Childcare Rooms at Fitness Clubs - Pricing Structures

I think that you might find cheaper childcare choosing female fitness places only. Perhaps, too, just finding a local place and a teenager who might need a short summer job would be helpful.Then you can decide if you really want to belong to something all the time. If you are doing this for the social part of it, then perhaps you will have to eat the cost. Parks have pretty good programs (don't know where you live but Addison, Bensenville, etc. have workout rooms).But I used to use tapes at home. Just depends what the total reason you are doing this for is...

Hi Christine, I know EAC charges $65/month membership and, starting in September, will charge about $50/month for unlimited childcare (or you can pay by the visit, which is more expensive). LA fitness is cheaper - they were willing to give me $40/month membership and $10/month unlimited childcare. However, the LA fitness childcare hours didn't work for me. What's nice about EAC is they have a baby room (for those under 1 year) and a toddler room. Hope this helps in your comparison.

Hi Christine,

I recently joined the Leaning Tower YMCA in Niles. The monthly fees for a family of 4 is $70, and that includes 20 hours per month per child of FREE childcare. They have a very cool area for the kids, with a climbing structure, ball bit, etc. And another area for drawing and watching videos. My girls LOVE going there. With your Y membership, you can go to any other Y and use the facilities free. I'm not 100% sure on the childcare at other Y's, but I have used the Lattof Y in Des Plaines and not had to pay for childcare.

We belong to our local YMCA (I believe we have privileges at both Glen Ellyn and Elmhurst). They do not charge extra for child care. I want to say that membership is around $30/month and $60 for a family. Such a relief - and they have an outdoor playgym as well as indoor one so my daughter is plenty distracted while I work out! Good luck!

The Evanston Athletic Club does not charge for childcare for its members. This is a great bonus!

My husband and I are members of Lakeview athletic club. The enrollment fee was 49.00 each and our monthly payment is 130 for both of us(we get a corporate discount thru my husband's company).We purchased a Kidcare package for 100.00(15 visits).I think there is a 2 hr maximum time limit per visit.
This place is great. I love the childcare facility. They have lot of cool stuff for kids. My 3 yr old loves it.
Lisa

Hello Christine,

We have a family membership at our local YMCA and it's $76.50 for the entire family. Childcare is NOT additional...it's free, included with membership. You are allowed up to 2hrs. per day, per child. The joiner's fee is $150, however if you are military, it is waived...OR they occassionally have a special of FREE Joiner's Fee. There is ALWAYS one at the first of the year (to get all those members that made "New Year's Resolutions" :) and also, periodically throughout the year they will have the special as well....just have to keep your eyes peeled. Included with the membership are a number of FREE classes (cardio-kickboxing, pumpnflex, strength training...and many others). Another great thing about the YMCA, is they have other classes (kids art classes, swimming lessons, ballet, gymnastics, karate, tae-kwon-do, piano...just to name a few) that you get at discounted rates for being a member...which are REALLY reasonable.
We are military so we move quite often...so far we have been members of 2 YMCA's and having nothing but great things to say about them both.
Best of luck to you in finding something that meets your family's needs, as well as your budget. :)

Typically they are free or no more than $1-3/kid where I live.

M.

Did you check out EAC (Evanston Health Club)? They also have a club in Chicago.

M.
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Our family uses Lifetime Fitness. The monthly charges are a little higher (I think about $130), but it's only $6 per kid per month after that and that includes 2 hours of daycare everyday if you want. Some moms just drop their kids off at the daycare to go sit in the sauna or take an uninterrupted shower. I brought my twin boys there a few times, but I am going to wait until after they can walk. There isn't much for them when they are under the age of 1. They have a huge climbing gym, movies play all day, there are a bunch of computers for them to play on and there is a basketball court in the back for anyone who wants to play. I know they take the kids sometimes in the middle of the day and they play on scooters and with a parachute. Looks like fun. Good luck!

We belong to the UIC Rec Center. Their sitting is $5/hour. I know membership is expensive if you're not affiliated with UIC, but for employees and spouses it's $26/person/month. Students are free (but still have to pay for sitting).

We belong to an Xsport in Logan square. It is brand new so it is a nice facility. Childcare is $1 an hour per kid up to 2 hours. So far I have been very please with it. Since it is a new gym they had a special for $33 per month per adult.

I go to Bally's, which has free childcare. I currently pay $35/month, but have been a member for almost 10 years, so I'm not sure what it would cost nowadays. The facilities are okay - not great. I just toured X Sport (the new one on Logan and Elston) which has a great childcare area for $1/hour/kid. Not sure about their enrollment fees though. Good luck!

Hi,
I pay a dollar per hour per kid and there is a 2 hours max. The childcare is ok but nothing fancy and tv is mostly on. I go to Xsport lakeview and paid 600 for a whole year unlimited. you can also do 49 a month. The gym is absolutely not fancy at all but since I go on off hours with the kids its usualy not crowded and tons of machines. Just be carefull with the personal training thing, they really try to sell.
Mirjam

It's interesting to see how Y's are all priced differently. I am a member at the Irving Park YMCA and the single rate is $45/mo. The family rate is not much more, but it's nice that there is no contract, and you pay month-to-month.

The childcare facility is $3/hr, but most of their classes are free to members (Pilates, Yoga, Spin, etc.) They are exclusive to members, as well, however, the classes that require a fee (boxing, TKD, etc.) are offered to members (at a discount) and non-members.

During some months, the joiner fee is waived or half the monthly rate, parking at this location is free and you also get six guests passes per year. Most of the equipment has it's own TV, you bring your own headset.

Best of all, it isn't obnoxious like some health clubs I've been to. No one cares what they look like because we are there to work out not look pretty!

it should be free! At LA fitness it's a part of your membership, you don't pay extra for childcare.

i used to pay 46.25 a month for a platinum membership to Crunch (so i could go anywhere in the us). It recently went up to 74. Childcasre is free!!! but the people are not trained so you need to screen them yourself to get a feel for them. My girlfriend goes to Cheetah up North, i think the family membership is around 120 and daycase is super cheap or free - cant exactly remember --- but she loves all of the babysitters.