This is the reality of the early childhood education system in the United States today. They would really like Elliott to have a sibling, but the cost of child care for two children is just too big of a hurdle. Meanwhile, they are putting off their plans for a second child. As a result, Janna and Andrew are now back on the hunt for affordable child care. Unfortunately, the Ryans recently found out that it is closing because the center’s landlord is not renewing the lease, and operating costs are too high. The program has been operating for 30 years, is staffed by experienced teachers, and focuses on teaching empathy and acceptance. In September 2017, Elliott moved to a child care program that Janna and Andrew love. They wanted a robust curriculum, experienced and capable staff, and a location convenient to home and work, but they also had a limited budget. The limited availability of infant and toddler care left Janna and Andrew facing a decision about the inevitable trade-offs they would have to make.
Janna spent hours researching alternative options and had to take time off work to tour programs. While the facility was clean and new, policies related to parent communication and safety protocols were either lacking or not followed consistently, leaving the Ryans concerned about their son’s well-being.
They no longer had money left over at the end of the month to save for a down payment on a house.Īlthough child care tuition was the Ryans’ largest monthly expense, they soon had concerns about the quality of the program. Despite both working full-time jobs that placed their family income just above the state average, the Ryans struggled to manage their family budget. However, they quickly found that child care was their largest monthly expense-exceeding the cost of their monthly rent.
Knowing that child care options for infants were limited, Janna and Andrew got on a waitlist well before Elliott was born and were able to find a spot for him when he was 6 months old at a child care center in their neighborhood. With new expenses piling up on items such as diapers and baby equipment, the Ryans’ parenthood started in a financial hole due to their increased expenses and decreased income. Sign up for InProgress SubscribeĪlthough Washington state passed a paid leave law in 2017, 2 Elliott was born in 2016, and therefore, Janna and Andrew took mostly unpaid leave to care for him during the first few months of his life. Get weekly insights on progressive policy.
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