Infant Pricing

[momofboys]

How much higher do you price for infants than you do for a toddler or preschooler? I know it should be higher but by how much? Thank you!

[mac60]

I don't charge more for an infant. IMO, I find infants much much easier to care for than a toddler/preschooler. Also, I never understood why people would charge less when they are feeding 2 meals a day and snacks. In my area home providers charge the same regardless of age, but the centers do charge more.

[DCMomOf3]

I have staggered prices right now but am raising my other pricing to match infant/ toddler rates because I agree with mac, they don't get easier as they grow up the work just changes.

[legomom922]

I charge $10 ($35/day) more for infants, and even though I do agree infants are easier to take care of, it is MORE work when you think about how you have to carry the car seat and the space they take up in a car if you are shopping somewhere, and the crying, and more diaper changes, and you have to take the time to sit there and hold the bottle while they eat, the more messy diapers you have and MORE supplies you have to have on hand for babies, burp cloths, bassinets, infant carriers, swings, exersaucers, high chairs, bibs, the burping, etc.

[tenderhearts]

I charge $40 more per week for an infant. I think infants are easier in alot of ways but more work in other ways.

[DanceMom]

I charge $25 more a week for infants...they do require more of my time than toddlers - feeding bottles, more diaper changes, and clothing changes ( all I can think of right now )

[Childminder]

I charge the same rate for all ages. Imo infants sleep most of the time and are way less work and I'd much rather change an infant than the smelly poop of a toddler.

[tenderhearts]

That's why I do charge more too, and the 7 mo old I have sleeps way less than the toddlers, his naps are like 30 min - 1 hr, it really ****s then he's really fussy in between.

[DBug]

I know I've said this before, but if you're going to charge more for infants, be prepared for the drop in income once they hit the age you've chosen to charge less for. Because I registered several infants & 1 year-olds around the same time period, I am now dealing with a major drop in my income now (ie. around $300 per month) that they're all turning 2 (which is the "magic" age I chose to start the lower rates at). I've now started charging the same amount for all ages, and people seem fine with that.

Since we have a limited number of spots, it just makes sense to charge the same for each spot regardless of who is occupying it.

[SunflowerMama]

I charge the same regardless of age.

[Abigail]

I'm also going to charge the same across the board. I'm limited to how many children I can have and I will provide the same quality care to each child regardless of their age.

[thatgagirl]

all the same.

The the pp who said an infant takes up more space in the car, I am curious what you mean? All my kids take up the same space...but all my kids are still rear facing, even my 4.5 year old...

[momofboys]

all the same.

The the pp who said an infant takes up more space in the car, I am curious what you mean? All my kids take up the same space...but all my kids are still rear facing, even my 4.5 year old...

I'm not sure what the PP meant but in my car even if there were 3 seatbelts some of the infant carseats are made in a manner that I could not fit 3 people in the row of seats. So if you transport kids sometimes you would have a harder time doing it with infant seats.

[thatgagirl]

maybe....i dont use infant seats though just convertibles. All 5 carseats in my van are rear facing. 12 week old, 8 month old, 3yr old, 2yo, 4.5yo

[momofboys]

maybe....i dont use infant seats though just convertibles. All 5 carseats in my van are rear facing. 12 week old, 8 month old, 3yr old, 2yo, 4.5yo

Do the convertibles take up less room in your van? I can't just go out & purchase several on my own unfortunately. We do have one convertible in our garage though, I will have to check it for how it fits in the van compared to the infant seat I have. Thanks for the input I would have never thought about it!