@babixk1umzy@xanga - There is a minimum number of hours (actually, it's a minimum amount to pay, and the hourly charge varies depending on if both parents attend the university or if it's a single parent family). They also require that you pay for blocks of time: 7:30-8:30, 8:30-12:30, 12:30-4:30, and 4:30-5:30. Since we need daycare to start at 11:00, we actually have to pay for it starting at 8:30. We already cut out Mondays and half of Fridays. All of our family living in town is either in school or at work most of the times when we need daycare; my sister used to watch them for us. Next semester, Jason plans to change his schedule so that we don't need daycare anymore, and it looks like I will only have class one day a week. 

My daughter was in daycare for 2 months when she was an infant. It was $180/5 days, whether you had them there for one day or 5 a week. We only had here there until we could find other arrangements. We, too, we nickle and dimed by daycare. Yep.
She also got the worst diaper rash ever, I'm sure they weren't changing her diaper every hour like they swore they were. This was a very highly rated daycare where I lived at the time, too.

why not try a nanny or a sitter to come to your home? or an in-home daycare?
Our monkey goes 3 days a week, but they charge by the day, or he can even go half days.. .

Actually, I've found really great sitters on Craigslist.  I know a lot of people may think that's scary, but I did do interviews and got recommendations and stuff.  We've had a great experience and it's easier to find some flexibility.  Maybe you can find someone who is a stay-at-home mom who wants to make a few extra bucks a week.  Good luck!

@ErinneC@xanga - No, the contract didn't say it. My problem is that, when we told the daycare (the UNIVERSITY daycare) that the girls wouldn't be there for spring break, they didn't mention that the policy had changed and we'd have to pay for it. I would have been fine sending them and paying for it if they had told us. It seems to me that if the daycare is closed on school holidays, then they shouldn't be surprised that parents would assume they don't have to pay for spring break, since the daycare is owned and run by the university.

@mydearparker@xanga - That's so weird. The daycares we've had have always seemed super eager to send our girls home if they are the slightest big sick. I can't tell you how many times the previous daycare called me saying, "One of your kids has a runny nose. Come get her." But they still charged us for the whole day, so I guess that's one big difference.

Have you tried in-home daycare? I have part time day care (three days a week) for 470.00 a month for my one child. It's nice because he is played with and given great attention (and also does things like grocery shopping with the lady who babysits him, which is fine by me because those are things I would also do with him at home). Plus, with in-home daycare you can often find someone who will even be willing to be paid weekly instead of monthly and maybe work with you. Although, my daycare also charges us full price for months when there is spring break (boo) but I totally understand the reasoning.

i find this rather funny cause i work at a day care. i know its pretty expensive where i work. i would try a babysitter or close friend or relative?