Search: Childcare costs
Some parents are paying more than £22,000 a year for nursery places as the cost of childcare continues to rise faster than inflation.
Research revealed that sending a toddler to nursery in the country's most expensive areas can now cost more than private school fees.
A survey by the Daycare Trust found childcare costs have risen faster than inflation for the eighth year in a row.
The charity said the soaring charges were swallowing up a "significant proportion" of the income of families already hit hard by the recession and called on the Government to give parents more financial help to meet childcare costs.
The cost of a nursery place for a child aged over two in England increased by 5.1% last year - almost twice the rate of inflation, according to the report.
Meanwhile, childminders' fees rose by 6.4% for under-twos and 9.2% for older children.
A full-time nursery place for a child under two costs an average £176 per week - or £9,152 a year - a significant slice of average gross weekly earnings of £489.
This rises to £218 in London, but some nurseries are charging £425 a week, or £22,100 a year.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
Alison Garnham, joint chief executive of the Daycare Trust, said: "Families have been hit hard by the impact of the recession, with parents facing the strain of losing jobs, having their hours cut back, or facing pay cuts - all of which is compounded further by childcare costs shooting up."
The charity wants the Government to increase entitlement to free early years education from 15 to 20 hours a week.
