In-home daycare averaged $323 a week for an infant and $301 a week for a toddler in Care.com's 2026 Cost of Care Report. That is roughly $60 to $65 a day, or about $1,300 to $1,400 a month, for one child in full-time care. What you pay locally can be well above or below that, depending on your area, your child's age and what the provider includes.
A quick note on terms: "in-home daycare" (also called home daycare or family child care) usually means care in the provider's home, with a small group of children. Care in your own home is a nanny or babysitter, which is priced differently and covered further down.
Average In-Home Daycare Rates in 2026
The most recent national survey that separates home daycare from centers is Care.com's 2026 Cost of Care Report, based on 3,000 U.S. parents who pay for child care, surveyed in November 2025. The weekly figures below are from that report and its infant care breakdown. Daily and yearly figures are simple conversions (weekly divided by five, and weekly times 52).
| Type of care | Per day (approx.) | Per week | Per month | Per year (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home daycare, infant | $65 | $323 | $1,400 | $16,800 |
| Home daycare, toddler | $60 | $301 | $1,304 | $15,650 |
| Daycare center, infant | $66 | $332 | $1,439 | $17,260 |
| Daycare center, toddler | $62 | $308 | $1,335 | $16,020 |
| Nanny (in your home) | $174 | $870 | about $3,770 | $45,240 |
Other sources put the national number lower. Child Care Aware of America, which compiles state price data across all ages and care settings, found an average annual price of $13,184 in 2025. That equals 10% of median income for a two-parent household and 33% for a single parent. The two sources measure different things (a parent survey versus state price data averaged across ages), so treat them as a range rather than a single answer.
Either way, it is a big line in most budgets. Parents in Care.com's survey said they spend 20% of household income on child care, nearly three times the 7% that federal guidelines treat as affordable.
Is In-Home Daycare Cheaper Than a Daycare Center?
Usually, but the national gap is small. In Care.com's 2026 numbers, home daycare cost $323 a week for an infant versus $332 at a center, and $301 versus $308 for a toddler. The gap in your area may be larger or smaller, so compare real quotes.
Home providers tend to charge less because they have no commercial rent and fewer staff. Centers, in return, often offer longer opening hours and backup staff when a teacher is out. A home daycare run by one person may close when the provider is sick or on vacation, and many contracts still charge for those days. When you compare, look at the total yearly cost and the number of days you will actually get care.
Home Daycare vs. a Nanny
For one child, a nanny costs far more: Care.com's 2026 average was $870 a week. The math changes with more children. Daycare is charged per child, so two or three young children in home daycare can cost $600 to $970 a week at the averages above, which starts to approach the cost of one nanny. A nanny or au pair, a nanny share, or a live-in nanny can make sense for larger families. If you hire someone to work in your home, you may also owe household employment taxes: in 2026 they apply once you pay a household worker $3,000 or more in cash wages, according to IRS Publication 926. A provider who cares for your child in their own home is generally not your employee, so home daycare does not trigger those taxes.
Why Infant Spots Cost More
The main reason is ratios. The national Caring for Our Children standard for small family child care homes says one caregiver can care for up to six children if none are under age 2. With one child under 2, the provider can take only three older children; with two children under 2, no older children at all. The provider's own children count toward the total (standard 1.1.1.1). Each state sets its own licensing limits, so check yours.
So a baby can take the place of several older children in a home program, and the price reflects that. Infant care also involves more feeding, diapering and individual nap schedules. Expect the infant rate to be the highest one a provider quotes, and expect it to drop when your child moves into the toddler group.
What Changes the Price
- Location. Rates vary a lot by state and city and tend to be highest in expensive metro areas.
- Your child's age. Infants cost the most, then toddlers, then preschoolers.
- Hours. A full-time slot covers a set daily window. Early drop-off, late pickup or irregular schedules usually cost extra.
- Part-time vs. full-time. Part-time care is rarely prorated exactly. Providers have to hold the spot, so two or three days a week often costs more per day than five.
- Licensing and training. Licensed homes and providers with early childhood credentials, such as a Child Development Associate (CDA), may charge more.
- What is included. Some providers include meals, snacks, diapers and wipes. Others ask you to send food and supplies, which adds to your real cost.
