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.
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. 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 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 homes. We know that parents still have things to do and this option allows a parent to continue to work without the complete distraction of watching a child, but it is not a replacement for physical care.
To learn more about virtual sitting:
- What is Virtual Sitting?
- What To Know About Interviewing During the COVID-19 Crisis
- How Virtual Sitting Helps Parents
- Activities To Do With Kids When Sitting Virtually
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.
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.
