What Do You Charge For Infants Under 18 Months?

[Ann B.]

Hi everyone!...Have a question about what everyone charges for infants under 18 months. I hope this is not a rude question to ask but honestly I really need to know what the rate is out there. I realize it all depends on where you live but if possible could you give me some ideas here? I know it's important to stay competitive but I also do not want to feel like I'm short changing myself. Infants are HARD work! Thanks to all who reply!

[sharlan]

In my area, the going rate is between $125 and $150.

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm in CA and I charge $160 per week for FT no matter what age the kids are. In all honesty infants are easier for me than toddlers so it doesn't make sense for me to charge more for infants. I used to charge more for infants but I ended up raising my rates for toddlers to match my infant rates about a year or 2 ago.

Rates vary from state to state, county to county, city to city and are even different in various parts of the city. I for example charge on the higher scale (but I am not the highest) and I am in the "good" part of town (mostly middle and upper class). On the opposite side of town the highest rates that I have seen are $120 per week for family child care (mostly lower income). It really depends on your demographics.

[daycare]

I charge 10$ more per week that toddlers, however, I only take children ages 20 months to 5 years of age not enrolled in school.

[Blackcat31]

In my state children are infants up until the day of their first birthday. Then they are toddlers until their 2nd brithday.

For infants, I charge anywhere from $135 per week to $165 per week. This is whether they come full time (4-5 days per week) or part time (3 days per week). Infants are billed at a full weekly rate. Infant care in my area has up to a year wait time to find an opening.

[MarinaVanessa]

Originally Posted by Blackcat31

In my state children are infants up until the day of their first birthday. Then they are toddlers until their 2nd brithday.

Sorry, not to hijack the thread but I just thought this was interesting. In my state (CA) children are infants until the age of 2 and then they are toddlers/pre-schoolers until they are old enough to go to school. Once they go into Kinder thay are school-agers. So many differences aren't there? It always amazes me.

[frugalmama4]

Down South in Texas-125-150 homes/centers

[daycare]

[quote=MarinaVanessa;226209][quote=Blackcat31;226208]In my state children are infants up until the day of their first birthday. Then they are toddlers until their 2nd brithday.

Sorry, not to hijack the thread but I just this was interesting. In my state (CA) children are infants until the age of 2 and then they are toddlers/pre-schoolers until they are old enough to go to school. Once they go into Kinder thay are school-agers. So many differences aren't there? It always amazes me.

I know and I hate it.....lol that's why I make it 20 months and up at my house. To be honest, I have only ever had 3 kids in 8.5 years of that age...

[Christian Mother]

AZ is really low right now w/all the layoffs and no work prospects there is quiet a bit of home daycares and everyone that runs them are competing against one another. I used to see $150 for the regular full time rate but now I am see an average of $80 a wk no matter infant or toddler or school ager. It's really gotten that ridiculous. I have always charge $125 a wk as I am with MarinaVanessa...Infants are really easy for me it when I start getting SA's that it starts getting challenging.

[Ann B.]

wow...these rates seem incredibly low to me. I'm in Michigan and I charge $180.00 for any child and was thinking of raising my rates to $205.00 for an infant. I'm shocked. I could not survive on those rates.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I don't do under one year, but $195 for 12-24 months. There is one place in town that gets $260 for 6 weeks to 12 months. Yikes.

[SilverSabre25]

Same as for older kids...right now, $120/week.

[wdmmom]

Depends on the total number of hours per day and departure time. Somewhere in the vicinity of $28 to $38 per day.

[newtodaycare22]

I'm in Md and day cares here are 175-300 for infants. (lower end=unlicensed and highest end=centers)

[quietpoet2004]

I charge the same weekly rate across the board.

[SunshineMama]

$175 across the board. If I ever take another infant under 18 mos I will increase it to $185 I think.

[momofsix]

Originally Posted by Ann B.

wow...these rates seem incredibly low to me. I'm in Michigan and I charge $180.00 for any child and was thinking of raising my rates to $205.00 for an infant. I'm shocked. I could not survive on those rates.

