Home Childcare Costs Question

Since your children will be the only ones there, I would seriously consider a different provider. I would prefer my children to be with other kids, to be with a provider with current/up-to-date experience, to be with someone who's dedicated to her job & not just starting out (or starting again with kids).

The fact that she is undetermined in her fees ....is a red flag for me! What else is she just "winging" it on?

Should you decide to use her, please do not feel guilty or responsible for her income. She is responsible for this! Pay the going rate....& leave it at that. You are not in charge of her finances.....she is!

If you are seeking her out because she is only keeping your children and that's what you want, then I could see you needing to pay her a bit more than the going rate. However, since I believe she can have up to 5 or 6 kids in Indiana without being licensed and it's her home, it's not your job to pay more than the going rate. However, I think 20 dollars per day is just ridiculous low in this day and age. I would say to pay 25 per day for 1 child and $40 dollars per day for 2 if she's willing to do that in the summer. I know a lot of providers feel like they are not going to do less for the 2nd child than they do for the first, so they won't discount for siblings. I do. But sometimes I really struggle not to feel resentful over it.

Hi,
We have a 3 1/2 year old. He started school around 8 months? (I call it school, it's inhome care) and we have consistently payed 150.00 a week (25.00 a day) since he is now potty trained - it's 125 a week. She provides everything (art supplies, food, etc.).
Hope this helps!
Carrie.

The only thing you can do is call your local child care licensing office and ask how to go about finding out the going rate for in home child care.

Here are some links to child care regulations for Indiana. It appears she can watch up to 5 children without a license.

"Current Indiana law allows multiple exemptions
from licensure. Indiana is one (1) of only four (4)
states in the country which allow child care to be
provided to 5 or less unrelated children without
requiring licensure. Other exemptions are allowed
by statute under IC 12-17.2-2-8."
Quote from:
http://www.state.in.us/fssa/files/BCC-Annual-Report-2006.pdf

http://www.daycare.com/indiana/
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Here are the child care reports for Carroll county the last year and how much providers got per day.
http://www.in.gov/fssa/files/ccdfmrCarroll.pdf
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If you are going back to work and are having a hard time paying for child care then you may qualify for assistance paying for child care. It really sucks when you go to work to help support your family and then have to pay out over 50% for child care. If you are making minimum wage or even just a bit more you can really expect child care to be about 50% or more of your income. For 2 children it may be even more of a percent.
http://www.in.gov/fssa/files/ccdfmrCarroll.pdf

Here's a link to find out how to apply for child care assistance.
http://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/3900.htm