How Much Is Daycare : The Average Prices Explained

In the US, the average parents pay to put their infants in daycare is $1,230 per month. Of course, that's just an average, and there are many things that influence exactly how much you'd be paying to put your kids in daycare.

If you're lucky, you won't have to pay nearly as much as over 1 grand a month. But if you're not so fortunate, you might even be paying 2 grand or more!

Has this now left you wondering: exactly how much is daycare for my kids? Then keep reading.

In this article, we'll explain daycare pricing so you can budget better for childcare.

Factors That Influence Pricing

As you may have already guessed, not all daycares are created the same. They're all competing for your business, which means each one will have its own pros and cons.

These pros and cons will be what influence the daycare cost you'll be paying. Here are some important ones to look at.

Urban vs Rural Location

In general, you can expect rural daycares to charge less than urban ones. This is because the cost of living is usually lower in these areas, which allows these facilities to pay less in rent. As a result, you'll pay less for childcare as well. You can find out more information about nurseries local to you by searching online for 'toddler child care in Severna Park, MD' (or elsewhere relevant) and reading through the most highly reviewed results. It's important you conduct thorough research so you can make a well-informed decision on the best opportunity for both yourself and your children.

It doesn't always make sense to put your kids in a rural daycare center, even if you live near there so you should explore all options.

For example, let's say you work full-time in an urban city. You often have to run errands and meet up with people after work there as well. In this case, it'd make more sense (and save you time) to put your kids in an urban daycare center.

On the other hand, if you work from home full-time, you'll probably want to choose a daycare center close to you. That way, you can reach the daycare from home in a matter of minutes.

How Old Your Children Are

You might think that infants and toddlers are easier to handle, so they'll cost less to put in daycare. However, the fact is, the opposite is true.

Babies and toddlers will cost more to enroll in daycare because they require more constant attention from the carers. Think about it: a room of 10 kindergartners will require only 1 adult for supervision while a room of 10 babies will require lots more.

The daycare center will need to hire more staff for younger children, so this means you'll have to pay more if your kids are very young.

Meals and Snacks

Depending on how long your children stay at the daycare per day, they may need to have meals there. At the very least, they'll need a snack or two.

Some facilities will take this into account and will provide meals and snacks for the children. However, this will mean a higher daycare fee to pay. Places that allow you to pack lunch for your kids will typically charge lower fees.

Extracurriculars

Some daycare centers will provide the bare minimum: just childcare and maybe light snacks. If you're on a budget, then these are the best to seek out.

However, others will have plenty of extracurriculars to choose from, such as language, art, and swimming classes. Of course, these lessons will cost extra, so if you choose to enroll your kids in these, that'll drive the price of daycare up.

Extras

As we've said before, daycares will try to outperform one another so you feel comfortable leaving your children with them. To entice you, they'll provide some unique extras—at additional costs, of course.

For example, some may allow you to log on and monitor your kids while you're at work. Or they may provide top-of-the-line playground equipment and toys so your children enjoy the best.

Other Things That Will Impact What You Pay

All the above factors have to do with the daycare centers themselves. But those aren't the only aspects that'll affect the costs you pay for childcare.

Here are some other things to consider when it comes to prices to daycares.

How Many Kids You Have

Obviously, the more children you leave at daycare, the more you're going to have to pay. This is especially true if you have infants and/or toddlers.

However, some daycares are willing to work with parents to lessen their financial burdens. Many will offer discounts for enrolling your entire household at one place.

How Many Hours They Need to Be in Daycare

Some parents only work part-time, which means they only need their kids to be watched for a couple of hours a day. On the other hand, others work full-time and commute, which means they're gone for the majority of the day.

Depending on your needs, the daycare will charge you by the hour, day, or even week. As you can imagine, using the daycare 5 days a week will cost the most. However, when you break it down by hour, it'll be the cheapest.

How Much Is Daycare? It Depends on Many Factors

So how much is daycare?

As you can see, there are many factors that impact how much money you'll be shelling out of your bank account. For instance, how many kids you have, how long they stay at daycare, and the facility itself.

While our article should've given you a good idea of roughly how much prices for daycares are, the smartest thing is to do your own research. Call around, inquire about daycare fees, and do some comparisons.

With the information from here, you'll be able to tell if certain daycares are overcharging or not. Hopefully, this should help you choose one that's right for both your children and your budget.

Did you find this article on daycare pricing informative? Then make sure you check out our other blog posts too!