Daycare help for nursing student

[sherichance]

I am currently in nursing school. I have a 2 year old who goes to this nice ladies house from our church. She charges $5 an hour but over the month it sure does add up. Waiting lists for daycare around here go anywhere from 1 to 2 years. We are a military family but there is a waiting list for base daycare. I hate to take him from his sitter now and put him in regular day care, my husband agrees too. We feel he is more safe and well taken care of with her.

But my question is, do you know if there is a grant out there that can help with childcare? Some people have suggested getting a student loan. I have been down that road before and it was a nightmare.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[RedSox33RN]

Do you get financial aid for your schooling? If you do, there are some programs, though the exact nature of them escapes me, that build child-care into a financial aid package. I think it depends on the school, and you must show financial need, and the children must be below a certain age.

I know my school has a daycare center on campus, because they offer a degree in early childhood ed. Students get a discount for their children in the program.

Sometimes there are also scholarships available to nursing student moms. A lot of scholarships are never "posted" anywhere, so check with your state board of higher ed. They usually have lists of thousands of scholarships that go unclaimed, because no one applies for them.

I hope you can find a permanent solution. I remember when my four were very young (I had 4 kids age 5 1/2 and under!) and how difficult it was just go to the grocery store. I had to start my education one class at a time, since I was breastfeeding and it was all the time I could leave for.