Hi,
My name is Loretta and I am a mother of two, a five year old and 3 month old. We currently live in NYC, but we just found out a few weeks ago that my husband will be doing his Residency at UF. We will be moving to Gainesville this summer. We were happy to find this website in which to meet other moms in the area and get some helpful information. I am a stay at home mom for now, but I am considering returning to work(at least part time) once in Gainesville.
Can anyone tell me how much should I expect to pay in child care for an infant (for full and part time care)at a daycare? Any suggestions in good/affordable daycares?
We are very excited about the move and meeting new friends!!!
Thanks.
Loretta

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Suzy Richardson,

Hey Loretta!
So nice to meet you!! You are making a big transition, from NYC to Gainesville. Wow. I spent a summer in NY once. Well, I was paying $165/week when my son went to Sonshine Day Care, which is a very reputable day care. What is everyone else paying?

So, are you going back to work. Do you have anything lined up yet? Let me know if you have any more questions at all!

Here is a thread about daycares in the area...

http://talk.gainesvillemoms.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8331...921007117#9921007117

Hi Suzy,
Thank you so much for your reply. I don't have anything lined up for work yet. My husband and I are considering if I should go back to work or not. We could use the extra income, especially now that we are considering buying a home and me not having a job is holding us back. That's why we are trying to calculate how much daycare in the area would be, to see if it would end up being worth it for us.

Hi Loretta!! Suzy is right I have heard great things about Sunshine Daycare.. The average is probably around $150-165. I am actually in the process of beginning my own home daycare due to high daycare prices. I have a 7 year old boy and a daughter who will be 1 on the 19th. I use to pay $135 a week for my son..so I am thinking thats probably what I will charge once opened. Maybe a few less...

CMK--
Just curious, what area of Gainesville are you located in?

quote:

CMKRAMER

Hi CMKRAMER ,
Thanks for the info. I was checking on the UF website at the baby gator center and their price was $208 a week for infants, which felt a little high for me. I am glad to hear that there are other places with more affordable prices. It's a shame the baby gator only gives you a rate for full time, they should also have a part time rate.
Share with us your info once you are open and good luck.

Wow. Baby Gator is THAT much? That is high and I am really surprised that they are that much!!

I am located in NW Gainesville close to Hunters crossing Publix. Baby gator is and has been high. I use to volunteer at baby gator for about 3 years and they mostly have UF employee children and a lot of state workers take their children there. I think that is why they are so high. They are one of the highest daycares in town.

Loretta, I'm in the same boat, we are moving to Gainesville on the 1st of May because of my husband's job and I am debating whether or not to return to work, and interested in the day-care thing. I think I'd much rather have someone I knew/trust watch her out of the house (theirs or mine) than send her to a center. CMKRAMER, I'd be interested if you were really going to do care from your house. Either that or do the same thing myself, I'm a teacher and also used to work for daycare centers. Interesting thought.

Keep me in the loop if anyone finds a good place or gets any other info and I'll do the same.

I think most places require full time for infants, is that correct? At least that's been the case for the places I've looked at. I wouldn't mind doing part time just a couple days a week later on but everyone seems to insist on five days a week all day. With prices the way they are it almost seems worth it to just stay home!

Most places require full time for infants because you are only allowed so many babies under a certain age so if they take a part time they will lose a spot to possibly make a full time spot earnings. Really it is sad..these days people are only out to make money not to help out those who need it. I am definitely working towards a home daycare. Right now I keep a little girl part time. I am also taking the 30 hour requirements to be a registered home daycare and then I will work on the license part of it all. I am willing to work with parents on the part time situations. Yes I need money as well but I also know what it is like to find trustworthy affordable child care as I have a 7 year old and a little girl who just turned 1. Anyway just thought I would explain the part time situation to you.

Hi Loretta
My husband is doing his residency at UF also and we will be moving down there! maybe we will run into each other

Thank you ladies for the information. I had no idea most places only did infants full time. I went back to work full time 6 months after my first child was born and I did not find info about part time care at the time. I did not need it then. It makes sense why they do it, but it does make it harder to just go back to work part time when you have to pay full time care.

Hi Utgrad, when does your husband start? mine starts orientation June 24th and then formally July 1st. I hope we ran into each other, I know it would be nice to meet people on the same boat. First and second year of residency have the reputation of being extremely hard, Yikes !!!!! Hopefully it will go fast.

We are looking at Baby Gator for my 2 year old - we were 82 on the wait list and are now 38. I am paying $2100 a month for my 2 girls where we live now, so baby Gator prices look pretty good in comparasion! We are looking for someplace NAYEC accredited if possible - does anyone know how Kindercare on campus is? thanks