Child care provider playing with children on table.

Before you start your child care search, you may find it helpful to learn about all the child care options that may be available. You want what is best for your child, so it is important to find a provider that fits your child’s and family’s needs. This means considering things like the size of the program, the type of physical environment it provides (such as a home environment versus a classroom setting), the hours when it is available, and so on.

This section provides an overview of the types of child care options, including how each option may be regulated to ensure your child’s health and safety. These include the following:

  • Child care centers
  • Family child care homes
  • Head Start and Early Head Start
  • Prekindergarten programs
  • School-age child care programs
  • Child care options for military families
  • Informal in-home child care

More Resources

If you have questions or want to talk with someone about the types of child care available in your community, the following additional resources can help you learn more about your state or territory’s child care options.

State and Territory Child Care Consumer Education Websites

Every state and territory has a child care consumer education website, which should be your “go-to” resource for learning about and finding quality child care in your area. Your state or territory’s website offers information to help you choose the right kind of care for your child. It also includes an online search to find licensed, regulated child care where you live. To find your state or territory’s child care consumer education website, select your state or territory and review the “Understanding and Finding Child Care Resources” page.

Child Care Resource and Referral AgenciesAdult holding baby.

Many states have child care resource and referral agencies that can provide you with information about child care options by phone, in person, online, or via email. Most of these agencies also have websites with child care information and resources. To find a child care resource and referral agencies near you, select your state or territory and review the “Understanding and Finding Child Care Resources” page.

Things to Consider

Is the Provider or Program Licensed?

Licensing is the main way the U.S. and its territories regulate child care. States and territories set minimum child care licensing requirements to ensure children stay healthy and safe while they are in care. Child care providers must meet these requirements to operate legally. In addition to child care licensing, some states may offer certification or registration to help ensure basic health and safety standards in certain home-based child care programs. Not all child care options are licensed, so it is important to check to see if the child care program you are considering is licensed.

Tip: Your state or territory’s online child care search includes licensed child care programs. Licensing status is usually clearly marked in your child care search results. For instance, search tools may show the provider’s license number and licensing status. To go to your state or territory’s online child care search, go to "Find Child Care” and select your state or territory. To learn more about how to choose quality child care, visit the "How Do I Find and Choose Quality Child Care?" section.

Which Type of Child Care Option May Be Best for My Child?

Young Children on the Floor Reading

There are many things to consider when choosing a child care option that will meet your child’s and family’s needs. For instance, some children may respond best to a home setting with a small group of children, while others may thrive in a larger group setting with several children of a similar age. When it comes to choosing a child care provider for your child, think about which setting would best support your child’s specific learning and social needs. For more information and tips on how to choose the best child care program for your child, see the "How Do I Find and Choose Quality Child Care?" section.

Does the Program Accept Child Care Financial Assistance?

Every state and territory has a child care financial assistance program to help families with low incomes "pay for child care". Each state and territory also has its own guidelines for who is eligible for this assistance. Your state or territory’s child care financial assistance program can offer you a list of child care providers that participate in this program. If you are eligible to receive help, you should make sure that your child care provider accepts child care financial assistance.

To find your state or territory’s child care financial assistance program, select your state or territory and review the “Financial Assistance Resources for Families” page.

To learn about child care financial assistance options, visit the “How Do I Get Help Paying for Child Care?” page.

 

In this section you will find the following pages: