The many jobs of a stay-at-home mom would be worth $133,440 if we paid these women what they're worth, according to a recent report from Insure.com. But because it's incredibly expensive just to be alive, for many families it's simply not possible to get by without both parents working — not to mention the incredible single parents out there who do it all on their own.
These families have to work hard to survive, but they're also grappling with the costs of childcare. Recently, u/ocean_plastic asked how much working moms spend each month on childcare, and the answers ranged from pretty affordable (outside of the US) to literally three times my rent. Here's some of what they had to say:
1. "I’m currently pregnant with twins and have a toddler. Once the twins start daycare, it will cost us $8,000 a month. It is physically painful to type that out."
2. "I work a night job. Start my days around 4–5 p.m. My partner starts work around 9–10 a.m. We have family close by that watches our 2½-year-old and 10-month-old two times a week, and we have a nanny who watches them two times a week from about 4–9 p.m. when my partner gets home. That's about 10 hours a week at $25 an hour, so around $250 a week. Seattle suburb."
3. "We pay $3,200 a month for a toddler. Center-based daycare. We provide lunch, they provide two snacks. Northern California."
4. "Mine costs $450 per month for two kids to go full time. I live in Canada, where daycare costs $10 a day per kid."
5. "My costs: $2,630 for one toddler and one 5-year-old preschooler. This is for four days, not five. I'm counting down the days until my oldest begins kindergarten, because this sucks and the teachers are STILL underpaid. I hate this about America."
6. "I pay $4,100 per month for an infant in Manhattan!"
7. "My mental health 😅. My mother-in-law watches him for free, but in return she lives with us, so…"
8. "I have two kids in daycare: $2,300 per kid. Very high cost of living, East Coast suburb."
9. "The daycare where I send my kids costs $905 per week: infant ($452, with second child 10% discount) and toddler ($453) five days a week, 8–5. Parents provide meals, daycare provides snacks twice a day starting at the toddler age. Weekly gymnastics starting at toddler age, and swim starting at preschool age, are included during the school year. Luckily I get a staff discount, but eek. Pre-discount, it would be just under $4,000 monthly and $47,000 annually. I live in a US state with some of the highest daycare costs in the country."
10. "I pay $285 per week. Keep in mind, daycare prices usually go up annually and have reenrollment fees."
11. "I live in Maryland about an hour south of DC, and we pay $1,500 per month for two kids. We both work for the Department of Defense and have access to the child development center on base. They provide all meals and snacks, and formula for under 1-year-olds if you use it. It’s a wonderful benefit, and the care is fantastic."
12. "Our costs: $3,500 a month for the infant room at daycare. That includes a 10% corporate discount."
13. "We pay $5,000 a month for our full-time nanny, plus $1,000 per month for part-time preschool for my older son. Very high cost of living area in SoCal. Thankfully, costs will go down this fall when both kids are in school full time."
14. "We're dual income, with my husband active-duty US military. They offer childcare on a sliding scale based on family income. We're in the second-highest bracket because my husband has been in a long time and I have a decent job. We're at about $850 a month for one infant. And I feel so, so fortunate every day for my affordable childcare and free healthcare. Wish it could be that way for everyone."
15. "We pay $1,600 for two kids full time per month in New England (small rural town in Massachusetts). Includes breakfast, lunch, and two snacks a day."
16. "About $250 per month for younger kids group (under 3 years old) in German daycare. Starting from October when they're in the kindergarten, we'll pay zero."
17. "For one child under age 2 at a daycare center: $1,125 monthly. Meals are provided, I think because they're part of some kind of state-subsidized school lunch program. I'm in a medium-high cost of living metro area. The daycare is a chain. My household isn't low-income, but I think this place tends to attract lower-income families, which is how they're part of this lunch program."
18. "I pay $230 a week for daycare for my 1-year-old. Low cost of living area in the Midwest."
19. "We're in Seattle and have done all of these. Our daycare/preschool center cost $1,400–$2,200 a month by age, plus at least two weeks off for school holidays/teacher training. Nanny cost $30 per hour, plus two weeks' paid vacation and employer taxes. Au pair cost $1,600 a month, plus housing/food and two weeks' paid vacation."
20. "Our costs: $4,000 a month for a nanny to watch our 9-month-old, $5 an hour more if she watches the older one, too. We're in the Bay Area."
21. "I pay £1,200 [about $1,500] for one kid four days a week. A major UK city. Government provides tax relief of up to £2,000 [$2,502] per year (accounted for in my monthly amount)."
22. "My costs: $1,660 a month at a large center for a 'wobbler' (18–24 months) in the Portland, Oregon, metro area. Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack provided."
23. "Our costs: $1,400/month (one kid, 4 years old) in Montessori preschool, in the suburb of a large Pacific Northwest metro area."
24. "North coast Florida: 36 hours per week for a nanny for my son is $900. He will start daycare in the fall for $350 per week (plus a deposit for one month). My nanny has a lot of experience, so her pay is higher by about $5 an hour than my other candidates (and I’m really underpaying her even then, because she has a master's in early child education)."
25. "Subsidized daycare in Canada: $1,330 for two kids."
26. "I pay $185 a week for a 3-year-old in South Carolina; meals included. When my infant starts in August, he will be $200 per week, I believe."
27. "A full-time nanny for one toddler in the Midwest costs $3,200 a month."
28. "My costs in a New York City suburb: $1,900 for one toddler."
29. "Chicago: $4,615 for infant and preschooler, full time. Meals included."
Do you pay for childcare? Tell us how your costs compare in the comments!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.