ConsumerWatch: Center Helps Working Moms Find Balance
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) - Finding reliable and affordable childcare is a big challenge for moms and dads, especially in the Bay Area. A new San Francisco business called NextKids has begun offering parents a possible solution by providing both work space and kid care.
The concept is not entirely new. NextKids is housed in an office environment that people can rent a desk space in by the day, week or month. But the addition of on-site day care has made it a convenient office for working parents because they can come in to NextKids and take meetings, make phone calls and contacts while baby is down the hall being minded by an on-site shared child care provider.
"I can still be right here with her," said Briony Doyle. "And she will get to have some social time with other kids."
NextKids is an off shoot of NextSpace, a co-working space that has its roots in Santa Cruz with 8 locations state-wide.
So far, the Portrero Hill location is the only spot that has offered NextKids Daycare.
Prices vary from about $1,000 to $2,000 per-month. That cost includes office space and kid care for infants and toddlers. But this is not a traditional daycare setting. A parent or designated care-giver must remain on-site at the co-working office space at all times when their child is down the hall playing at NextKids.
Co-working spaces that offer child care have had a limited success rate nationwide. Plug and Play in Austin, Texas and Atlanta's Bean Work Play Café both recently closed their doors.
Motherfields' in Portland, Oregon is still in business as is Hackermoms in Berkeley. NextKids said it is waiting to see what the response to the program is before they launch at any other locations.
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