# Type of non-parental care

**Should we choose daycare, a nanny or family care?**

What kind of care you would use: a daycare center, a home daycare, a nanny, a shared nanny or an au pair.

In short: Parents choose between 7 main approaches: Daycare centre; Home daycare; Nanny; Nanny-share; Au pair; Grandparent; Patchwork. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: during pregnancy.

- Area: Childcare and early learning
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: During pregnancy
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/childcare-and-early-learning--type-of-non-parental-care

## Type of non-parental care: what are the options?

1. **Daycare centre**: A licensed center with groups of children and several staff.
2. **Home daycare**: A caregiver looks after a small group in their own home.
3. **Nanny**: A caregiver you employ looks after your child in your home.
4. **Nanny-share**: Two families share one nanny and split the cost.
5. **Au pair**: A young person from abroad lives with you and provides childcare.
6. **Grandparent**: A grandparent looks after the child.
7. **Patchwork**: You combine several arrangements across the week.

## Type of non-parental care: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

Quality, quantity and type of care were only modestly linked to development; no research comparing nanny, au pair and grandparent care was found

Sources:

- [Reading Rockets on NICHD](https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/preschool-and-child-care/articles/nichd-study-early-child-care)

## What else is worth knowing?

Each kind of care differs in cost, group size, flexibility and oversight. Centers are regulated and have several staff; a nanny gives one-to-one care at home. Waiting lists can be long, so many families start looking during pregnancy.

## Questions to ask each other

- What matters most: cost, location, hours, or the feel of the place?
- Would we prefer a group setting or one-to-one care?
- What would make us walk away from a provider?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=childcare-and-early-learning&topic=childcare-and-early-learning--type-of-non-parental-care