Twins - Rate?

[MyAngels]

So, parents of twins, does that mean that you'd have been more likely to go with a provider who offered you a discount?

I generally charge $25-30 for a full day. However, for some reason I can't bring myself to tell this person that I want $180 for three days care. It seems like so much! I'm quite sure that the work involved would be totally worth it though.

That doesn't seem like too much to me. I'm charging $190 for a 4 1/2 y/o and 8 month old sibs right now for three days per week, and that's actually a slight discounted rate as they are one of my longest term families.

I don't live in an area where rates are high, either, my full-time rate is $125 per week, part time is $100 per week.

[Heidi]

I can tell you from my own recent experience with baby twins that

2x the toddlers = 4x the work! They are adorable, but they sure are a lot of extra work!

Think about it. Two children at the exact same developmental stage ganging up on you!

[Cat Herder]

I do give a discount. 40% off second child. Pick your jaw off the floor..

Heres the catch... One pickup, one drop-off, per FAMILY, per day. If one is excluded for illness, both must stay out. They must attend or stay out, together. I keep the 48 hours MINIMUM exclusion if sent home midday policy as well. For both.

It is worth the loss of income for me to maintain order and minimize illness exposure to my group AND my family. Yep, I have quirks. (I also promised my neighbors I'd do everything in my power to minimize traffic)

My first employer had this policy after a mass outbreak. It was a long running theory of hers. It was proven correct IMHO. There are a few of us locally that still practice it.

NOW, know it is a very unpopular policy and I don't recommend newer providers try it for at least 5 years of service and word of mouth referrals. Just my opinion, but it is HARD to get parents to understand and requires LOTS of policing. They will ALL try to get out of it MANY times.

Granted when I give them the option of paying full price and attending as they wish, they decline.

[earthtoashley]

As a mom of twin toddlers, I am MORE LIKELY to choose a daycare that offers me some sort of discount-- we are a military and fall right on the border of getting a discount.. luckily we do get a government discount for childcare, but that still does not make it that much more affordable. So any extra help is grately appreciate to my husband and I. We have to pay double for EVERYTHING, so discounts wherever we can get them are very important to us. We do not expect it, however, we are thankful to the person/company who gives them to us.

[Michael]

As a mom of twin toddlers, I am MORE LIKELY to choose a daycare that offers me some sort of discount-- we are a military and fall right on the border of getting a discount.. luckily we do get a government discount for childcare, but that still does not make it that much more affordable. So any extra help is grately appreciate to my husband and I. We have to pay double for EVERYTHING, so discounts wherever we can get them are very important to us. We do not expect it, however, we are thankful to the person/company who gives them to us.

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[cheerfuldom]

I dont have twins but I just wanted to say.....its not "paying double for everything".....every other person who has two kids pays for daycare for each kid so why would twins be different? That said, OP, if you need the family, why not offer a discount? you don't have to offer that to anyone else.

[2ndFamilyDC]

I've had two sets of twins over the years and I charge my full rate for both spots. Honestly, with the two sets I've had, their parents are lucky that I didn't charge them more than my normal rate ::.

I hear you on that! ::

I have watched two sets of twins over the years, I did give discounts.
Definitely would not today.

[mismatchedsocks]

I dont have twins but I have sisters who are here 9 hours a day 3 times a week and I get $200 for them. I dont offer too much of a discount besides rounding down to make it an even number. They also only get 3 days of vacation a year.

If they leave, then I have 2 openings. If they were twin infants I would charge normal rate for each child.

[frgsonmysox]

I'd only give a discount if you normally discount sibs. Just because they share a birthdate doesn't mean they are entitled to a different discount than other siblings.

[KEG123]

I have twins that pay the same amount as other families. 25/day per child.

[Solandia]

I have never done sibling discounts for several reasons. Siblings are more work, more boundry issues/personal space, and issues with appropriate play & following the rules/thinking the rules don't apply because they can play that way at home together. It is higher risk income as if the parent loses a job or moves, that is twice the spots to fill. Twins, in particular, are even more 'work' than 2 siblings. And most definately more work than two exactly the same age non-siblings. I absolutely love the twin interactions when they are not my responsibility.

I can see no reason to provide a discount to a client that is higher financial risk and more work.

[Blackcat31]

As a mom of twin toddlers, I am MORE LIKELY to choose a daycare that offers me some sort of discount-- we are a military and fall right on the border of getting a discount.. luckily we do get a government discount for childcare, but that still does not make it that much more affordable. So any extra help is grately appreciate to my husband and I. We have to pay double for EVERYTHING, so discounts wherever we can get them are very important to us. We do not expect it, however, we are thankful to the person/company who gives them to us.

I don't mean this rudely but of course people who have more than one child would want a place that gives discounts but having twins isn't a disability, it is simply having two kids at once. It isn't any different than other families that have more than one child. I think it is wrong to expect special treatment/discounts just because you have more than one child at the same time.

I dont have twins but I just wanted to say.....its not "paying double for everything".....every other person who has two kids pays for daycare for each kid so why would twins be different? That said, OP, if you need the family, why not offer a discount? you don't have to offer that to anyone else.

AGREED! I thought the same thing when I originally read this post. Why are twins any different than regular sibling sets?

I would ONLY discount if I discounted EVERYONE with more than one child, not simply because it were twins.