Do you need a babysitter or a mother’s helper? How is an au pair different than a nanny? If you’ve always been a little confused about your child care choices, use this handy list to help sort through the details.
Babysitter
Babysitters are child care providers who work either in your home or occasionally out of their own home. They usually earn an hourly rate and often have jobs with several different families. Most of the time, babysitters are part-time caregivers, but they might work full-time as well. They’re great for last-minute scheduling as well as flexible timing — such as date nights, after-school help, or back-up care. They can range in age from 11 to 90, though you’ll only find sitters aged 18 and up on Sittercity.
Mother’s Helper
Mother’s helpers are babysitters in training. They are just like babysitters except that the parent is typically in the house while the helper is watching the kids. This is an excellent option if you are just getting used to using child care, want some uninterrupted time to get extra work done, need an extra set of hands for multiple children, or want to give a babysitter a trial period.
Nanny
A nanny typically works for one family at a time and travels to your home every day (or on your schedule). Some nannies live in a family’s home. Either way, nannies receive a weekly salary; families whose nannies who earn more than $3,000 (2026 figure) must pay nanny taxes and many provide benefits. Although nannies generally consider themselves to be full-time care providers, many families employ part-time nannies as well.
Nanny Share
A nanny share is just what it sounds like: Two or more families agree to share one nanny, who provides personalized, hands-on care. These shares typically alternate between the homes of all families involved and offer a more affordable option when compared with having a full-time nanny all to yourself.
Manny
A manny is the unofficial term for a male nanny. Some “mannies” consider the term derogatory, so be sensitive to this sentiment, particularly in the presence of a male child care provider.
Au Pair
An au pair is a foreign adult between the ages of 18 and 26 who comes to the United States to live with and work for an American family as a primary caregiver. In exchange, the au pair receives room and board, and a small monetary allowance. An au pair is treated as another family member and typically stays with an American family for one to two years. (Different countries have different regulations and programs.)
Doula
Doulas are specially trained labor assistants that help mothers prepare for a birth and can help during the actual birthing process. Doulas can also be postpartum doulas, who come in after you return from the hospital to handle a baby’s night feedings, change diapers and more.
Daycare centers
Daycares are structured settings where children as young as 3 months through 6 years old are taken care of during the day while their parents are at work or at home with another child. There are a range of different types of daycares, and many include educational curriculum, which prepare children to start school. Bright Horizons offers trusted, high-quality child care for your family. Find a center near you.
In-home daycare
In-home daycares are located, just like they sound, in a caregiver’s home. Often they’re run by a mother who has children and cares for additional children in her community. Depending on which state you live in and how many children are in being cared for, in-home daycare can be licensed or unlicensed, and any curriculum or education varies.
