How much per week do you pay for childcare (daycare)? Is there a charge if you pick your child up late?

Question

Where do you live?

I found a daycare that I really like (in NC), but when I was thumbing through the info they gave me, it says it's $5/minute for picking up late! I don't think there'd ever be a time I'd pick her up late, but that sounds way high! Anyway, I'm just curious about rates. Thanks!

Answer 1

$140 CDN, then $5 for every 15 minutes late picked up. I am so excited to see my son at the end of the day, he has never been left there late.

Answer 2

I am in Montana. I pay $110/week. Our contract states that I have to pay $5 for every 15 minutes I am late after the initial 15 minutes.  But my provider is flexible and understanding and never charges me if I am a couple of minutes late because it isn't something that happens often and I always call if I know I am running behind.

Five bucks a minute is way high!

Answer 3

I paid $150 a week up to age 18 months, then it dropped to $135 per week.  (large town Nebraska) The daycare closed at 6pm and there was a $5 per minute late charge.  It's pretty common just because they want their staff to be able to leave at a certain time and there are parents out there who would abuse the closing time if there wasn't a penalty.  I just made sure there was 2-3 other people that I authorized with the daycare to pick up my child so that if I couldn't get there in time I just called the daycare and arranged with one of the other individuals to pick them up in time.

Answer 4

In Central Ohio, for 2 kids (5 year old and 21 month old) I pay $285.00/week. The late fee is $10 per child per 10 minutes your late. They usually waive your first late fee.

Answer 5

I haven't put my kids in the daycare.  But my hubby's co-worker paid $5 for picking up late.

I guess $5 is way too high, isn't it?

Answer 6

I paid 211 a week for my son when he was under 12 months now when he turned 12 months it went to 199.00 a week yes a really big savings.  And my four year old is in the same program and he is 159  a week.  and if i am late and I have never been late I have to pay one dollar a minute per child.  Now keep in mind I even pay for days they are not there.  Yes my husband and I both work full time but I am pregnant with number four I think I might just stay home because day care in PA is killing us.

Answer 7

Kindercare in WI charges $5 a minute for every minute that you're late, too. Rates are

Up to age 2- $271/wk

2- $241/wk

3-5- $ 204/ wk

kindergarten b4 & after- $183/wk

school age b4 & after- $124/ wk

Answer 8

We pay $80/week for a part time toddler.   It was $100/week for part time when she was younger.  And I think there is a ridiculous charge for being late, like $5 per minute.  However, it seems fair to me, because if the parent isnt there on time, then the provider has to stay and they still have to make their salary.  Plus it discourages people from being late, I think its pretty fair but that is just my opinion.

Answer 9

I live in Boston and I pay $350 a week for child care that is including late fee. so even if I'm not late I have to pay $350. so if I am late I'm covered. the day care is great though and my daughter loves her friends and her teachers.

Answer 10

I worked at a daycare for awhile and we had a $3.00 per minute fee for picking the kids up late, however we never charged it unless they were more than fifteen minutes late and didn't call.  We just used it more as a tool to encourage parents to be on time, so we could all go home! Not sure if they would do the same thing there or not, but we were always especially understanding if the parents were late and called to let us know what was going on, and when they thought they would be there.

Answer 11

I'm in the UK so costs won't be much good to you, but we certainly have charges for being late. Otherwise you get some parents who repeatedly abuse the system just a little bit and it's not fair on the staff. Hitting them in the pocket forces mum to pick the kids up on time instead of deciding to go shopping without the kids first...

My kids' nursery actually never charged me - I think I was late twice, when traffic accidents and blocked roads meant I physically couldn't get there on time.

Answer 12

We live in FL, and I pay $165 a week and my son is 20 months old. Pick up time is no later than 5:30 pm. If you are late between 5:30 pm and 5:45 pm it’s $15 due before you can have your child released to you. Every minute after is $5 however, any time after and they’ll be calling your emergency contact to come pick up your child.

I see it from both ends. My friend runs her own daycare, people take advantage of her because she has no “late policy”. And people seem to forget that daycare providers are just like you and me. They have a family, a husband, children to tend to, maybe a second job they need to get to. And it’s not fair for us to assume it’s no big deal. Which is exactly why they make these late fees ridiculous….to prove a point and to prevent parents from taking advantage.

I hit SO much traffic on my way to pick up my son, it’s insane. His daycare closes at 5:30 pm and I’m only 20 mins away, but I leave work at 4:30 pm (4:38 the latest) because that gets me there on a good day, at 5:00 pm. Other times, traffic is a mess and I pull in at 5:15 and it scares the c**p out of me. I just don’t want to be the parent that’s always late, the parent whose child is there last each day, or the parent that can’t seem to hold it together no matter WHAT the circumstances. So I do my best to respect their rules and make d**n sure I’m there by 5:30 pm each and every day. As each parent should…..

Answer 13

I was paying $160 per week (per child)...late charge was $10 for the first 1-5 minutes and 1$ per minute for every minute after 5 minutes.....

Edit:

Sorry I'm in PA