What Families Moving to Charlotte Should Know About Child Care
A Challenge Many Families Don’t See Coming
When families plan a move to the Charlotte area, they usually focus on finding the right home, learning about schools, and figuring out their commute. Those things are important, but there is another issue many parents don’t think about until after they move: finding child care. If you are moving to Charlotte with children daycare could be something to research and prepare for.
A recent Charlotte Observer article highlighted the challenges many Charlotte-area families face when looking for daycare. Long waitlists, limited infant openings, and rising childcare costs have become common across Mecklenburg County.Moving to charlotte with young children in need of child care can create uncertainty and stress.
As a father of four and someone who has spent the last 20 years teaching elementary school, this story really hit home for me.
Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of children and families. I know how important it is for parents to have reliable childcare. When you’re moving to a new city, you already have enough on your plate. The last thing you want is the added stress of scrambling to find daycare.
Let’s be honest. Most people moving to Charlotte expect to worry about interest rates, moving trucks, and unpacking boxes. Few expect that finding daycare might feel like trying to get concert tickets for the hottest show in town.
Why Finding Daycare Can Be So Difficult
The article tells the story of a couple who were moving to Charlotte with kids and began looking for daycare options months before their baby was born. Even after joining several waitlists, they still didn’t have a daycare spot when their parental leave ended. They had to rely on friends from out of state to help care for their child while they continued searching for childcare.
Sadly, this situation is becoming more common.
Charlotte continues to grow quickly. New families are moving to Charlotte with kids every day. While that growth is exciting, it has also created more demand for childcare than many providers can handle. At the same time, daycare centers are struggling to hire enough teachers to open more classrooms.
The result is simple: there are more families looking for daycare than there are available spots, especially for infants and toddlers.
As a teacher, I can tell you that working with young children is incredibly rewarding. It’s also incredibly hard work. The article points out that many childcare centers are struggling to find and keep employees, which makes it even harder to meet the growing demand.
Child Care Costs Can Surprise Families
Finding an available daycare spot is only part of the challenge. The cost can also catch families off guard.
According to information shared in the article:
- Infant care averages about $17,305 per year
- Preschool-age care averages about $14,926 per year
For many families, childcare becomes one of their biggest monthly expenses after housing.
If you’re moving from another area, you may want to add childcare costs to your relocation budget right alongside your mortgage payment, utility bills, and that weekly Target run that somehow always costs more than expected.
My Advice for Families Relocating to Charlotte
If you’re moving to Charlotte, Mooresville, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Belmont, or another nearby community and have young children, here are a few tips:
Start Looking Early
If you know you’ll need daycare, begin researching options as soon as possible.
And by early, I mean earlier than you think.
Several parents interviewed in the article said they were told to start looking as soon as they found out they were expecting. It sounds extreme, but in some cases it may not be bad advice.
Ask About Child Care During Your Home Search
Most families ask about schools, but childcare is just as important for many parents.
When you’re comparing neighborhoods, it can be helpful to ask:
- What daycare options are nearby?
- Are there long waitlists?
- What are the costs?
- Are there preschool options close to home?
Include Child Care in Your Budget
Many families focus on their mortgage payment when planning a move. Don’t forget to include childcare costs as part of your monthly expenses.
Trust me, it’s better to plan for it now than to have that conversation later when you’re wondering where all your money went.
Have a Backup Plan
Even if you’re on a waitlist, it helps to have another option available in case a daycare opening takes longer than expected.
As every parent knows, kids don’t always follow the plan. Sometimes childcare doesn’t either.
Charlotte Is Still a Great Place to Raise a Family
I don’t share this information to discourage anyone from moving here.
In fact, it’s just the opposite.
One reason I enjoy helping families relocate to Charlotte and the Lake Norman area is because I truly believe this is a great place to live. We have wonderful neighborhoods, parks, family activities, job opportunities, and strong communities.
As a dad of four, I’ve learned that there is no such thing as the “perfect” place to raise a family. Every area has challenges. The good news is that Charlotte has a lot more positives than negatives.
The biggest lesson from this story is simple: if you’re moving to the Charlotte area with young children, make childcare part of your relocation plan from the beginning.
A little planning now can save a lot of stress later.
And if you’re thinking about moving to Charlotte, Mooresville, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Belmont, or anywhere around Lake Norman, I’d be happy to help answer your questions—not just about homes, but about what it’s really like to live and raise a family here.
Source and Attribution
This post contains commentary based on reporting by Théoden Janes in The Charlotte Observer regarding childcare availability, daycare waitlists, staffing shortages, and childcare costs in Mecklenburg County. The opinions expressed above are my own as a North Carolina Realtor, father of four, and elementary educator with 20 years of classroom experience.
P.S. If you’re moving with young kids, don’t worry—finding the right neighborhood is still easier than convincing a toddler to eat the dinner they asked for. 😄
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