While the Federal government has been providing suggestions and guidelines for return to work, travel, and daily activities to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, many states have already adopted stay-at-home guidelines for residents that go beyond this.

What Does A Shelter-in-Place (Stay-at-Home) Order Mean?

These orders generally allow for only essential workers to leave home and go to work. An essential worker is defined on a state-by-state basis, but they encompass what states deem as a business or service that’s vital to ensuring the continuation of necessities that benefit a community. These can include law enforcement and public safety, food production, healthcare and emergency personnel, and many more.

Green banner with text saying "When your peace of mind is their new best friend" and showing a smiling child care provider & child.Is Child Care an Essential Service?

This is a state decision and many states have asked child care centers to close while others allow for a select few to remain open while providing recommendations for safety. So what can parents do? In some states, in-home child care options such as babysitters and nannies are allowed. Be sure to check with your state and local authorities to determine what the most up-to-date status is regarding your child care options.

Below is a list of states (along with the city of Washington, D.C.) outlining the most up-to-date details of child care regulations as of the post date on this article.

Remote Child Care Options

Sittercity offers options like virtual sitting in which babysitters and nannies can help provide in-home child care and homework help without the need to physically enter your home. We know that as parents, you still have things to do and this option allows you to continue to work without the complete distraction of watching a child, but it’s not a replacement for physical care.

To learn more about virtual sitting:

Shelter-in-Place and Child Care by State

The use of the “child care” term below also encompasses babysitters and nannies, not just facilities, unless explicitly stating that it’s facilities only.

Be sure to check back with us for updates as we continue to monitor the impacts, and ensure that you strictly follow CDC guidelines for caring for someone else’s, or your, child’s health.

Alabama

In-home child care programs and services are deemed essential. Read Alabama’s statewide announcement.

Alaska

Home-based care for seniors, adults, and children allowed. Read Alaska’s statewide announcement.

Arizona

Child care services are deemed an essential service. Read Arizona’s statewide announcement.

California 

Babysitters are allowed in the house to care for minors of parents working in essential sectors. Read California’s statewide announcement.

Colorado

Nannies and babysitters may work in a family’s home. Read Colorado’s statewide announcement.

Connecticut

In-home child care is allowed for families to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and the provision of
goods. Read Connecticut’s statewide announcement.

Delaware

Child care workers may continue to work in a family’s home. Read Delaware’s statewide announcement.

Florida

In-home child care is deemed essential. Read Florida’s statewide announcement.

Georgia

Nannies and babysitters may work in a family’s home. Read Georgia’s statewide announcement.

Hawaii

Child care workers may continue working in a family’s home. Read Hawaii’s statewide announcement.

Idaho

Families may have a child care employee work in their home. Read Idaho’s statewide announcement.

Illinois

Families with in-home child care needs can continue having their caregiver work in their home. Read Illinois’s statewide announcement.

Indiana

Child care workers may continue working in a family’s home. Read Indiana’s statewide announcement.

Kansas

Families may have a child care employee work in their homes. Read Kansas’s statewide announcement.

Kentucky

Nannies and babysitters may work in a family’s home. Read Kentucky’s statewide announcement.

Louisiana

Unless a family’s child care employee is another family member, only essential workers can have their child care employee working in their home. Read Louisiana’s statewide announcement.

Maine

Nannies and babysitters may work in a family’s home. Read Maine’s statewide announcement.

Maryland

Child care services are deemed an essential service. Read Maryland’s statewide announcement.

Massachusetts

Child care workers should be able to work in homes based on the allowance for residential and congregate care programs, in-home supportive services, and child welfare. Read Massachusetts’ statewide announcement.

Michigan

In-home child care workers are essential only to the extent necessary to serve the children or dependents of critical infrastructure workers as defined in the order. Read Michigan’s statewide announcement.

Minnesota

In-home child care workers are encouraged to remain open to provide child care services for workers in the Critical Sectors listed in the executive order as possible and insofar as public health guidance can be followed. Read Minnesota’s statewide announcement.

Mississippi

Child care services are deemed an essential service. Read Mississippi’s statewide announcement.

Missouri

Families with child care needs can continue to have their employee work in their home. Read Missouri’s statewide announcement.

Montana

Child care is deemed an essential service. Read Montana’s statewide announcement.

Nevada

Child care facilities are essential services, but in-home (with some exceptions for medical) is not. Read Nevada’s statewide announcement.

New Hampshire

Child care workers can continue working in a family’s home. Read New Hampshire’s statewide announcement.

New Jersey

Nannies and babysitters may work in a family’s home. Read New Jersey’s statewide announcement.

New Mexico

In-home child care is not considered an essential service, but childcare facilities are. Read New Mexico’s statewide announcement.

New York

Child care services are deemed an essential service. Read New York’s statewide announcement.

North Carolina

Families may have a child care employee work in their home. Read North Carolina’s statewide announcement.

Ohio

Nannies and babysitters may work in a family’s home. Read Ohio’s statewide announcement.

Oklahoma

Check locally for guidance – the state has issued a state of emergency, but local cities are providing their own direction. Read Oklahoma’s statewide announcement.

Oregon

Families may continue to have their nanny or babysitter work in their home, but they must adhere to the new limits and rules outlined. Read Oregon’s statewide announcement.

Pennsylvania 

In-home child care work is deemed essential. Read Pennsylvania’s statewide announcement.

Rhode Island

Families may continue to have their nanny or babysitter work in their home. Read Rhode Island’s statewide announcement.

South Carolina

Nannies and babysitters may work in a family’s home. Read South Carolina’s statewide announcement.

Tennessee

In-home child care work is deemed essential. Read Tennessee’s statewide announcement.

Texas

Nannies and babysitters may work in a family’s home. Read Texas’s statewide announcement.

Utah

Check locally for guidance – the state has issued a stay at home directive but local areas may have different orders in place. Generally, babysitters and nannies can work in a family’s home. Read Utah’s statewide announcement.

Vermont

Families may continue to have a child care worker in their home. Read Vermont’s statewide announcement.

Virginia

Child care is considered essential, so nannies and babysitters may work in a family home. Read Virginia’s statewide announcement.

Washington

Babysitters or nannies are allowed in a family’s home. Read Washington’s statewide announcement.

Washington, D.C.

Nannies and other in-home child care workers can continue to work in a family’s home. Read Washington D.C.’s announcement.

West Virginia

Families may continue to have their child care employee work in their home. Read West Virginia’s statewide announcement.

Blue banner with text saying "When cuddles can't wait until the meeting is over" and showing a caregiver holding a smiling baby.Wisconsin

Families can continue having their child care worker come to their home. Read Wisconsin’s statewide announcement.

Wyoming

Babysitters or nannies are allowed in a family’s home. Read Wyoming’s statewide announcement.

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