Nanny!=daycare.
There are many families in the US, in NY, that make less than 10k/year.
There are many families in the US, in NY, that make less than 10k/year.
There is some state coverage but the income limits are low (50-70 for 1-2 kids)
https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/ccap/help.php#CCAP-in...
Daycare outside of that is incredibly pricey, and if you're as 'blessed' as we were with a multiples pregnancy then the nanny quickly becomes cheaper.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/nyregion/child-care-nyc.h...
Which is to say, if you make less than 67 you get sizeable benefit, but if you earn more you are likely net negative (but child positive) until you pass about 100k. That's a scary gap.
You are in a ridiculously privileged state to be able to simply afford that and you act as though it's impossible to get by without it.
Regular daycare costs multiples less than an at-home nanny, just as public school is far cheaper than private+tutors.
So again my point is that these are not necessary expenses but chosen.
And that I know right now people doing skilled and licensed labor-intensive jobs for less than 30/hr.
Unless, as I said, you have a multiples pregnancy.
I don't know where you're getting your figures but two infants is going to be $3k at least, and that's assuming you can transport them to the daycare facility and assuming that the hours line up with your work. 2x that for the city.
I really hope I'm wrong but two adults with full time in-office jobs don't have much choice here.
https://winnie.com/resources/guide-to-child-care-costs-in-ne...
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/dbki6j/childcare_co... [note several years old]
Also, there is a long waitlist, so it needs really good luck to get an "offer" from the day care when you need it.