America fails its kids....AGAIN

But man, it would cost buckets.

For what period is a maternity/paternity leave paid in the USA?

Childcare for babies and toddlers
While your child is in the baby and toddler stages, you'll pay more. That's because kids this age need more hands-on care and so the center must hire more caregivers. With an average of $8,150 per year ($679 a month), daycare costs for babies and toddlers in the United States range from $4,388 to $14,647 a year ($366 to $1,221 monthly), according to data from the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA).

Topping the charts with costs over $11,000 a year ($917 a month) for baby and toddler daycare are the following states, beginning with the most expensive: Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

And at the bottom of the charts, here are the states with daycare costs below $6,000 a year ($500 a month) for baby and toddler daycare, beginning with the least expensive: Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Texas, Idaho, North Dakota, South Carolina, Kansas, and Alabama.

Childcare for preschoolers
Costs for daycare for preschool-age children are generally lower, averaging $6,423 a year ($535 a month). Depending on where you live, you'll pay anywhere from $3,794 to $10,920 a year ($316 to $910 a month).

The most expensive states for preschool-age care in a childcare center, with costs over $8,000 a year ($667 a month), beginning with the most expensive, are Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota, Oregon, Connecticut, Washington, and New Jersey.

The least expensive states for preschool-age care in a childcare center, with costs of less than $5,000 a year ($417 a month), beginning with the least expensive, are Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Idaho, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Alabama