Finding and choosing childcare is a big decision for many parents. There are many childcare options – and each has its own potential advantages and disadvantages.
Finding quality childcare can be a parenting challenge, one that often takes a lot of time, research, and effort. And before you start searching, you need to decide what type of childcare you're most interested in – hiring a nanny or enrolling your baby in daycare? (You might even be wondering, what is the difference between a daycare center and a home-based daycare, exactly?)
If you're planning to return to work after your maternity leave, if you have one, it's a good idea to start thinking about your childcare options soon after your baby's born – or even while you're still pregnant, especially if you live in an area where childcare demand outweighs resources and waiting lists are common. It can take some time to weigh your options and find the right fit.
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Start by comparing your options – daycare centers,home daycares,nanny care, au pairs, preschool, relative care, andstaying at home – and decide what seems best for you. Every family's situation is unique, so what might be a pro to you could very well be a con for someone else, but these lists represent some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of each. Read on for more insight, then learn more about average childcare costs.
Daycare center
What is it?: Daycare centers, also known as nursery schools or childcare centers, are usually in commercial buildings and have several classrooms for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. They're most often operated by private companies, churches, community centers, and schools.
Daycare Pros:
- It can be a more affordable option than private nanny care
- It's reliable – with a staff of teachers and caretakers, daycare centers keep regular hours
- There's ample supervision – centers must follow state-regulated teacher to student ratios
- Kids are able to socialize with other children of the same or other age groups
- Staff members are often trained in early childhood education
- Daycare centers are licensed and regulated
Daycare Cons:
- Caregivers care for more than one child. The recommended ratios are typically 1 to 3-4 for babies and 1 to 3-6 for toddlers, but requirements vary from state to state.
- Centers that care for infants can be hard to find or full, with months-long waiting lists
- Kids get sick more often in group care, and most centers won't provide care for sick children
- Most are closed during major holidays
- Pickup and drop-off times can be rigid
Home daycare center
What is it? In a home daycare center, a childcare provider (or providers) watches over a small group of children in their own home, condo, or apartment. Some states require home daycare centers to be licensed, while others don't.
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Home daycare pros:
- Most have a nurturing, homelike atmosphere
- Most have smaller groups of children than you'll find at large daycare centers
- It's usually less expensive than most other childcare options
- Kids socialize with children in the same and other age groups
- Many usually have more flexible pickup and drop-off times than daycare centers
Home daycare cons:
- There may not be reliable childcare backup if the home daycare provider gets sick
- Kids get sick more often in group childcare settings
- Some home daycare providers don't have formal schooling in early childhood education
- There's no caregiver supervision, and usually less stringent licensing requirements
- Many are closed for holidays and vacations
Nanny
What is it? A nanny is a private childcare provider or caretaker that you hire to provide one-on-one care and supervision for your child, usually in your own home.
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Nanny pros:
- Your child will receive more personalized attention
- Since care is in your home, you won't have to commute to and from daycare
- Hours are more flexible than daycare and home daycare centers
- Your child will be able to stay in familiar surroundings
- If your child gets sick, you'll still have childcare
- You may be able to do a nanny share with another family to cut costs and add socialization
Nanny cons:
- This is typically the most expensive childcare option
- There's no nanny supervision in your home
- Playtime and socialization with other children must be arranged, either by you or the nanny
- Legally hiring a nanny can involve extensive paperwork and taxes
- A nanny can leave you in a lurch if they quit, become sick, or are otherwise unavailable
Read more about how to find a good nanny.
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Au pair
What is it? An au pair is a young person from another country who works with a United States-based agency to come to the U.S. and provide childcare for a limited period of time, usually a year. The au pair lives with their host family and is meant to have a cultural and educational experience in addition to providing up to 45 hours of childcare per week.
Au pair pros:
- Your child will receive more personalized attention
- Since care is in your home, you won't have to commute to and from daycare
- Hours are more flexible than daycare, home daycare centers, and even nannies
- Your child will be able to stay in familiar surroundings
- If your child gets sick, you'll still have childcare
- The cost of an au pair doesn't depend on the number of children you have, so this can be a more affordable option if you have several kids
- An au pair can provide cultural exchange for your family, sharing their food, customs, and language
Au pair cons:
- Au pairs can stay in the U.S. for up to two years, though most agreements and visas are for 12 months. As a result, you may need to find a new au pair regularly.
- There's no au pair supervision in your home
- Playtime and socialization with other children must be arranged, either by you or the au pair
- To host an au pair, you'll need to provide an extra room in your home and pay for living expenses like a phone, food, and an educational stipend (in addition to the au pair's salary and agency fees)
- An au pair can leave you in a lurch if they quit, become sick, or are otherwise unavailable
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Relative care
What is it? Some families have the option to ask a relative to provide childcare for their baby; most often it's a grandparent who lives in the same town or offers to relocate and move in with you.
Relative care pros:
- Your child will receive more personalized attention
- The caregiver has a vested, personal interest in your child
- You may share the same values
- It's usually very inexpensive – many relatives refuse payment or only ask for a small amount
Relative care cons:
- Your childcare philosophies may conflict, and it may be hard to approach topics like this with your relative, because it's hard to establish a true employer-employee relationship
- Socialization with other children must be specially arranged, either by you or your relative
- There's no caregiver supervision or regulation
- Older relatives may have a hard time handling colicky babies or active toddlers
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Being a stay-at-home parent
What is it? Stay-at-home parents take extended or permanent time away from the workforce to care for their child(ren). Some parents may find this the most financially plausible option for their childcare situation, while for others, especially single parents, it's not possible.
Stay-at-home pros:
- You get to be present for your child's developmental milestones
- You control the quality of your child's care
- You don't have to explain your rules or parenting philosophies to others
- You don't have to worry as much about maintaining a work-life balance
Stay-at-home cons:
- You might feel isolated, bored, or lonely, especially if you gave up a career you cherished or if you don't know many other stay-at-home parents
- It can put a physical and emotional strain on you
- Playtime with other children must be specially arranged
- Leaving your job can hurt your future employment options and lifetime earning potential
- Losing your income and benefits might mean you'll need to make big lifestyle changes
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Here's more on what to consider if you're thinking about becoming a stay-at-home parent.
Preschool
What is it? Preschool centers and programs are typically offered for children between the ages of 3 and 5 and tend to have a more academic focus. While many preschools are independent with no affiliations, some are operated by daycare centers and public or private schools. They're open throughout the regular school year.
Preschool pros:
- Preschools are well regulated and offer a structured, developmentally appropriate curriculum
- They're reliable – preschool programs won't quit or call in sick on you
- Teachers are trained in early childhood education
- They provide built-in time for your child to socialize with other kids
- They offer more educational activities and outings
Preschool cons:
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- Teachers have to care for more than one child; minimum ratio is 1 to 6-10
- Kids get sick more often – and because preschools typically don't let sick kids attend, you may end up having to work from home with a sick child at home
- They're closed during most holidays
- They have more rigid pickup and drop-off times
- They may not offer care (or as many hours of care) during the summer
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