Crazy how that works, depending on where you are. I'm in MI too (southwest side) and NO WAY could I charge $180! I wish I could because with our 6 child limit my income is definitely limited.
I charge $150/wk no matter the age. I see people on CL everyday advertising $100 week or even less
If your area will support you charging more then go for it!

[daycare123]

In my area (ND) I charge 105 under 18 mo 100 over 18 mo. Normal around here is 100-125 a week. That's for full time. I charge 75 a week up to 25 hours for under 18mo age and 65 up to 25 hrs over 18mo a week.

[CheekyChick]

I charge about $200.00 for infants and $145.00 for preschool age.

[bgmeyers]

Seattle area. My infant rate is $205 per week up to 2 years. Over 2 is $190.
South of me it's way less. Bellevue, to the east, is even more. It's all about location.

[Jenniferdawn]

It's a bit higher over where I am in Cali. I'm 50 a day. I am organic so I'm about $5 a day over the average, but I know of one family that is $60 a day.

[MissK]

Most people in my area (including myself) charge the same across the board. Each age has its parts that make it easier or harder than another age. The typical in-home daycare in my area is 100-110/week

[DaisyMamma]

Im in New England, $200/week fulltime

[KEG123]

28/day under 18m and 25/day for over 18m.

[quietpoet2004]

Wow, as I sit here and look at the rates that ya'll can charge, I get jealous! LOL

I just sent home a letter increasing my rates (beginning in June...) to $90/wk. and I had parents that weren't happy with that!

[Jenniferdawn]

But does a loaf of bread cost you five dollars where you are? I think it all evens out when you take in cost of living.

[quietpoet2004]

Originally Posted by Jenniferdawn

But does a loaf of bread cost you five dollars where you are? I think it all evens out when you take in cost of living.

Oh, I know it does. I'm not complaining. I just think it's comical that the cost of living is so different. I completely understand WHY the rates are different. I just find it funny that if my dcp's knew what SOME people pay, they wouldn't complain (one family) about 90 bucks a week. (whicih is actually still low for my area.)

[Creek]

No matter the age - a spot is $225 a week.

[boysx5]

I charge 200 a week for any age

I'm from HI and I charge 150/wk FT and $125/wk PT. I'm actually in the lower end for pricing some here are up to $175/wk FT

[BrooklynM]

I charge $275 a week for infants (2 and under here in California), over 2- I charge $250 a week. I'm at capacity with a waiting list. I live in a good location because I'm in between 2 major freeways so I have 2 parents that commute to San Francisco, one to Oakland and one to San Jose. Fortunately I've been very lucky with how wonderful they are. I live in an older home that is a third of the size of some of their homes, they drive fancy cars, one of the dads has a brand new Tesla, but all of them are so amazing and treat me like I'm family.

[BrooklynM]

Oh- I should add- I start at 6:15am and end at 5:45pm so my day is very very long.

[Annalee]

Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa

Sorry, not to hijack the thread but I just thought this was interesting. In my state (CA) children are infants until the age of 2 and then they are toddlers/pre-schoolers until they are old enough to go to school. Once they go into Kinder thay are school-agers. So many differences aren't there? It always amazes me.

24 months and under are considered infants here as well...licensing limits Group (12)/Family (7) to only 4 children that are under 24 months....that is a large range to only be able to care for 4 infants with the demand for infants being so high.....does cause some issues especially since many 4 yr olds go to voluntary/income eligible Pre K.

[jenboo]

i charge $175 a week for 18 months and under
$150 a week for 18months-3 years
$125 a week for 3 and up

I charge based on age because I provide diapers and wipes. In my experience, younger children tend to use more diapers than the older ones. And obviously, none once they are potty trained.

I charge average based on my location in Las Vegas. Centers around me charge a little bit more. But then you could go to the other side of town where parents pay thousands a month. I worked at one of those centers...it was horrible! the kids ran the place.

