Hidden costs related to child care
Hidden costs related to in-home child care include additional:
- Electricity for heating, air conditioning, and lighting.
- Household expenses (such as food, laundry, and utilities) if the provider is living in your home.
Hidden costs related to out-of-home child care include:
- Loss of income if you cannot work overtime because you need to pick up your child from the provider before a certain time. You also may lose income if you have to stay home from work when your child is sick and cannot attend child care.
- Additional expense (late fees or extended hours fees) if your child needs to stay beyond the provider's usual hours.
- Extra expenses for teacher gifts, donations to fund drives, and charges for special events, such as day trips or special parties.
- Extra gas expenses to take your child to child care if the provider is not on your usual route to and from work.
- Extra expenses for food and supplies (such as formula, diapers, clothes, blankets, and toys) that may be required by the child care provider.
| Author: | Douglas Dana Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: February 21, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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