Nanny, Home Daycare or Child Care Facility - What's the Right Fit for Your Family?

Choosing child care is one of the most important — and often most stressful — decisions a parent makes. Every family is unique, and the right solution depends on your child’s personality, your family’s schedule, budget, type-of-work, and comfort level.

Here’s a clear look at the three most common child care options so you can decide which one best supports your child and your family’s needs.

Nanny Care: Personalized Support at Home

A nanny provides one-on-one (or sometimes one-on-two) care in your home. This option offers personalized attention and the convenience of care happening in your own space.

Pros

• Highly personalized routines and schedules tailored to your child.

• No commute — care happens in the comfort of home.

• Flexible hours (can often adjust to your work schedule).

• Fewer transitions for infants and toddlers.

Considerations

• Generally the most expensive option.

• Your child may have less peer interaction.

• You become the employer, handling payroll, taxes, and sometimes benefits.

• Quality of care depends heavily on the nanny’s training and experience.

• Who will watch your children if the nanny gets sick or suddenly call out?

This may be the right option for your family if your children are very young, or you already are working from home.

Home Daycare: A Small, Home-Like Setting

Home child care providers (sometimes called family child care) care for a small group of children in their own home. This setting often feels warm and family-like.

Pros

• Usually more affordable than hiring a nanny.

• Smaller group size than center-based care — often 6–12 children.

• Children benefit from mixed-age interaction and a home-like atmosphere.

• Typically more flexible with hours than large facilities.

Considerations

• Many people open and operate unlicensed daycare in their home. I would not recommend an unlicensed home daycare facility.

• Quality can vary widely — licensing and oversight requirements differ by state.

• Fewer staff may mean less coverage during absences or vacations.

• Most do not offer as structured a curriculum as center-based programs.

This may be the right fit for your family if you want a small, home-like environment for your children. Your focus is not currently on curriculum and school readiness.

Child Care Centers / Facilities: Structured and Social

Center-based care includes preschools and child care facilities. These programs are designed with dedicated classrooms, staff teams, and often formal learning environments.

Pros

• Licensed and regulated with regular inspections and safety requirements.

• More consistent staffing and less disruption from absences.

• Often include a curriculum that supports early learning and development.

• Provides daily opportunities for peer socialization.

Considerations

• Less flexibility with hours or individual routines.

• Higher staff-to-child ratios than a nanny or some home-based care.

• More transitions for very young children, such as infants and toddlers.

Questions to Ask Yourself

When choosing among these options, consider:

• What is my budget for child care?

• Does my child thrive in one-on-one attention or enjoy being in a group?

• How important is a structured educational environment at this age?

• What hours of care does my family need?

• Do I prefer care in my own home, someone else’s home, or a dedicated facility?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some families start with a nanny or home-based care for the early years, then transition to a center-based preschool for the structure and socialization. Others choose a center from the start for its consistency and curriculum.

The right choice is the one that balances your child’s needs with your family’s routines, values, and resources.