Choosing childcare is one of the biggest decisions a family makes, and it helps to understand all of the options before you begin. In this article, we walk you through the different childcare options available to you, from in-home care to out-of-the-home care and paid versus free arrangements, so you can decide what fits your family best.

This is the starting point for understanding the nanny world from A to Z: deciding whether nanny care is right for your family, and learning how to find, interview, hire and work with a nanny. Below, we cover the full range of childcare choices and what to consider with each one.