Cost of daycare in Western suburbs (Chicago, Elmhurst: day care, home, neighborhoods)

[gearhead2003]

Hi,

I am trying to estimate cost of daycare in the western suburb area. This will be somewhere between Itasca and Elmhurst.

It looks like the cost roughly appears to be around $1000 / month. Is this too low or too high?

I would imagine that we'll only need daycare until the kids are in kindergarten, so roughly 4-1/2 - 5 years. Would the cost be higher for certain age like before 2?

Sorry for the numerous questions. We don't actually have kids yet, but I am just budgeting and planning for the inevitable expense.

Paul

[MannheimMadman]

I've found that daycare costs in the Chicago suburbs is relatively uniform. Obviously, all bets are off once you get into Chicago itself.

I've found that the average places charges $900-$1050 for a 5-day/10 hr program. Down here in the SW suburbs, I've found 2 daycare facilities that are under $900, but there is a massive waiting list. I've got some friends up by you that pay about $1050. I'd say that's a pretty good figure to run with.

[mh7]

In La Grange, its $305/week (for newborns - I believe it gets marginally cheaper as they age). With two kids, a nanny starts to become a better option than day care.

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by mh7

In La Grange, its $305/week (for newborns - I believe it gets marginally cheaper as they age). With two kids, a nanny starts to become a better option than day care.

Good call. I neglected to remember that some places split the age bracket between newborns and toddlers. Newborn care is going to be more expensive.

[purplesky]

Also, you might want to check into a licensed home daycare. My local library published a booklet on all the daycares in the area, the cost, and the ages they accepted.

Infants do cost more for daycare, but I think the worrisome age is 1-2, when the child is walking around and putting stuff in their mouths. If you eventually do check out the daycare, make sure that they don't have any toys with small pieces that the child can choke on and that the staff doesn't turnover too quickly, and are not overwhelmed.

Also, make sure that the food is appropriate. I work in a hospital and they brought in a baby who had choked on an apple that wasn't cut up. You would be surprised at the differences in quality at some of them.

[Eusibius2]

You can also get a list of day care providers (home day care and day care centers) for a marginal cost by calling the Illinois Action for Children (link at bottom). Their lists are very up to date and will give you all the vital information you need to know - except 2 things: cost and vacancy. Since both of these variables change frequently, you need to call the day care to find out.

I paid $190/week (which rose to $200) for my newborn in the city of Chicago at a home. Then we moved to the NW suburbs and now we pay $900/mo at a different home and he is 1yr old. We will not see an increase (or decrease) in rates as he gets older. Hope this helps.

illinois action for children - child care, early learning, education advocacy and social service organization

[squonch]

Our daycare in Western Springs currently charges in the range of about $1150/mo (older kids) - $1600/mo (infants). Learned of another daycare about to open here that quoted $1450/mo per child (got the figure from my wife - not sure if they charge less for older kids and vice-versa).

[Lookout Kid]

Two years old is the magic age where more options open up and prices go down.

[nikitakolata]

Originally Posted by squonch

Our daycare in Western Springs currently charges in the range of about $1150/mo (older kids) - $1600/mo (infants). Learned of another daycare about to open here that quoted $1450/mo per child (got the figure from my wife - not sure if they charge less for older kids and vice-versa).

Holy cow... how do people afford to have kids? Seriously... my husband and I are doing fine financially, but we don't put $1600 a month into savings (not counting retirement stuff). Those numbers are seriously scary.

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Two years old is the magic age where more options open up and prices go down.

I hope so! It honestly makes me sick to think of paying $1600/month in order for me to go to a job I already hate. Wow.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by nikitakolata

Holy cow... how do people afford to have kids? Seriously... my husband and I are doing fine financially, but we don't put $1600 a month into savings (not counting retirement stuff). Those numbers are seriously scary.



I hope so! It honestly makes me sick to think of paying $1600/month in order for me to go to a job I already hate. Wow.

Yeah, I think it's a shocker for most new parents--and it's worse in the city's trendier neighborhoods, where the waiting lists alone limit your options severely. With our second child we found it more cost effective to hire a nanny, and that was a very serious expense.

Options increase at age two, and then increase again around age 3 (or after kids are potty trained)--and costs go down as well. By the time our kids were in Pre-K we were paying about $650/month per child way out in Glen Ellyn. Inner ring suburbs seemed to be quite a bit more expensive and had longer waiting lists.