Daycare centers, family childcare, nannies and au pairs, what they cost, subsidies and tax help, and how to check a provider is licensed.
Childcare in the US is mostly private and often expensive. Start looking early: good places have waiting lists of months.
The main options
Childcare center (daycare): a licensed building with many children grouped by age. Fixed hours, often 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Family childcare home: a licensed provider who cares for a small group in their own home. Often cheaper and more flexible.
Nanny: a person who comes to your home. The most expensive option. If you employ a nanny, you may owe household employment taxes.
Au pair: a young person from another country on a J-1 visa who lives with you and helps with childcare for a set number of hours. You must use a State Department sponsor agency.
Before- and after-school programs: for school-age children, often at the school or a community center.
What it costs
Full-time care for a baby or toddler often costs more than $1,000 a month, and much more in big cities. A national survey by Child Care Aware of America found a national average of about $13,100 a year in 2024. Care for older children costs less.
Help paying
1
Childcare subsidies: each state uses federal money to help lower-income families who work or study. Find your state's program at childcare.gov ("Get help paying"). Eligibility depends on income, work or school, and the child's status. A US-citizen child can qualify even if the parents are not citizens.
2
Dependent care FSA: if your employer offers it, you can set aside up to $7,500 a year (from 2026) before tax for childcare.
3
Child and dependent care tax credit: a credit on your tax return for part of what you paid, if you paid so you could work.
4
Head Start and free pre-K: see Pre-K, Head Start and kindergarten.
How to choose a safe provider
1
Go to childcare.gov and open your state's licensing search. Check that the provider is licensed and read any inspection reports or violations.
2
Visit. Watch how staff talk to the children. Is it clean? Are there safe sleep rules for babies (on the back, in an empty crib)?
3
Ask four questions: "How many children per adult?" (the ratio), "Are staff background-checked and trained in CPR?", "What is your sick-child policy?" and "What are the fees for late pick-up?"
4
Ask two other parents for their honest opinion.
Common mistakes
Using an unlicensed babysitter from an online ad without references.
Forgetting the sick policy: many centers send a child home with a fever. Have a backup plan.