After the baby showers, and the pacifiers, and the bottles the question arises for many parents: who is going to watch my baby during the day? 

It seems like a simple enough question, but in actuality it’s far more difficult to figure out. 

Daycare is a viable option for many families and there should be no shame around it. Some people do not have family who live nearby that can watch the child, some parents cannot afford to stay home, or just want to work. Some are single parents.

There should be no shame in these choices, and we should celebrate that daycares can provide a nurturing environment and a place for kids to be among others their age and learn important social skills. 

But we can’t ignore that access to daycare has become increasingly challenging: from cost to availability. 

The western part of Sullivan County is considered a “childcare desert”, with only about one provider in each town. 

And with limited options, most daycares are fully booked and have waiting lists, sometimes even one or two years long. 

Some parents are joining the waitlist while still pregnant. 

Then there’s the cost: although Sullivan County’s costs remain relatively low, the average cost for daycare around the state is skyrocketing: From 2018 to 2023, New York’s average annual child care prices were higher than every other state except for Massachusetts, rising nearly 18% from $12,422 per child to $14,621, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Data from the New York State Department of Labor indicate county-level costs of infant center-based care can range from 10.2% to as high as 36.6% of median family income. 

On top of all of this, the daycare providers themselves are facing challenges, from high costs to staff shortages.

According to a report from the Office of the New York State Comptroller from February of last year, the Covid pandemic had lingering effects. In 2020, the number of day care services jobs statewide dropped by 19.8%. It recovered by 2023, but only in New York City and Long Island, not in the rest of the state. 

A significant hurdle to attracting and retaining staff is low pay, as well as a demanding work environment. Many childcare workers don’t get other benefits, such as employer-provided health insurance, paid time off or pensions. 

We applaud Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to focus on improving childcare, but we question the lack of funds that some counties, including Sullivan, are receiving (see story on page 1A). 

Expanding the childcare assistance program without the necessary funds to do so is like deciding to build a mansion even though you know you can’t secure a loan. 

We don’t want to see situations where we are building a home with no walls, no roof and no electricity. 

We want to see a situation where daycares are thriving: they have enough staff, are able to keep up with the costs, and parents are happy to drop their kids off every day. 

And while Hochul is focusing on universal kindergarten in New York City, we wonder why rural areas—which are identified as childcare deserts—are not the starting point.

It’s clear that the problems facing child care centers are reaching a boiling point. 

As stated in the Comptroller’s report: “The pandemic’s disruption of the state’s child care industry is far from over. Prices in New York are among the highest in the nation, while child care workers earn wages well below the state’s median, making it hard to attract and retain the workforce needed to provide services. An effective child care system is integral to the state’s economic future and must remain a priority for policymakers.”