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Child care 101 for the new mom

Last post 12-07-2007, 4:55 PM by OPmama. 2 replies.
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  •  12-06-2007, 3:04 PM 317

    Child care 101 for the new mom

    Help!  I've only lived in the Chicago area for a couple of years and just gave birth to my first child.  I am overwhelmed with the task of finding full time child care for my 6 week old before I return to work.  I've checked into quite a few daycare centers and although I was impressed, the cost made more of an impression!  I'm hoping I can find a less expensive alternative in a licensed daycare provider that operates from their home but haven't had any luck in trackng down a list of such places in the Northwest suburbs. Any suggestions?  Also, as far as teenage or college age babysitters for an evening out, etc., what is the going rate of pay?  I appreciate any insights you seasoned moms can offer a newbie like me!
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  •  12-07-2007, 10:53 AM 326 in reply to 317

    Re: Child care 101 for the new mom

    I can't help out with the daycare question, but I can tell you that we pay $10 an hour for our babysitter. My sister lives in the NW burbs she told me that $10/hour is the going rate, plus she pays for the time the babysitter spends transporting herself to and from my sister's house.

     This is why my husband and I rarely go out! :)

     Best of luck!!!

    Michelle


    Michelle Sussman
    www.michellesussman.com
  •  12-07-2007, 4:55 PM 327 in reply to 317

    Re: Child care 101 for the new mom

    Try this link for the Illinois Network of Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies:

    http://www.inccrra.org

    I have not used their services, but I have colleagues who are familiar with it. 

    In terms of sitters, we pay $10 an hour and only book people who can actually drive to/from our house. It is too tough to get teen sitters to/from their homes to sit for us, as our free time is really limited and if we can score 3 hours away from work at the same time, we would rather the sitter get here his/herself. 

    Due to severe food allergies for one of our kids, we only book college age and up, since the sitter would need to learn how to use an Epi-Pen, call 911 and handle an ER visit if needed, until we could get to them. We hire teacher-friends who can use the extra $$ in the evenings. Also, we have used a couple of college kids. You can make a flier and post it on the bulliten board of the local college or send to a teacher training school, such as Erikson Instutite in Chicago. (www.Erikson.edu.) They post sitter-wanted fliers and you'd get someone who is at least of grad school age. 

    Otherwise, my husband and I stagger our schedules and make use of in-laws and grandparents as much as possible. 

    In a pinch, we hired a sitter who charged $15 an hour. Ouch!

    Good lucK!
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