Nannies vs. housekeepers: Which is right for you?
Need more help around the house? Here’s how to choose between a nanny and a housekeeper — and what differentiates...
Child care options
Is a nanny share right for you?
A nanny share is a great middle ground, socially and financially, for parents that can't decide between a nanny and...
How do you manage expenses in a nanny share?
Determining how nanny share families split costs is important to do up front. Here's how to cover all your bases.
How to handle nanny vacations, holidays and sick days
Should nannies get paid sick days? What about paid vacations and holidays? Just like any other profession, nannies should receive...
10 ways to prepare kids for a new nanny or babysitter
A new babysitter can be scary for kids. Here's expert advice for making everyone as comfortable as possible while you're...
13 tips for the first day of daycare
Child care and child development experts share their best tips for a smooth first day of daycare (for your child...
How do you handle communication in your nanny share?
When you’re trying to manage the schedules and needs of two families plus a nanny, keeping the lines of communication...
Nanny share vs. daycare: Which one’s right for you?
Cost, proximity, and caregiver-to-child ratio are the main reasons why nanny shares tend to be good alternatives to daycares.
Learn how to craft a great nanny share contract
Nanny shares can get complicated because multiple families are involved. But having a nanny share contract can keep everyone on...
When you need a babysitting contract and what to include in it
Here's why a babysitting contract is a must (even for casual sitters) and everything to include when you create one.
How to talk to babysitters about safety: Parent-backed tips and expert advice
From striking the right tone to the exact details to cover, here are expert tips on discussing safety matters with...
How to be the best nanny or sitter for a family during divorce
Here's what to do (and what not to do) as a nanny or sitter during a divorce, plus expert advice...
16 easy Crock-pot dinners for families on the go
Tasty, quick and little in the way of clean-up: These easy crockpot dinners for families tick all the boxes.
Should your child’s caregiver be your friend, too? 5 ways to navigate this sometimes-confusing relationship
Have you and your child's caregiver blurred lines in terms of professional and personal relationship? Here's how to reel it...
My daughter’s caregiver is my parenting inspiration — here’s why
Parenting isn't easy, but watching my child's caregiver inspires me to try new things and handle the hard parts with...
4th trimester survival tips for exhausted, stressed parents
Experts and parents offer tips and advice for recovering physically and emotionally during the fourth trimester while caring for a...
Free preschool: What’s the state of universal pre-K programs and who can they benefit?
Free preschool is the exception in the U.S. Here's how experts say you can find programs near you and advocate...
Caregivers hit by job loss during COVID-19: Tips and advice you need
If you are a professional nanny or sitter, you may have recently lost your job, through no fault of your...
Choosing an after-school activity for your child
Don't sign your child up for a new after-school activity before considering these expert points.
Are kids too busy? The pros and cons of filling ‘free time’ with activities
Tempted to add just one more after-school activity to your child's schedule? Here are the pros and cons, according to...
6 tips for being a great after-school babysitter
Be the best after-school babysitter in the game with these six expert tips.
7 smart tips for babysitters juggling school and work
Juggling school and babysitter jobs? These pro tips will make sure you stay on top of everything — including your...
What every nanny needs to know about nanny shares
Experts and veteran nannies share how working in a nanny share is different than a typical nanny job — for...
7 tips for hiring an after-school babysitter or nanny
Follow these steps to find the perfect person to care for your kids from 3 p.m. until you get home...
7 interview questions to ask when hiring an after-school nanny or sitter
Need an after-school nanny or sitter to help with homework, drive kids to activities or keep them safe and happy...
10 homework tips every nanny and babysitter needs to know
Having a homework bag of tricks is key for nannies and babysitters. Check out our tricks from the pros.
The Care.com Cost of Child Care Survey: 2015 Report
Read the Care.com 2023 Cost of Care Report: This is what child care costs in 2023 Child care is expensive. Year...
The Care.com Cost of Child Care Survey: 2016 Report
Read the Care.com 2023 Cost of Care Report: This is what child care costs in 2023 What did you think about...
The Care.com Cost of Child Care Survey: 2014 Report
Read the Care.com 2023 Cost of Care Report: This is what child care costs in 2023 $245,340. That’s how much you’ll...
This is how much child care costs in 2018
Read the Care.com 2023 Cost of Care Report: This is what child care costs in 2023 Child care costs rose for...
This is how much child care costs in 2019
Read the Care.com 2023 Cost of Care Report: This is what child care costs in 2023 The rising cost of after-school...
How to add and subtract at the farmers market
The best place to find fresh fruits and vegetables is your local farmers market. They can’t be beat for quality...
25 summer jobs to fit every schedule
Whether you're looking for full- or part-time, check out our list of the best jobs for summer. There's something for...
7 child care options if you work nights, weekends and other nontraditional hours
Find child care options beyond traditional 9 to 5 work hours, including overnight nannies, weekend daycare and 24-hour child care.
5 nanny tax myth busters
A lot of people don’t think twice about paying their nanny, housekeeper, senior caregiver or babysitter with cash. Some families...
Hiring an Attractive Babysitter or Nanny: Do or Don’t?
A good friend recently told me that she won’t hire “good looking” babysitters. She didn’t feel comfortable with the idea,...
How to fire a nanny or caregiver
Letting go of a household employee is never an easy decision, but sometimes it becomes clear that a nanny, babysitter,...
What Happens When the Child You Care for Is Sick?
We’ve seen a lot of caregivers post questions on our Community about how they should handle it when the kids they...
New report shows remote work has major benefits for parents and family caregivers
According to a new survey from Care.com and Mother Honestly, the remote work revolution has changed work for the better,...
The right way to test out a new babysitter
A babysitter trial or tryout is a great way to test out a new provider. Here's how to set one...