# Who provides care in the first years

**Who should look after our child in the first years?**

Who looks after your child during the day in the early years: a parent at home, both parents working with paid care, or family helping.

In short: Parents choose between 5 main approaches: One parent home long term; One parent home until school; Both part-time or staggered; Both full-time with paid care; Both full-time with family care. 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--who-provides-care-in-the-first-years

## Who provides care in the first years: what are the options?

1. **One parent home long term**: One of you stays home for many years.
2. **One parent home until school**: One of you stays home until the child starts school.
3. **Both part-time or staggered**: You both work reduced or offset hours so one of you is always home.
4. **Both full-time with paid care**: You both work full-time and pay for childcare.
5. **Both full-time with family care**: You both work full-time and relatives look after the child.

## Who provides care in the first years: what does the evidence say?

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

Outcomes in high-quality day care and at home look very similar once family traits are controlled

Sources:

- [ParentData, summary only](https://parentdata.org/day-care-bad-children/)

## What else is worth knowing?

This is one of the biggest decisions a couple makes, shaped by money, leave, careers and what each of you wants. Research does not show that one arrangement is best for children; the quality of care matters more. It is worth saying honestly what each of you hopes for.

## Questions to ask each other

- What do we each picture for the first years?
- What does each option cost in money and in how we feel?
- What would make us change the plan?

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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--who-provides-care-in-the-first-years