Find a daycare near you
Short answer
A daycare is a licensed child care center or family child care home that cares for children while parents work. Child Care Aware puts the 2025 US average at $13,184 a year, and full-time infant care in a center ranges from about $6,500 a year in Mississippi to over $27,000 in Massachusetts.
- Typical rate
- US average about $13,184 a year
- Typical 2026 range across US metros; big coastal cities run higher. Caregivers set their own rates on Nanny.
- Booking on Nanny
- Free to join. 6% booking fee (min $1.99), or 3% with Plus. Caregivers keep 100% plus tips.
A good fit for
- Full-time weekday care at a set price
- Kids who enjoy groups and structure
- Families who want licensed ratios and inspections
What to check
- The license and inspection reports, through your state's licensing search
- Ratios in your child's room on the day you tour
- How pickup, allergies, sick days and daily updates work
How it works on Nanny
Centers on Nanny run check-in, verified pickup with code words, room ratios, daily reports with photos and enrollment packets in the app. Parents see all of it on their phone, next to any sitter they book.
Questions
The 2025 US average is about $13,184 a year, roughly $1,100 a month, by Child Care Aware. Infant care in big cities is often $2,000 a month or more.
A daycare covers full working days, often from infancy. A preschool focuses on early learning for ages 3 to 5 and may run shorter days. Many centers offer both.