - the higher percentage increases were in the &gt; 2.5 rooms. Which is weird.</p> <p>The ratios are the state mandated ones - not lower.</p> <p>My concern with asking the director is she will likely give me the same excuse of "staff wages" when we now know that is not the case. Then I'm left with no useful information or the option to confront her on what I know is not true (which I cant do without giving up my sources :wink: ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769405 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:01:38 +0000 catlady 2769405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been seeing huge increases every year (at least 10%) but we haven't left because the rates have stayed in-line with other centers in our area, the quality of care has been consistently high, and our center has improved and enhanced their curriculum over the years (for ex. last year, they introduced private music lessons for all kids over age 2).</p> <p>Even with that, I complained about our latest tuition increase because it had been less than a year since the last increase and now that I have 2 kids in the center, it was going to be a huge increase for us. They ended up reducing the increase for parents with 2 kids by a small amount, so it was worth complaining (I think we will save 1% of our total tuition over the year, but it's better than nothing). So definitely say something if you feel it is excessive, but also do your research to see if they actually are in-line with other centers in the area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769403 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:56:17 +0000 Freckles 2769403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really dislike this rationale (other centres charge higher) but it is the best way for centres, especially ones of higher quality to justify the hikes. </p> <p>The biggest expense is staff wages - you need more staff for younger classes due to the ratios, which may explain why the hike was larger for the &lt;2.5 kids. Do they have lower kid: staff ratios compared to other centres? </p> <p>I would have no issues straight up asking if the director could provide an explanation as to what factors drove up the fees. I would also want to know if they expect similar increases to happen next year. This would obviously be in a non-confrontational manner :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769401 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:56:09 +0000 Mrs D 2769401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: We are definitely on the high side of centers here. Its not top of the line but I'd say top 20%...and I just dont feel what we are getting is "top 20%" quality. If that makes sense?</p> <p>The problem is - right now I have accepted the raise based on my comfortable level. Meaning - the comfort level I have with the people making sure my child is safe is worth the price increase. But the declining quality of the teaching staff and my general unhappiness with the quality of the food get glaringly more blatant in the face of increasing costs, you know?</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: This is my biggest problem. Another parent was told staff wage increases were a big part of the increase. So I thought - ok, increase wages retain the good teachers and maybe attract new good teachers. We've recently found out the increased wage promises to the staff did not come to fruition. </p> <p>Our plan has been to pull DD1 when she starts kindergarten and keep DD2 there until Kindergarten...now we will likely put DD2 in the public school pre-school at 2.5 instead of leaving her (all that is Fall 2018). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769399 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:49:34 +0000 peachykeen 2769399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a big single increase but doesn't sound out of line overall for my area at least. Our center increases by about $10 every 12 months. You mentioned the last increase was 18 months ago, so it sounds in line with our overall increases.</p> <p>That said, I would absolutely ask questions and consider switching centers if you're not happy with the quality of care/education they're receiving. We're not happy with the cost increases but we stay because they do provide a lot of enrichment programs and we're very happy with the school overall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769398 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:48:32 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2769398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are for sure planning to leave, I would go ahead and move on with those plans. Do your research though to make sure the other centers aren't raising their rates too. Maybe let them know after doing your exit paperwork that you felt the quality was declining and costs increasing (aka you never saw more for your money). </p> <p>If you are unsure of if you will leave or not, maybe ask to have a meeting with the directory to first discuss your concerns you have seen over the years and towards the end just let her know that on top of the concerns, now rates are increasing. Does the director have plans to use the increase in funds to address any of your concerns? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769397 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:44:06 +0000 Pollywog 2769397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That is substantial. Have you looked at other centers? How does the price compare to the other providers in the area? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-price-increase-am-i-allowed-to-ask-questions#post-2769396 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:38:05 +0000 Mrs D 2769396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So - we're staring down a pretty substantial increase in our weekly rates at Daycare next month...</p> <p>Under 2.5 rate is increasing from $299/week to $319/week.</p> <p>The classes over 2.5 are increasing at varying rates, in the 8% ballpark.</p> <p>Thats a steep increase for one year. They increased $10 about 18 months ago.</p> <p>As I understand it - they own the building. I mention this bc that to me could be a huge driver of cost - if all of the sudden their rent is up for negotiation.</p> <p>Another Mom was told by the director "look - the other center has been charging the higher rates for a year now - we postponed as long as we can, no more delays. If you dont like it you can go somewhere else". Aside from my other issues with this statement - you dont just raise rates because your other centers did.</p> <p>I know my daycare is a for profit entity, and I get that. But 8% is a lot. I'm really wanting to ask the director about it but DH wants me to let it go. My biggest issue is when I found this Daycare I accepted the higher rate because I felt it was a premium center. My girls are 4 and 18 mos now - and I feel the quality has been declining in the new teachers they are hiring, more and more are basically glorified babysitters.</p> <p>Would you say something? Or let it go and move up your plans to leave the facility (not up and quite, just expedite the already in place plan). </p>