What to Do When You Can’t Find Childcare
Last updated on March 18th, 2026 at 09:05 am
For most parents, childcare is a huge issue, if not the number one issue. It’s a struggle all across the country. Even if you can find it, sometimes the cost is more than your rent or mortgage. That’s the reality of being a parent. So, let’s break it down. What do you quite literally do when you can’t find childcare or afford it?
Childcare Options
So, there are many forms of childcare. So, let’s discuss the different options available to you, so we can make sure you exhaust all your options.
Asking someone you know
You can try to find someone you know to watch them on a part-time or full-time basis. That’s a grandparent or a friend. Another option is switching back and forth with another mom. If you have a friend who also needs childcare, you can switch off days with one of you watching all the kids. Leaning on your mom friends can be a great option.
Finding daycare
The first thing to do is serious research. Assuming that you want daycare, right now, we’re just getting on waiting lists. You can evaluate for fit later. Cast a wide net, and get on every daycare’s waiting list that you can find. If you really like certain daycares, you can call monthly to make sure you’re still on the waiting list and reiterate interest. This keeps you on their radar.
There are also in-home daycares, which can be hit or miss. Some owners are responsible people with qualifications and a great environment. Some have no business being daycare owners. This means it might be hard to find one you love, but in-home daycares have really stepped in to fill the gap left by overwhelmed licensed daycares.
A great option for finding childcare is local Facebook groups. Many areas have groups that are dedicated to finding childcare, including different types of childcare. Daycares (licensed and in-home) and nannies alike post there.
Getting a nanny
If you’re hoping for a nanny, I want to make sure you go into it with realistic expectations. Nannies are expensive. Typically, they’re a minimum of $25 an hour, and that’s if you have only one kid. If you pay over the table (which you should), it’s even more expensive because you’re paying taxes. Additionally, nannies expect things like annual paid time off.
When it comes to nannies, you get what you pay for. If you find someone willing to take less, it’s because they’re usually not qualified to be watching children. Not always, but typically. It can also be difficult and time-consuming to find a nanny you love for the price you can afford.
This makes nannies an unaffordable option for many, which makes them not a great way to offset the swamped system that is childcare in this country. If you can afford it, amazing. There tends to be a good number of nannies out there, especially if you live in a city.
If you can’t find childcare
Okay, you’ve explored all your options. You’ve called every daycare. You’ve done the math and can’t afford a nanny. You don’t have local family or friend support to get it done. Fantastic. What do you do?
Someone stays home
This is the obvious option, but it’s not always the best one. Whoever stays home loses out on future earning opportunities and retirement funds. Most people need two incomes of some sort to make things work, and if you’re a single parent, that’s not an option at all. Not to mention, stay at home parent is a hard job, and it’s definitely not for everyone. That being said, if you can make it work, and it’s really the only option, it is what it is.
Someone works from home
This is a stopgap, and it’s make-or-break based on the job you have. I’m lucky enough to have a job that allows me to work with my kids, but it’s a rough time. That being said, it is a way of surviving until they’re in school and making it through school breaks.
The best way to get a remote job is honestly social media – Facebook groups and scrolling through Threads. People post that they’re hiring all the time, and if you have a good set of skills, you can find some great opportunities. Don’t discount freelancing, which is a great way to both leave the workforce and stay in the workforce. It’s more complicated, but it’s something. If you’re looking for ways to beef up your resume for a remote job, Coursera is a great option for certificates.
Here’s how I got my remote job, and here’s another blog about surviving as a work from home mom.
A part-time job with mother hours
There are part-time jobs out there that can work for moms. I’ve got a blog all about it, but suffice to say, school bus driver can be a great option, and you can usually bring your kids. Restaurants can be an option, especially if you can get a job that’s at nights. Again, don’t discount freelancing. It definitely can be tricky, but you do set your own hours.
I hope this was helpful in at least giving tips for finding work that can be done without childcare. I know it’s hard and overwhelming when you can’t find childcare. Just keep going, keep calling, and keep searching in Facebook groups. And remember, if you’ve got young children, one day, they will be in school, and things will shift.