[lpperry]

I don't think our answers are going to be helpful. You need to check around in your area and see what the rates are. My rates are $220 per week for any age, but I am very low for infants. I am going to raise my rates for infants if I ever take any more. Around here, infant care is closer to $270-$320 a week.

I charge $35 a day no matter what the age is (infant to 3 years old) some I get 2-3 days a week and some I get 4-5 days a week. Parents had checked with regular daycares and felt my rate is fair. (So assuming daycares costs more than what I charge) I’m in Florida

[LysesKids]

Originally Posted by newtodaycare22

I'm in Md and day cares here are 175-300 for infants. (lower end=unlicensed and highest end=centers)

You can't do unlicensed childcare in MD; not legally anyway. Now here in TN I get 125-150 week and I do under 24 months only

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by LysesKids

You can't do unlicensed childcare in MD; not legally anyway. Now here in TN I get 125-150 week and I do under 24 months only

Super old thread (2012) revived by unregistered.

[CityGarden]

I do not take infants.... but in my area providers are charging $65-70 per day for infants and they tend to do infants only if they take them.

[CityGarden]

Originally Posted by Blackcat31

Super old thread (2012) revived by unregistered.

oops just noticed that.

[LysesKids]

Originally Posted by Blackcat31

Super old thread (2012) revived by unregistered.

I'm bad... didn't even check the date

[tenderhearts]

Infant to age 2 I charge $190.00/week

[Jo123ABC]

I'm located in a ND town with high demand for daycare and very high cost of living. average: home daycares-$125, centers-$190. I charge $148 per wk for under 24 months and 128 for 2+.

[hwichlaz]

I know it’s revived. But

Rural Northern California, $185 per week for infants. $165 for everyone else.

[BrynleeJean]

It really varies here. Some cheaper homes will go for as low as 130 even 100 for babies or kids younger than 18 months in general. Others are higher at around 170-200 a week for a baby or under 18 months, thats in a 5 mile range! partially the city but i think partial just knowing your worth, making yourself worth that higher dollar.
centers range from 190-225 generally, the highest i know of is 250 a week but thats not the most common but still very popular.
i think people will associate the cheap price with cheap care.
when i open back up and focus on under 18 months i plan to hopeufully do 4 days only but at 190, diapers, wipes, bottles, food, formula, included. the works.

[Josiegirl]

Sometimes it's good to revive an oldie but a goodie. It lets you know how things can change in a few years and I'm sure there's always someone who needs the answer to the question.
I could never understand why people charge more for infant care. In my experience, it's the 3-6 yos that require more care.
I now charge 135 for any new enrollments, no matter what the age. Average rates for home dc are around 125-135. Centers are 200. I am finding parents that don't want large group care for infants, are happy to pay what I charge. All I've been getting are infant inquiries.

[LysesKids]

Originally Posted by Josiegirl

Sometimes it's good to revive an oldie but a goodie. It lets you know how things can change in a few years and I'm sure there's always someone who needs the answer to the question.
I could never understand why people charge more for infant care. In my experience, it's the 3-6 yos that require more care.
I now charge 135 for any new enrollments, no matter what the age. Average rates for home dc are around 125-135. Centers are 200. I am finding parents that don't want large group care for infants, are happy to pay what I charge. All I've been getting are infant inquiries.

Send the babes my way, it's all I take lol.

[Josiegirl]

Originally Posted by LysesKids

Send the babes my way, it's all I take lol.

Expect late pick-ups.

[ColorfulSunburst]

Originally Posted by Josiegirl

I could never understand why people charge more for infant care. In my experience, it's the 3-6 yos that require more care.

infants need individual attention during meal time. If an infants cry for any reason s/he takes all your attention again. The most important thing: In our area (NY) we must have one adult for every two kids under 2yo. vs one adult for 6 toddlers. So if you want to earn something by giving infant care you must charge more. Minimum wage over here is $13.50 and in a year it will be $15.00 So you can easily count how much you have to charge to be able at least to cover all of your expenses. Especially the assistants' salary and taxes.