For the average family, childcare is one of their biggest monthly expenses. If daycare is draining your finances, you might have to put savings for your child and their future on the backburner. Wealthy people usually don’t have to make trade-offs or sacrifices to afford quality childcare. In this post, we’ll explore 12 childcare issues that rich people never have to face to help raise awareness about these disparities.
1. Limiting Family Size Due to Childcare Costs
Depending on the age of the child, the cost of full-time childcare can range from $5,000 to $17,000 per year. For some families, sending just one child to daycare is such a financial struggle that they can’t afford to have a second.
Lower-income couples who have always wanted multiple children are often forced to make tough family planning decisions. Out of financial necessity, they might have to limit their family size or delay having more kids until their oldest children are in school and out of daycare. Wealthy families simply don’t face these financial constraints.
2. Skipping Date Night to Save Money
Going on a weekly date night is a great way for couples to reconnect. Rich couples can easily afford nanny services, allowing them to regularly enjoy time away from the kids.
On the other hand, less affluent families are often unable to fit the cost of babysitting and eating out into their tight budgets. If they live near family and friends, they may be able to get free childcare occasionally when they need a break from parenting duties. This disparity may be one of the reasons low-income couples have higher divorce rates on average.
3. Dealing with Daycare Closures
Wealthy people often have live-in nannies and don’t have to deal with daycare closures. Daycares can shut down temporarily due to inclement weather, staffing issues, or illness outbreaks. During the pandemic, many parents struggled to find backup care for their children and were forced to juggle childcare responsibilities with remote work.
4. Burden on Older Siblings
Low-income families often struggle to afford childcare, which can place more responsibility on older siblings. In lieu of aftercare, the eldest child may walk younger siblings home from school and look after them until their parents return. This role forces the oldest child to grow up more quickly and may not be developmentally appropriate. Kids from affluent backgrounds who don’t have to step up for their siblings are free to enjoy their childhood and act their age.
5. Trouble Affording Summer Camp
Summer camp is a quintessential childhood experience. Everyone remembers those warm summer days spent canoeing, playing games, and hiking. But while the kids are out having fun, the parents are working to pay up to $2000 for each week of camp. If you’ve been saving for your child for a long time, you may be able to afford this luxury. But many low-income families can’t and struggle to arrange childcare during the summer.
Going into debt for summer camp or simply being unable to afford it is a hardship wealthy families don’t have to face. They can send their children to the best, most enriching summer camps without blinking at the cost, which is definitely a privilege.
6. Lack of Individualized Attention
In daycare settings, workers often have to look after multiple children at a time, limiting the amount of attention each child receives. Studies have shown that lack of attention during childhood can lead to behavioral problems.
Wealthy families often have a highly qualified live-in nanny who can focus on their child individually, allowing them to form a closer bond. Rich parents may also hire tutors for their young children to help prepare them for school and extracurriculars. As a result, children from rich backgrounds may have better developmental outcomes.
7. Limited Parental Leave
In the US, new parents aren’t guaranteed paid time off. Some workplaces don’t provide paid maternity or paternity leave as a benefit, which is why saving for your child is so important. Having cash reserves set aside will enable you to take time off to bond with your newborn without financial stress.
8. Lack of Services for Special Needs
Even if you’ve been saving for your child for a while, you still might not have enough funds to cover services for a special needs child. Speech, occupational, and physical therapy sessions can cost $100 or more. Depending on your child’s level of impairment, they may need years of treatment to catch up, costing you thousands.
Wealthy families can afford to pay for therapy or even send their children to specialized schools without financial strain, leading to better long-term outcomes.
9. Transportation Issues
Lack of transportation is another childcare issue that wealthy people don’t deal with. Some families can only afford one car, which makes coordinating daycare and work schedules difficult. Low-income families may even rely on public transportation, which makes getting around even harder.
Affluent families can afford extra vehicles, and may even be able to pay a nanny or driver to bring their kids to school. This is a big advantage that saves wealthy parents a lot of time.
10. Staying at Home Isn’t an Option
For many, childcare is a catch-22. You can’t have a traditional job without childcare, but childcare can take up a significant portion of your income. Less affluent couples are forced to find a way to get by on a single income or pony up for childcare. While couples will often debate if having a parent stay home is worth it, for single parents that isn’t an option at all.
When making childcare decisions, wealthy couples usually don’t have to factor in the cost. If one parent wants to stay home, they can do so without financial strain. Nannies can also be hired to help fill in any gaps, which is an option regular people don’t have.
11. Saving for Your Child vs. Paying for Childcare
If you’re middle or working class, saving for your child to go to college while paying for childcare is likely impossible. In 2022, the average family spent between 9% and 16% of their income on daycare. After paying bills and buying food, this leaves little room for saving for the future.
Affluent parents are often able to set up trusts for their kids and pass on generational wealth. Children from rich backgrounds who can attend college without worrying about the cost have a big leg up.
12. Impacts on Your Career
You always want to see some form of forward momentum in your career. But if you’re consistently being taken away from work to care for your kids or arrange last-minute backup care, you may miss some opportunities. While some employers may be more understanding or flexible, many lower-income parents will experience some impact on their career trajectory.
What are some childcare issues you’ve faced? Share your experiences in the comments.
Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance writer who enjoys learning about and discussing the psychology of money. In her free time, she loves to cook and tackle DIY projects.
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