Day care costs in Lakeview/Roscoe Village (Avon: credit, home)

[gabry76]

Hi everyone. Could anyone tell me what is the average monthly fee of a day care for a child 0-3 years in the Lakeview/Roscoe Village area?
Thanks for any help.

[chet everett]

I don't have data on the "average", but I just reviewed that info that you should expect an infant (5 weeks to 1 yr) in an accredited facility to cost about $245/week and about 20% drop for 'pre-toddler' kids under 3, then 10% discount for toddler and another 10% drop for pre-schoolers.

Figure 4x the weekly cost for a monthly cost. I think most places will expect to be paid every week or two and policies vary for vacancy/time not used...

[gabry76]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I don't have data on the "average", but I just reviewed that info that you should expect an infant (5 weeks to 1 yr) in an accredited facility to cost about $245/week and about 20% drop for 'pre-toddler' kids under 3, then 10% discount for toddler and another 10% drop for pre-schoolers.

Figure 4x the weekly cost for a monthly cost. I think most places will expect to be paid every week or two and policies vary for vacancy/time not used...

Personal eperiences are also accepted!

[dragoro]

From what I've heard all of chicago is expensive for daycare

[Lookout Kid]

I'd put that number a bit higher than $245/month in Lakeview and Roscoe Village. I'm currently on about six waiting lists for daycares all over the North Side, and the cheapest ones we're finding for infants are around $270/month (this goes down at age 2, and again at 3). Home daycares are less expensive than centers, however. These are in neighborhoods from Avondale to Uptown to Ravenswood. I haven't seen anything this cheap in Lakeview.

[aragx6]

Do you mean a week Lookout?

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Do you mean a week Lookout?

Yes! Thanks for catching that! It's more like $1200/month!

[Costa Rica Chica]

I have been looking on-line for daycare for our three-year old son. It is very expensive, and lots of places have waiting lists that you have to pay to get your child on. I couldn't believe that the YMCA had a $250 waiting list fee, and costs around $1000 per month. I always thought the Y would be more affordable, yet it is still one of the cheapest places we have found that is open all day. (Another thing to check - a lot of places charge you one price if your child is only there in the morning, but almost double it if you need to pick them up in the late afternoon.) It's enough to think twice about having a second child.

[chet everett]

I just checked with the gal that I know is paying those rates. She does get a wee bit of an employer kick-in, so 15% more per week. That would be right in line with Lookout Kid's weekly...

Having kids is pretty much the only "money is no object" type thing that I agree with. I mean, yeah I know there are people that say that about race cars and vacations and all kinds of STUFF, but seriously HAVING A KID is way frackin' different. Any sort of monetary sacrifice is just not in the same league as the emotional part.

I sorta wish that day care cost MORE across the board, so that maybe more people could make a living at it, but I know that the market that exists is pretty tight and will probably stay close to where it is unless is some major shake-ups.

[Lookout Kid]

Another thing to consider is that daycare centers on the north side are really really hard to get into! Especially the reputable ones. We have been on six waiting lists since my wife was one month pregnant, and it's still iffy that we'll get into one before my wife goes back to work. These are not fancy places either--and are in locations from Buena Park to Avondale. We are looking at a nanny share with a friend for a few months to bridge the gap.