https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 06:03:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488492 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:57:49 +0000 ladyfingers 488492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: Wow, yeah that's ridiculous. :( I'm sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488486 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:56:01 +0000 JoJoGirl 488486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: I've only been contacting state-regulated ones :-/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488398 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:29:54 +0000 ladyfingers 488398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! That is insane! Are they not regulated? Our infant ratio is also 4:1 here. We couldn't find one daycare center that went below that (even the super expensive ones), but still... so much better than 6:1 or higher. We'll be paying $235/week and then $175/week once he turns 1. That's for the cheapest daycare we could find that wasn't completely disgusting. In-homes around here though average around $150 with state-regulated ratios. I just wasn't comfortable with an in-home because of the need for back-up care if the provider gets sick, takes a break, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488242 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:41:30 +0000 lisa1783 488242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: It is! I don't go there - I'm still looking for a full time daycare for my LO. My mom used to take care of him but she has to go back to work so we're just using them because they're the only daycare that does back up care (meaning I don't have to enroll as full time). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488238 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:39:27 +0000 JoJoGirl 488238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: That's probably how they do it. I think the 10-kid places HAVE to have help. But the 6-kid places must call it two rooms since none of those were all infants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488235 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:39:17 +0000 lisa1783 488235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know!!! It's a really nice facility and I'm doing back up care there now with my LO but it's just mind boggling. But they keep the infant ratio 3:1 there and the caretakers are wonderful. I've also gone to BH Tufts, Prudential, and Beacon Hill for back up care and they all provide very good service....my wallet just can't afford it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488232 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:37:57 +0000 T.H.O.U. 488232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I can't believe they have that high of a ratio.</p> <p>Our state mandated infant ratio is 4:1. If any baby is under the age of one, then the entire classroom must be at a 4:1 ratio. The only way our center gets around this is by keeping all older kids on one half of the room (divided by a half wall) with a 6:1 ratio and then all the babies under the age of one on the other half at a 4:1 ratio. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488229 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:37:16 +0000 Foodnerd81 488229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lisa1783: Seriously? $2800? Isn't that more than most nannies? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488218 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:34:07 +0000 JoJoGirl 488218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lisa1783: Holy crap!!!!! That was the BH in Watertown, that's NUTS! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488217 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:33:37 +0000 lisa1783 488217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl - the back bay bright horizons is $2800!!! I live in West Roxbury - maybe we should do a nanny share! ;) </p> <p>@mrs. wagon - you should join in! haha, or one of us could open our own daycare and just take care of hellobee babies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488216 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:32:59 +0000 JoJoGirl 488216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: If we go visit these places, I'll have to verify they don't have any help. I am just really annoyed about all of this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488214 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:32:28 +0000 Smurfette 488214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: Still though, I thought the toddler ratio was 5:1....... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488213 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:32:03 +0000 Bao 488213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: this is why I stay home and watch a couple kids a few days a week (for friends/family) to make extra money but not have to pay for daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488211 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:31:43 +0000 JoJoGirl 488211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: That would've worked out well! Haha! :)</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: I think it's closer to $1800 in the actual city. This is the one thing (and car insurance) that makes me happy to have recently moved to the 'burbs. LOL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488206 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:30:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 488206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: It's insanity! It actually makes the decision for me to stay home easier-- I'd barely bring home any money at the end of the month after paying daycare! And I actually live in Boston, so I'm sure it's more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488205 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:30:22 +0000 mrs. wagon 488205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: man, maybe we should have tried to get a nanny share together. :D I hope to highly recommend it after this first day (or week!) with our nanny and her baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488204 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:30:07 +0000 JoJoGirl 488204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: @Bao: It seems they are "getting around" that by not having all 6 be infants. One had 3 infants and 3 toddlers. But still 1 provider. I called the Bright Horizons nearby for fun - they quoted me $2100/month for full-time!!! I don't think so! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488198 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:28:45 +0000 Smurfette 488198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I thought the ratio had to be 4:1 for infants as well. That is what it is at all the day cares we have looked at. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488195 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:28:28 +0000 JoJoGirl 488195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: We're looking in Watertown/Waltham/Newton. $400/week seems standard, I guess?! I think a nanny share might be the next best option.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488181 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:23:55 +0000 Bao 488181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: Yes, the daycare I worked in, it was a 4:1 ratio. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488178 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:23:44 +0000 JoJoGirl 488178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@purrpletulips: Around here people with twins tend to do a nanny because it is cheaper! When we have a 2nd that'll probably make more sense.</p> <p>@MarieJ: I had no idea.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488177 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:23:21 +0000 mrs. wagon 488177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: totally feel your pain. Where are you in MA? We're in the suburbs 20 mins south west of Boston. The closest infant daycare wanted $400/week for a 2 person / 8 infant ratio. That's still crazy to me. We found a nanny with her own baby who is coming to our home to take care of LMW 4 days a week. So kind of a nanny share of sorts. Today's actually her first day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488176 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:22:55 +0000 littlek 488176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That is not a great ratio. At daycare in the infant room, I think it has to be 4:1. The more expensive daycares have better ratios. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488173 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:22:38 +0000 MarieJ 488173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of our home daycares are the same price if not higher than centers. It blew my mind. I hope you find something accommodating soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488163 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:20:09 +0000 purrpletulips 488163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We found the same thing if they were registered with the state as a daycare. We ended up going with a nanny who charges $25/day per child. Now we are paying the same for two kids as we did for one in daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488160 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:19:50 +0000 JoJoGirl 488160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: If I thought a nanny would be comparable, we'd totally do it. $10/hr seems the very very lower end, but most are $15-$20. I am SO bummed. Grrrr. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488157 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:18:34 +0000 Bao 488157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, that is insane! I watch a few kids at home and only charge $25/day. Granted we live in a lower cost area, but still, even as a nanny I only got paid $8/hour. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-thought-in-home-daycares-were-supposed-to-be-cheaper-#post-488153 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:16:45 +0000 JoJoGirl 488153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every. Single. Place. I've called within a 10 mile radius of our home and work charges $9/hr. That's $400/week for full-time daycare. And most of these places are either 6 or 10 kids for ONE provider. That seems like not a great deal to me. The ONE center nearby charges the same and they have a better ratio, I think. Such a bummer - we are totally happy to go for an in-home place that we trust, but EVERYTHING is just so prohibitively expensive around here. Stupid MA :( </p>