Infant, toddler and preschool fee journey planner

A single monthly fee hides the real shape of childcare cost: infant care is usually the most expensive stage, then fees step down as ratios widen. Enter the fee and length of each stage and see the full cost to school entry, stage by stage and year by year, after the same estimated subsidy stacking used across EarlyBloom. Amounts are entered in CAD.

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Measurements and money display only. Your choice is remembered on this device.

Measurement system

Money display

Exchange rate used for USD display (1 CAD equals, in USD)

Inputs are always entered in CAD. The USD view converts for display only, using the rate above. Edit it any time.

Calculator Parents

Infant monthly fee before subsidies (CAD) Months in infant care Toddler monthly fee before subsidies (CAD) Months in toddler care Preschool monthly fee before subsidies (CAD) Months in preschool care

Federal reduction estimate (percent of fee) Provincial subsidy estimate (percent of what remains)

The same two editable estimates apply to every stage, so the stages compare fairly. Typical estimates for illustration, not official rates.

Annual fee increase estimate (percent per year)

Compounds once per year from month 13 of the horizon. In CWELCC enrolled programs, parent fees may be capped or frozen, so an increase may not apply. The worked example uses zero.

Care days per month, for driving Optional: one-way distance to care (km) Trips per care day (there and back is usually 2) Driving cost per km (CAD)

Total horizon-

Infant stage: estimated net per month at stage start-

Infant stage: estimated total-

Toddler stage: estimated net per month at stage start-

Toddler stage: estimated total-

Preschool stage: estimated net per month at stage start-

Preschool stage: estimated total-

Gross total before estimated subsidies, all stages-

Estimated subsidies across the horizon-

Estimated net total, all stages-

Average estimated net cost per month-

Estimated driving cost per month-

Estimated driving cost across the horizon-

Estimated net total including driving-

Year by year

Worked example

Infant fee $1,800 for 6 months, toddler fee $1,500 for 12 months, preschool fee $1,200 for 24 months, federal estimate 50 percent, provincial estimate 20 percent of the remainder, annual increase zero. The net factor is (1 minus 0.50) times (1 minus 0.20), which is 0.40, so net monthly fees are $720, $600 and $480. Stage totals: infant $720 times 6 equals $4,320. Toddler $600 times 12 equals $7,200. Preschool $480 times 24 equals $11,520. Gross total: $1,800 times 6 plus $1,500 times 12 plus $1,200 times 24 equals $57,600. Net total: $4,320 plus $7,200 plus $11,520 equals $23,040 over 42 months, an average of $548.57 per month. Year by year: Year 1 is 6 infant months plus 6 toddler months, $4,320 plus $3,600 equals $7,920. Year 2 is 6 toddler months plus 6 preschool months, $3,600 plus $2,880 equals $6,480. Year 3 is 12 preschool months, $5,760. Year 4 is the final 6 preschool months, $2,880. Driving: 4 km one way, 2 trips, 21.7 days, at $0.55 per km equals $95.48 per month, or $4,010.16 over 42 months, for a total including driving of $27,050.16. The calculator above is prefilled with these numbers.

How it works

Net monthly fee for a stage equals its gross fee times (1 minus federal percent) times (1 minus provincial percent). With an annual increase above zero, the fee in any month equals the stage fee times (1 plus the increase) raised to the number of full years already elapsed in the horizon, counting from month 1. Stage totals add the monthly net fees month by month across the horizon, and the year by year view groups those same months into blocks of 12. Driving cost per month equals one-way distance times trips per day times care days times cost per distance unit, and the horizon driving total multiplies that by the total months.

Estimates only. Stage boundaries, fees, and subsidy treatment differ by province and provider, and fees in CWELCC enrolled programs may be capped or frozen rather than rising yearly. This is not financial advice. Confirm real fees and stage timing with your provider before making decisions.

Frequently asked questions

Why does infant care usually cost the most?

Infant rooms run the tightest staff to child ratios, so each space carries more staffing cost. In Ontario, for example, the licensed centre ratio is 3 staff to 10 infants, compared with 1 to 5 for toddlers and 1 to 8 for preschool. Ratios are set by each province.

How does the annual fee increase work in this planner?

The increase compounds once per year on the monthly fee, starting at month 13 of the horizon. A fee entered for a stage is its starting monthly fee. Set the increase to zero to see flat fees, as in the worked example. In CWELCC enrolled programs, parent fees may be capped or frozen, so check whether an increase can apply to your fee at all.

Do the stage lengths have to match my child exactly?

No. Stage boundaries differ by province and by program. Enter the months you expect in each room. Setting a stage to zero months skips it.

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