Admissions & Fees

Applying for Admission

If you are interested in applying for childcare within the Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network, write to us at info@babyphd.com.  Include basic information such as the age of your child and the hours of care you are looking for (full time or part time, approximate hours & days of the week). If your needs match opportunities available in the network, you will be sent an application that you can fill out and send back electronically.  The application will ask more specific questions about your childcare preferences.  Please answer these as carefully as you can.  There is an application fee of $25.00.  This can be paid by cash, personal check, or on-line through Pay Pal.

Once your application and application fee are received, Network personnell will follow up with you within a few days.

As openings that match your family's childcare needs come available you will be given more specific information.  You will be told about the type of spot (larger home daycare, smaller home daycare, nanny share) and you will be given basic information about the provider, location, and other children already enrolled.  If you wish to proceed you will then be given the daycare provider's contact information.  You will be able to contact her directly for a detailed description of the opening and to arrange a visit.

When more than one family is interested in an open spot, preference is given to University of Chicago faculty and staff.  If more than one U of C family has applied for the same spot, preference is given to the family whose application was submitted first. 

If no appropriate openings are available for the date you wish to begin childcare, you may elect to place your name on our waiting list.  It is very difficult to predict how long you may have to wait.  Some families find they get a spot right away while others wait for several months. 

Childcare Fees   

Each provider within the Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network sets her own fees. 

Some providers charge an hourly rate and others charge a flat fee.   As of Spring 2010 daycare home fees range from $8 to $9/hour for part time care or $300 - $370/week for full time care.  Nanny share fees range from $6 - $10/hour per family.

Fees vary according to a number of factors including:

   - the caregiver to child ratio,

   - child’s age,

   - prior experience of the caregiver,

   - amount of specialized programming available at the site,

   - hours of care. 

Network Membership Fees

Upon enrollment and annually thereafter, families are asked to pay a Network Membership Fee.  For the academic year 2010 - 2011 the membership fee is $288.  This fee helps to support all aspects of network operations (described under Network Services).  Network membership fees may be paid in 2 installments if neccessary.