What Age For Change In Rates?

[Mom2Two]

For those who charge different rates for different ages, what age to you make the change and why?

I just had a family change (lower) how many days they are here, so I'm looking for two more kiddos and I'll also have to look when some go to Kindergarten in August. So I'm thinking over how I want to do my rates. I currently charge hourly, but I'm thinking to go to daily or monthly.

My main concern is over infants who aren't independent. My feelings are that I would charge more for them. At what age are kiddos typically more independent players?

[Mom2Two]

I was thinking maybe $35/day for younger than 18 mth and $25/day for older than 18 mth. Or maybe making the cutoff 15 months.

If I went monthly, maybe $500 for younger and $400 for older. idk

And yes, these are competitive and reasonable rates for this area. There actually aren't too many kiddos in my near town. Most kiddos come here from the towns next door.

[Jupadia]

I charge more gor kids under 2. I only have 3 spots available since I have 2 of my own. We can only have 2 under 2 and one of mine is in that category. Also I get a lot more calls for under 2. SK charge the same as my over 2 rate since my numbers are limited and it would be hard to find someone to fill the school hours only. Not to metion holidays or snow days where I would be over. So far I've never took on any SA kids.

[LysesKids]

I was thinking maybe $35/day for younger than 18 mth and $25/day for older than 18 mth. Or maybe making the cutoff 15 months.

If I went monthly, maybe $500 for younger and $400 for older. idk

And yes, these are competitive and reasonable rates for this area. There actually aren't too many kiddos in my near town. Most kiddos come here from the towns next door.

Here in TN infants are considered 0 thru 15months, toddlers are 16-30 months. I age out at 18 months and I get 5XX month for FT, 3XX for PT (under 24 hrs week) no rate change; all my clients come from the next city over . I don't do hourly or weekly. My daily rate is drop-in only and that is 35 day

[AmyKidsCo]

I just changed my rates to match licensing ratios. Licensing groups children by 0-2 yrs, 2-5 yrs, and 5-12 yrs, so that's what I do. It's a lot easier!

[DaveA]

I do over/ under 30 months since that is the age that licensing uses for ratios.

[AmyKidsCo]

I do over/ under 30 months since that is the age that licensing uses for ratios.

Wow - 30 months! What are your ratios?

WI is:
0 under two yrs & 8 over two yrs + 0 school age
1 under two yrs & 7 over two yrs + 0 school age
2 under two yrs & 5 over two yrs + 1 school age
3 under two yrs & 2 over two yrs + 3 school age
4 under two yrs & 0 over two yrs + 2 school age

[Blackcat31]

Here space is really hard to find for those under 2 yrs old so I have one flat rate for under 2's no matter how many days they attend. Once they reach 2 (which is considered a preschooler) then I assign rates based on # of days used per week and pick up time.

Other than it being a flat rate, there isn't much difference in the costs when broken down; so a 2 yr old here 5 days a week with the latest pick up time available would be the same as the under 2 flat rate.

[DaveA]

Wow - 30 months! What are your ratios?

WI is:
0 under two yrs & 8 over two yrs + 0 school age
1 under two yrs & 7 over two yrs + 0 school age
2 under two yrs & 5 over two yrs + 1 school age
3 under two yrs & 2 over two yrs + 3 school age
4 under two yrs & 0 over two yrs + 2 school age

Can have 7 total. Will be 8 when DD turns 13. I can have:
7 school age or
5 under 5 w/ no more than 3 under 2 or
6 under 5 with no more than 2 under 30 months

[AmyKidsCo]

Can have 7 total. Will be 8 when DD turns 13. I can have:
7 school age or
5 under 5 w/ no more than 3 under 2 or
6 under 5 with no more than 2 under 30 months

Your DD counts in ratios until 13? I was babysitting at 12! Our own kids count until they're 7.

[Claraskids]

As blackcat said, my under 2 spots are valuable and in high demand. They are charged at the highest rate and full-time only. There is NO other option!
I then break it down down to 25 months -36 months and 37 months until starting kindy. The middle group gets a small discount but not much as I am usually knee deep in toilet training. Preschool is the least expensive. Both of those groups can choose a full-time weekly rate or a daily drop-in rate. I have only ever had two families choose the drop-in option as once they are over three days, the full-time rate is a better option. I did that on purpose as I like my weekly guarantee ::
I don't take SA except for my own kids.

[Pestle]

Your DD counts in ratios until 13? I was babysitting at 12! Our own kids count until they're 7.

Yeah; in TN it transitions at 8! I was babysitting at 12, and people were asking if they were mine. Well, it is TN. . . .