Like a toddler on the move, child care costs continue to rise—both across the nation and here in the Tampa Bay area.

For many working families, two incomes are essential just to stay afloat. But with both parents employed, reliable child care becomes a necessity—and an increasingly expensive one.

Kenneth and Kimberly Norton, parents of three, know the struggle firsthand.

“We looked into a lot of options, but most were just out of our price range,” Kenneth told Bay News 9.

Eventually, the Nortons found Kidds R Us Family Child Care Center in Tampa—a center with more affordable rates by comparison. Still, infant care there runs about $300 a week.

“If you break that down, even at $300 a week, we might be making $7 an hour,” said Annette Eberhart, owner of Kidds R Us. “And that’s if we’re working eight to ten hours a day. Amazon workers make more.”

Eberhart has been in the child care business for 18 years and has watched costs steadily increase.

Last year, the average annual cost for care for an infant and a toddler in Florida rose to $22,400.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality. Everything is expensive now,” Eberhart said.

Families with multiple children often find themselves spending more than a third of their income on child care. According to Eberhart, most families at her center rely on financial assistance to get by.

“I only have two or three families who pay out of pocket,” she said. “Most rely on subsidies—and with budget cuts, that has parents really worried.”

The Nortons, however, don’t qualify for child care assistance. Their income is just above the eligibility threshold.

“Sometimes you just have to sacrifice,” said Kenneth. “We budget and cut back in other areas.”

Resources do exist for families in need. In Hillsborough County, for example, the Early Learning Coalition provides support to help ease the burden for many local parents. Meanwhile, Pinellas County provides resources and assistance through the School Readiness Program.

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