Childcare Cost — Shortlist

Kid sick days (yr 1)

Centers send kids home; you stay home. 8–12 episodes.

Closure & backup care

~3 weeks of closures beyond nanny PTO. Toggle off if you’ll cover these yourselves.

Nanny sick days

5–8 unplanned absences/yr. You’re the backup.

Annual bonus (1 wk)

Customary year-end bonus: one week’s gross pay.

Nanny replacement risk

Avg tenure 1.5–2 yrs. Search + gap coverage.

Commute time

30–60 min/day in drop-off and pickup.

Socialization

Classes and playgroups to replicate peer interaction.

Taxes & payroll (on the books)

FICA, FUTA, workers’ comp, payroll service.

Sources. Nanny hourly rates: Seattle market data, full-time one-child rate ($30–32 range, Feb 2026). Additional-child rate reflects local nanny share premiums. Daycare hourly rates: Shortlist provider database, avg cost/hr for center-based providers with verified pricing (March 2026). Age-based multipliers (infant +35%, preschool −15%) derived from typical center pricing tiers. Employer tax estimates: IRS household employer guidelines (2025). Sick day and backup care costs: Shortlist parent survey data and calculation engine.