Fees to Ask About Before You Sign
The weekly rate is only part of the bill. Ask for the provider's written policies and check for:
- Registration fees or a deposit to hold the spot
- Annual supply or activity fees
- Paid holidays and provider vacation weeks
- Whether you pay when your child is out sick or you are on vacation
- Late pickup fees
- When rates go up (once a year, or when your child changes age groups)
- How much notice you must give before leaving
How Much to Charge for In-Home Daycare
If you run a home daycare or are about to open one, start with your local market rather than national averages.
- Find your state's market rate survey. Every state that runs the federal Child Care and Development Fund must survey child care prices by location, type of provider and age of child, and post the report online (45 CFR 98.45). Search for "[your state] child care market rate survey" to see what family child care homes near you charge.
- Price by age. Because infants limit how many children you can enroll, set your infant rate highest and step down for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Count your real costs. Include food, supplies, insurance, licensing and training, plus a wage for yourself. The USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program reimburses participating day care homes for meals and snacks, and IRS Publication 587 explains how daycare providers deduct part of their home expenses and can use standard meal and snack rates.
- Put policies in writing. Paid holidays, sick days, late fees and notice periods protect your income and prevent disputes.
Ways to Lower What You Pay
Dependent Care FSA
If your employer offers a dependent care flexible spending account, you can pay for daycare with pre-tax money. Starting in 2026 the limit is $7,500 per household ($3,750 if married filing separately), up from $5,000, under Public Law 119-21.
Child and Dependent Care Credit
The federal credit covers a percentage of up to $3,000 in care costs for one child or $6,000 for two or more. From the 2026 tax year, the percentage starts at 50% for lower incomes and steps down to a floor of 20% as income rises, so the maximum credit is $1,500 for one child or $3,000 for two or more. Money you run through a dependent care FSA reduces the expenses you can claim for the credit (IRS Publication 503). You will need your provider's name, address and taxpayer ID to claim it, so ask for these when you enroll.
State Child Care Assistance
Every state runs a child care subsidy program for families under certain income limits. Start at ChildCare.gov, choose your state, and look for its child care assistance page.
Scheduling and Sharing
- Combine part-time daycare with days covered by a relative or a parent working from home.
- Split a nanny with another family (a nanny share), which can cost less per family than two daycare spots.
- Ask about sibling discounts.
For more options and how they compare, see this guide to childcare options for working parents.
How to Check a Home Daycare Before You Enroll
Start with your state's licensing search, which you can reach through ChildCare.gov. It shows whether a home is licensed and, in most states, its inspection reports. Then visit in person and ask:
Safety and licensing
- Are you licensed, and can I see the license?
- Has every adult who lives in or works in the home had a background check?
- Are you trained in infant and child CPR and first aid?
- What is your plan for fires, injuries and other emergencies?
- How do babies sleep here? (Look for babies placed on their backs in their own crib with no loose bedding, as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends.)
Daily routine
- What does a typical day look like for a child my age?
- How do you handle discipline and difficult behavior?
- What is your screen time policy?
Health and communication
- What is your sick child policy?
- How do you update parents during the day?
- Are meals and snacks included, and can you handle my child's allergies?
- What happens when you are sick or on vacation? Is there backup care?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is in-home child care per day?
About $60 to $65 a day for full-time care, based on Care.com's 2026 averages of $301 a week for a toddler and $323 for an infant. Drop-in or part-time days usually cost more per day than a full-time slot.
How much does in-home daycare cost per month?
About $1,300 to $1,400 a month for one child in full-time care, using Care.com's 2026 figures of $1,304 for a toddler and $1,400 for an infant.
Do I pay when my child is sick or on vacation?
Often, yes. Home providers commonly charge the weekly rate whether or not your child attends, since they are holding the spot, but policies vary. Get the policy in writing before you enroll.
Can I use a dependent care FSA or the tax credit for home daycare?
Yes, for care that lets you work or look for work, as long as the provider is not your spouse, your dependent, or your child under 19. You will need the provider's name, address and taxpayer ID (IRS child and dependent care credit rules).
Bornbir doesn't list daycares, but many parents need help at home before daycare starts. If you want overnight help in the newborn months, you can compare night nannies near you on Bornbir, read their reviews, and message them directly.