DENVER -- This past weekend another drop-in day care center opened in Denver's Mayfair neighborhood.

Employees of KidsTown said it's part of a growth trend they started to see over the summer.

"Probably a 10- to 20-percent increase in families that have left traditional day centers to come to us," said Melinda Sheehan, regional director for KidsTown. "We're trying to market to those families that need us for the retail businesses or for working second jobs."

With rates at $5 to $8 per hour, some parents like the flexibility.

Karin Von Donselaar works 12-hour shifts as a nurse at the University of Colorado Hospital. She's tried nannies and full-time centers but now uses the Smoky Hill KidsTown center.

"The benefit here is that they often stay later, so that gives me time," Von Donselaar said.

A woman who identified herself as the manager at ABC Day Care in Aurora said business is down nearly 50 percent this year. Full-time centers can be more convenient but may also cost $200 per week, per child, and higher.

It's an issue full-time insurance employee Haley Moderhak hears about all the time.

"Yeah, I mean, probably daily," Moderhak said. "I make a good amount of money but we spend about $20,000 year keeping both my kids in a full-time day care."

A spokeswoman with the Department of Human Services said they expect more and more parents are also seeking out unlicensed, and perhaps cheaper, day care options. She cautions parents to remember that those facilities aren't inspected and may not have any staffers with actual child care or safety training, as is the case with licensed centers.