Childcare, Babysitting

If your children are less than 2, you've got the choice between Family day-care and Nursery School. Nursery schools are usually part of a Pre-school. But unless you've signed on the waiting list the earliest possible, you can forget to go to some Pre-schools or others well-known nurseries. Moreover they are very expensive and they require that parents give a large number of hours (20 tyo 25 per school year) to participate in the school's activities Should you happen to be 5 minutes late to pick up you child, be prepared to pay. If you cannot free time for the activities, you will also be billed (between $10 to $20 per hour).

Nursery and Pre-school

The Pre-school is open form 7.30am to 6pm (the French school for example in Berkeley closes at 3.30pm) 5 days a week and 50 weeks per year (stop only 2 weeks at Christmas). Pre-Schools and nurseries welcome also children below 2 in specific sections.
Prices are:

• A Day Care or full-time Family Care costs between $800 and $1200 a month.
• Nursery, Pre-school 1-2 years old: $700 to $1000 /month (full time, 5 days a week)
• Pre-school 2-4 years: $600 to $800/month (full time, 5 days a week)

You will find several systems: full-time Family Care, Day Care center, Nursery schools. In the Sillicon Valley, there are a lot of big and expensive structures. You can ask the list at the town hall. Its cost about $3-$5. If you use a private school you will have to pay fees.

Care Center

But you will find also other systems. Under the term " Day Care Center ", in the Yellow Pages, one can find Child Care ceners, (including of course Pre-schools or Nursery schools). Some take new - born (in 6 weeks or in 3 months). Verify that the center is approved by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children - Phone : 1-800-424-2460 or http://www.naeyc.org). Law requires usually one adult for three babies. Day Cares are usually opened from 7 or 7.30am till 5.30pm even 6pm. Some centers include food and bottles and other centers do not.
Some women run Family Care Centers in their houses. The small family day care are cheaper and more flexible than big childcare. Usually they are mothers that stay at home, have some base CPR training and are only allowed to take care of less than 10 children.
Prices are:

• The centres or Family Care who have timetables at your choice cost between $8 and $12 an hour or $40 to $50 the day.

Nanny

The cost of a Nanny who comes to you in the day varies between $9 and $12 an hour. You can ask her to do from 40 to 60 hours a week, to stay certain evenings or weekends. She will not do housework nor the shopping. The Nanny is paid every 15 days during the 12 months of the year ( 15 paid days off ). It is necessary to declare the income which you pay her.

To find a Nanny:
Town and Country - 1358 Sutter Street, San Francisco - Phone : ( 415 ) 567-0956

Whatever is your choice, 1 year to 6 months ahead is suggested to find you child care system. Finding the right one is a job of its own!