Parents who have their children in daycare?

Question

I have been very fortunate to be able to stay home with my daughter for the first year of her life. Financially we can not afford it anymore and I have an opportunity to go back to work where I was employed before my daughter was born.

I've been looking into daycares and I have found one that I am in love with. I'm going through the application and they want a $50 registration fee which will also be due every Sept. and my daughter's social security number. Do most daycares require the $50 registration fee, I haven't come across one yet that does and why would they need her social security number?

I should have mentioned that I DO NOT WANT anyone telling me that it's wrong for me to put my child in daycare. This is a difficult decision, one that I have gone round and round about and a decision that I have made. It's one of the hardest decisions I have had to make. Thnk you to the ones that are answering my question and not throwing your opinions at me.

Answer 1

I don't know the answer that you seek however I implore you to reconsider sending your child to daycare. I have two children and my wife and I did what we had to do to make sure our kids stayed home with us. We both needed to work so we adjusted our schedules so it would work out. I worked nights and stayed with the kids in the day and my wife worked days. Was it inconvenient? Yes. But fast forward 16 years and we have two great kids that get straight A's and are well behaved and have not been molested etc. Answer this... who do you want raising your child? you? or some stranger with different beliefs than your own?

Answer 2

The annual registration fee is totally normal, I've never seen a center that does not do it. If you ask what it is for, they will tell you it covers the administrative costs of setting up your account and paperwork and annual administrative maintenance activity. The social security number could be a number things, most likely proof of identity just like with adults. They will also likely have you fill out a form that asks for your info and income that they send to the state to qualify for certain funds to cover food costs for the overall center. Doesn't matter whether you personally qualify or not. So yeah, it's all perfectly normal. In fact, probably means you found one of the better ones. -- Oh, after a little thought, the social security number is probably needed for their tax purposes as proof they actually had so many children enrolled and didn't make any of them up, which some of the less reputable places might do.

Answer 3

Yes, most day cares require a yearly registration fee. It's to protect them in a way. They don't want to save a space for a child and then have the parents back out at the last minute which would put them in a rush to fill the spot. I've never heard of anyplace requiring the social though. It may be that the parents must provide proof that the child is actually theirs. Licensed day cares must have proof that the child is who the parents say it is, you never know when someone has kidnapped their child or someone else's and have fake names to protect themselves. If you are uncomfortable ask them why they need it, I don't think I would want to give it out either. Ask them if a copy of your child's birth certificate will do. I've worked in many day cares and church after school programs and that's what most of the places have done. And by copy, I don't mean official from the state, just a copy from a copy machine, most states now have the kind of paper that will say "copy" on it when it gets copied. Anyway, good luck. Trust your instincts!

Answer 4

Most daycares require an inital registration fee. My daughters was $40. That covered the expense of her nap mat and other supplies that the school provieds.

As for the social security number, i am not not 100% sure as to why it is necessary. Maybe it has to do with claiming it for taxes or something. Worst case, question the director of the center. She should have no qualms about answering any questions or concerns that you may have.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

I found that must "good" daycares want this registration fee. I to paid it when enrolling my daughter and again every year after for enrollment. As long as you are in love with this school it's not to much to pay, however I am not sure as to why they would need her social. Ask them if they can give you a good reason that makes sense and you are comfrontable with, ok if not Do Not put it on the application. They may need yours for accouting reason's ( some day cares do credit checks on parents ) but I can not think of one reason why they would need a child's

Answer 6

The reason they want the fee is because many parents go around to several programs and register their child. These programs then hold a slot for your child. The programs then fill up turning others away. When it comes time for these children to start in the program, the parents choose which one they want their child to attend. The other programs that they enrolled in are now at a loss because they thought that their program was full when it was not. They now have to enroll more students to make ends meet. In the program I am working in, we charge a $75 dollar registration fee to try and only enroll children who will attend the program. This fee is applied to the first month’s tuition.

Ask them about the social security number. I don't see any reason for them to have it.

Answer 7

I would simply ask what their intentions are with your daughter's ssn. If you don't absolutely have to give it to them, I wouldn't. Kuddos to you for doing your research into daycares, and making the best decision for your family. I had to make the tough choice recently to send my son to a dayhome for financial reasons. I researched a number of providers, but only settled for the best. Being confident in your decision helps a lot when you first go back. And don't let anyone try and tell you that you're any less of a parent because you aren't staying home. You can still be an amazing parent, even if you're a working one. Good luck to you!

Answer 8

I'm with ya, honey. It just plain sucks to have to use daycare. I don't beleive in it, but yet I am doing it!!!! Anyway - any price is worth it if you feel you love it. If they require a fee, who cares. Even if other daycares don't do that - so what? It's worth it. Good daycares are hard to find, and if you really beleive in one, make it happen. Don't let moeny be a deciding factor (unless, obviously, it has to be). Good luck - you will need it. It is SOOOOOO hard at first. Still is! I just make it a rule that I DO NOT DO ANYTHING on weekdays. I spend every second with my son. No WAlmart trips, no runs to the grocery - all my time with him. It helps a little knowing I don't have a billion errands to do on top of work. I just try to get everything done on the weekend. You will find that any price is worth worrying less.

Answer 9

Now, I don't know what state that you are in but my kids were in daycare since they were born. But I know that if the daycare is trying to get some assistance from the state that might be required. The daycare that my children are at they ask for my income. We have to fill out a lunch form that you have to fill in at public school. They only ask for my SS#. I don't know why they need the kids. It could be a require for if you child has Medicaid or the daycare might be apart of the First Step Program. But before you down the daycare for that, ask what programs that they are getting aids from. Like I said your state might have a different program that help out daycare My state has many, every year I have to fill the same papers out for both of my kids and up date the fill for DSS and DHEC.
Now, for that $50. I paid that one time for both of my kids. Long as I keep them enroll there I don't have to pay that again.

Answer 10

Check out Supates question page. She is slamming you for working and putting your child in daycare yet she worked full time and had a son. What a hypocrite she is. She sounds so insecure!
I think that if you have to work to support your family then great. There are many great daycares out there and I have worked in 5. You should ask them why they need her SIN number. There must be a reason. Good luck!

Answer 11

Alot of the daycares now require up front fees. How do you feel about kids in general? What about having a home daycare for yourself to add to your income. Since you would rather be home with your own. Check with local DHS to see about getting licensed. Also it can be a benefit on taxes. Your utilities and anything concerning kids you buy can be a tax right off. Be sure to accept cash only up front for the first week if its something you decide to do because people love to stiff you. Always make Fridays your payday and accept no other exceptions. Its a thought you might consider to stay home with your own kids.