![]() ![]() The average cost to provide center-based child care for an infant in the United States is $1,230 per month.Licensed infant and toddler child care is unaffordable for most families: Similarly, a review of public funding to help families access child care finds that this child care assistance reaches only a fraction of eligible families and is insufficient to cover the true cost of infant and toddler care. Moreover, by analyzing the estimated costs in relation to average family incomes, it is clear that the cost of child care for infants and toddlers is beyond what most families can afford. The data find that child care for infants and toddlers is significantly more expensive than it is for preschool-age children. The report provides state-by-state estimates of the cost to provide child care that meets minimum state licensing standards, as well as the cost to provide high-quality child care where early childhood educators earn salaries comparable to kindergarten teachers. Using data from the Center for American Progress’ “Where Does Your Child Care Dollar Go?” tool and new analysis that estimates the cost of home-based family child care, this report looks at this “giant math equation” specifically as it relates to infant and toddler care. To understand what is driving the disconnect between what parents are paying and what teachers are earning, it is important to understand the finances of early childhood programs and what drives the high cost. The high cost of child care, coupled with low teacher wages and quality concerns, is confusing to parents and policymakers alike. As Janna said, this “feels like a giant math equation that doesn’t quite add up.” 3 Families across the country are struggling to afford the cost of child care, and what they pay in tuition does not necessarily translate into high-quality child care or livable wages for early childhood teachers. For families with only one income or those working minimum wage jobs, the struggle is even more acute. This is the reality of the early childhood education system in the United States today. They would really like Elliott to have a sibling, but the cost of child care for two children is just too big of a hurdle. Meanwhile, they are putting off their plans for a second child. As a result, Janna and Andrew are now back on the hunt for affordable child care. Unfortunately, the Ryans recently found out that it is closing because the center’s landlord is not renewing the lease, and operating costs are too high. The program has been operating for 30 years, is staffed by experienced teachers, and focuses on teaching empathy and acceptance. ![]() ![]() In September 2017, Elliott moved to a child care program that Janna and Andrew love. They wanted a robust curriculum, experienced and capable staff, and a location convenient to home and work, but they also had a limited budget. The limited availability of infant and toddler care left Janna and Andrew facing a decision about the inevitable trade-offs they would have to make. Janna spent hours researching alternative options and had to take time off work to tour programs. While the facility was clean and new, policies related to parent communication and safety protocols were either lacking or not followed consistently, leaving the Ryans concerned about their son’s well-being. ![]() They no longer had money left over at the end of the month to save for a down payment on a house.Īlthough child care tuition was the Ryans’ largest monthly expense, they soon had concerns about the quality of the program. Despite both working full-time jobs that placed their family income just above the state average, the Ryans struggled to manage their family budget. However, they quickly found that child care was their largest monthly expense-exceeding the cost of their monthly rent. Knowing that child care options for infants were limited, Janna and Andrew got on a waitlist well before Elliott was born and were able to find a spot for him when he was 6 months old at a child care center in their neighborhood. With new expenses piling up on items such as diapers and baby equipment, the Ryans’ parenthood started in a financial hole due to their increased expenses and decreased income. Although Washington state passed a paid leave law in 2017, 2 Elliott was born in 2016, and therefore, Janna and Andrew took mostly unpaid leave to care for him during the first few months of his life. ![]()
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