How Much Does Child Care for an Infant Run?
When babies arrive, parents often find themselves scrambling to keep up. A big part in the puzzle is often finding someone to care for babies, particularly in a modern world where both parents work. Knowing the costs of infant care help in planning for the extra expense.
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Geography
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Day-care costs for both infants and toddlers depends somewhat on location. Costs tend to be commensurate with cost of living. The most expensive states for day care are Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The least expensive states include Idaho, Texas, North Dakota, South Carolina and Alabama.
Significance
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According to data from the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, most families pay an average of $8,150 a year for childcare. The bulk of that care comes from day-care centers, but some families choose other child-care options.
Costs range from as little as $4,388 to as much as $14,647 a year. That equates to $366 to $1,221 a month. Because infants require more attentive care, most day-care providers charge more for caring for infants. Adjust the numbers up slightly for accurate estimates of what you might pay for infant care.
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Types
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Child care for infants falls into three primary categories, and cost varies according to the type. The three options are day-care centers, home day cares and nannies. Toddler care generally begins at age 2. Infant care is for children younger than age 2.
Features
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The cost of your baby's child care will depend on which option you choose, and that decision boils down to the characteristics you require in a child-care provider. Daycare centers are advantageous because they provide ample supervision and reliability. Centers that care for infants, though, can be difficult to find, and they tend to care for more children, which means less attention for each child and an increased risk of a baby catching a contagious illness. Pickup and drop-off times also tend to be inflexible because daycare centers usually follow a set schedule and cannot accommodate dozens of specific needs.
Nannies provide constant care in your own home, which offers convenience. Babies, though, have no secondary supervision to ensure that the primary caregivers are performing their jobs in the best possible manner. Plus, nannies who quit or become ill leave parents with few options.
Home day cares provide a more nurturing atmosphere with fewer children, which means less chance of a baby catching an infectious disease. Licensing requirements, though, are less stringent for most home day cares, and parents can be left with few options when the provider is ill or otherwise unable to watch children.
Considerations
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Nannies are the most expensive option for infant daycare. They charge anywhere from $500 to $700 a week. Live-in nannies, who often receive free room and board, generally receive less. Home day cares charge anywhere from $350 to $800 a month for infant care. Sometimes they offer a break on price for families who have multiple children in their care. Day-care centers charge approximately $700 per month for infant care.
Prevention/Solution
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Because of the costs associated with infant care, some parents opt to avoid the expense by taking one or two years away from work. Parents also take advantage of family members willing to watch children free of charge. Consider the options before making a decision.
Benefits
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Paying for infant care provides new parents with a chance to work outside the home, and it provides babies with an opportunity to interact with individuals other than parents.
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References
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- Photo Credit Curtis Newton/Creative Commons
