In general what do you suppose the daycare will charge you
By the hour.

Someone told me even on a weekly arrangement if you do not bring in the child for one day you still have to pay for the whole week.

Daycare is frightfully expensive. The price varies from community to community. And yes, even if you are on a weekly plan with them, you will still be charged for the day regardless. This is a way to keep your child "enrolled" in their plan and to prevent dop ins from taking your child's place that day. Which would you rather have? A secured daily spot or a maybe spot at the daycare for your child. It's just a business, not a charity.

I agree, most daycares charge by the day or week, not by the hour. I personally pay $150 a week (5days) for my 2yo. 2 weeks a month. My provider is very flexible for me, he goes every other week, according to my swing shift at work, and some weeks he will only go 4 days not five. If I tell her by payday (wednesday) that he won't be there on Friday, she has agreed to not make me pay for that day, sometimes my husband is home on fridays. At-home daycares are more likely to be flexible with you if you outline your situation and schedule when you go to check them out, than a day care center.

Most nurserys can cost any awful lot, the one in my area is £240 for a five day week, and yes you have to pay even if your child doesn't attend some days due to holiday, sickness, etc.

Many daycares have part-time and full-time agreements. So if your child is only in daycare for a half-day then you pay one rate as opposed to a child who is there from 7-5. Either way, you usually pay for the whole week even if your child is out sick and misses a day.

Can anyone answer this question? I live in Norfolk, VA and would like to start a home daycare. Any reply would help out. Thanks