Is it possible to find childcare/daycare for two toddlers for $1600/month? (Renton: 2014)

[soyu]

I searched on Craigslist and only saw ~$1500 for 2-3y/o and ~$1000 for 4-5y/o. I found my current daycare through word of mouth so I thought I'd try asking.

On a side note, does Washington state offer Pre-K (I think it's also called transitional kindergarten) in their public schools?

Thanks in advance.

[shaxs]

Well, lets put it this way. My wife's company has an employee assistance department that will do various things like call and find daycare. They called over 100 providers in Renton and the surrounding areas and only found 6 home day cares or facilities that had an opening in April and was less than $1500 a month. Child care is expensive and difficult to find out there.

[Inkpoe]

2 toddlers for less than 1600/mo definitely seems to be a bit low, even with a sibling discount. My sister was so thrilled to find a place that charged $1200/mo for her young toddler... and that's just one child a few years ago.

Sidenote ??: Look into your local school district called "Headstart", its a preK program.

[Hemlock140]

That $1,600 figure is at the low end, and hard to find for just one kid. Most people here would not use Craigslist to find child care, but would get recommendations from trusted friends and get on the waiting lists. Often before the baby is even born.

There is some Pre-K, but it's very limited and again, long waiting lists or a lottery, and it's not free. Our public schools charge $3000/year.

[CrazyDonkey]

Combination of licensing requirements making it extremely difficult to open new daycare centers and spiking demand from families moving into the area.

Parents are choosing anything from joining a nanny share, hiring college-aged babysitters, exchanging care with neighbors or friends, arranging alternate work schedules, taking sick days, using drop-in care, engaging multiple care situations, moving closer to family or moving their extended family members closer to help with care.

King County's daycare dilemma | Crosscut

[secret_squirrel]

Have you considered an Au Pair? It works out to cost right about $1600/mo, per family, not per child.

We are in the south King County area and are very lucky to have found a wonderful child care facility for $238 a week (this is an employer based program that is also open to the public and was our first choice based on factors other than cost). My husband checked places near where he works downtown and it was over double that.

I think it's a function of rent/housing prices. Overhead in prime areas is too high go less than that.

[soyu]

Hi everyone! Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for all the replies!

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

2 toddlers for less than 1600/mo definitely seems to be a bit low, even with a sibling discount. My sister was so thrilled to find a place that charged $1200/mo for her young toddler... and that's just one child a few years ago.

Sidenote ??: Look into your local school district called "Headstart", its a preK program.

I make too much to qualify for Headstart but not enough to pay market rate for daycare...

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

That $1,600 figure is at the low end, and hard to find for just one kid. Most people here would not use Craigslist to find child care, but would get recommendations from trusted friends and get on the waiting lists. Often before the baby is even born.

There is some Pre-K, but it's very limited and again, long waiting lists or a lottery, and it's not free. Our public schools charge $3000/year.

I've heard of people putting their kids on waiting list as soon as they find out they're pregnant. I understand the high demand of daycare. I know how using Craigslist to find daycare sounds (lol). It turned out really well for us; maybe we got lucky.

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Combination of licensing requirements making it extremely difficult to open new daycare centers and spiking demand from families moving into the area.



King County's daycare dilemma | Crosscut

I heard King County's daycare affordability and availability are equivalent to the SF Bay Area's, where I'm living now. Definitely tough...

Originally Posted by secret_squirrel

Have you considered an Au Pair? It works out to cost right about $1600/mo, per family, not per child.

We are in the south King County area and are very lucky to have found a wonderful child care facility for $238 a week (this is an employer based program that is also open to the public and was our first choice based on factors other than cost). My husband checked places near where he works downtown and it was over double that.

I think it's a function of rent/housing prices. Overhead in prime areas is too high go less than that.

I would use an Au Pair if that's the only option I can afford. Yep, totally open to it. I like the social aspect of daycare though. Are there like "Au Pair share" (like nanny share)?

[amberlina]

Lots of Stay at home moms pick up families for care as a supplement to their spouses income and as a way for thier own children to play with others often. in fact, I may know a few women who would be ready for a family. Whereabouts are you in WA?