re: Raising a child now costs over $300,000 in the U.S., study finds.

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What does a nanny 2 days a week do when the kid goes to day care 5 days a week?

Honest question.

My wife has been home with my kids for almost 4 years now (3.5 yr old, 1.5 yr old, and 8.5 months pregnant). So while we gave up her six figure salary, I don't have any of these expenses besides a baby sitter 1-2 times a month.

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I 100% know we are paying more than necessary, and it does frustrate me sometimes to feel like we are double paying. But my wife makes the big bucks and feels a greater emotional burden being away from him during the workday, so she makes the call.

My wife doesn't want him in preschool 30+ hours a week, so he gets a half day with a nanny for 2 days. I also spend some half days with him, because my work is more flexible.

But we have to pay the full-time preschool tuition regardless of how many days we actually use it, and we need it full-time at least 2 days a week because of our schedules. We've looked at cheaper, part-time options, and they just don't work for us from a pickup and dropoff standpoint. And nobody reputable lets you pay for only a few days a week.

We don't pay the nanny when she's not keeping him. She has other families. She also helps some with housework, shopping, and chores.

Makes financial sense giving up a six-figure salary to raise 3 kids under 4, but not 1. We're both over 40. This will be our only child, and 4-5 years out of the workforce would pretty much kill either of our careers.