The following provides some of the pros and cons of each child care type. In some situations, the advantages and disadvantages may not apply.
Relative Care
A relative, friend, or neighbor cares for your child either in your home or their home.
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
- Home environment
- Personalized attention – usually one on one
- Typically trusted caregiver – knowledge of caregiver’s past
- Less chance of getting colds & infections from other children
- Usually least expensive child care option
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- Not regulated or licensed
- Caregiver may have no training in child education
- No backup if caregiver is sick or has an emergency
- Risk of impact to family relationship
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Nanny or other In-Home Care
A nanny or babysitter cares for your child in your home
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
- Home environment
- Personalized attention – usually one on one
- Less chance of getting colds & infections from other children
- Flexible schedule
|
- Nanny/ babysitter usually unsupervised
- No socialization with other children
- No backup if caregiver is sick or has an emergency
- Typically most expensive form of child care
|
Home Child Care
A caregiver cares for a number of children in his or her own home.
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
- Home environment
- More personalized attention than center-based care
- Socialization with other children
- Usually fewer children than center-based care
- Less chance of getting infections from other children
- Flexible schedule
- Typically less costly than nanny and center-based care
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- No strict licensing requirements –health and safety requirements may not be enforced
- Caregiver may have no training in child education
- No backup if caregiver is sick or has an emergency
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Center-based Child Care
A caregiver cares for your child in a center or other formal, structured environment. All child care centers must be licensed.
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
- Formal, structured environment typically with planned age appropriate activities
- Licensed & monitored by the state
- Supervised & trained caregivers
- Stable backup system – if dedicated caregiver is sick
- Socialization with other children
- More affordable than nanny care
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- Less personalized attention
- Increased chance of getting colds & infections from other children
- Strict schedule – less flexible pick-up times
- More costly than relative care or home child care
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