Sibling Discount Rate?

[MissMaries]

Do you give a sibling discount? If so, how much of a discount?
I have a client that is pregnant with her second. Her son attends full time right now. They both will be here full time starting in Nov and both are under 2 years old.
Thanks

[MyAngels]

No sibling discount here. They don't get discounted care, do they?

[butterfly]

Nope.

It's been said "discounted care isn't given so why give a discounted price?".

I can understand from a parents perspective though, it gets expensive having multiple children in daycare.

[Patches]

Nope, I know it gets expensive with more than one child but that's part of having kids. Kids are expensive!

[CedarCreek]

I do but I want to get rid of it when I change my policies.

Right now, I give a 20 dollar discount a week for sibs.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Initially I offered a 10% discount. I currently have one part-time family enrolled that still has it. I lose $480/year from doing that. They go to Kindergarten next year. They have been with me for over a year.

Then, I offered a 5% discount. The only other sibling set (full-time) in my care still has this. I lose $384/year from doing that. One sibling goes to Kindergarten this Fall. They have been with me for almost a year.

Now, I do not offer a sibling discount. Below is what my Parent Handbook says.

Sibling Discount
No sibling discounts are given at this time. Please understand that every child is provided the same level of care, same opportunities, and utilizes the same resources thus making it unfair to our clients with one child if we offer clients with multiple children a discount.

[mrsnj]

Nicely said. I might steal that. I used to but no longer. I have limited space. And I am already lower than a center. I can't afford to discount a spot someone else could take full rate.

[Mom&Provider]

No sibling discount here either. I offer the same thing to both children in the same family (same meals, snacks, crafts etc), so I never saw a reason to offer it. It's not like my expenses go down just because they are siblings!

[Willow]

I offer a sibling discount.

It's a $.25/hour difference for one child if both children are in attendance at the same time.


For me it's not about selling myself short or about offering a discounted level of care, it's about recognizing that we're in a recession, my family is very financially stable, I love that I can live the life I want to by staying home and doing what I do and don't mind giving back a bit to those who support the lifestyle I've chosen and comfortably settled into.

It's no skin off my teeth. Combined with the quality of care and environment I can offer it just adds to what sets me aside from the competition.


Do what you feel is right and fair for you and your families MissMaries, that's all that really matters in the long run

[MissMaries]

Thanks everyone.

I don't offer a discount in my handbook. I'm only licensed for 6 children so spots are obviously limited.

They only reason I was considering offer a discount to this family is they have been with me since I first opened. I have only been opened 14 months. They are also my only full time family.

Thank you

[Meeko]

I have, on occasion, told a family that I was going to lower their rate because I knew they were struggling etc. and I was in a position to help out.

But nothing bugs me more than people who EXPECT me to take money out of my pocket and put it in theirs just because they have more than one child.

Why would I pay THEM to bring their child to me?!!!

[crazydaycarelady]

I used to give a sibling discount but I stopped. We already have a cap on how much $$ we can make by the state limiting the number of kids we can have so I am not going to cut myself short bu offering a discount. Plus the 2nd kid is no less work?

Does McDonalds give a sibling discount if you buy 2 Happy Meals?

[Blackcat31]

Siblings do NOT receive discounted care therefore do NOT receive discounted rates.

No discussion, no negotiation, no exceptions.

[wdmmom]

When I started I offered a 50% discount on the 2nd kid. (No discount for twins.)

Then I changed it to 25% discount although I had no siblings at that time.

About 2 years ago I changed it to 10% off and now I don't have one.

I stopped discounting because they aren't getting discounted care and with only being able to have a maximum number of kids, I need to maximize the income potential.

My electric bill goes up or stays the same with an added soul in the house. So does my water bill and my trash bill. Same goes for cable.

It isn't cost effective to offer a discount when my bills remain the same.

[hope]

I am caring for twins for the first time. Even though they have two complete opposite personalities they came with same schedule n values implemented. They do everything together. They fix each others problems. DCM is really great. For them I give a discount, a pretty good one! But they care so much for each other that I feel its easier to watch two of them than one other child. They are also great role models for the other kids in my group. And DCM will throw me an extra $50 if she needs an extra half hour here or there. She realizes what a discount I give her and makes sure to appreciate.