10 Clever Ways to Find Affordable—& Even Free—Childcare

When you’re suddenly down to one income, paying for childcare, no matter how sporadic, can feel like an extravagance. Here’s how stay-at-home mothers across the country make it work.

When my oldest was born, I chose to pause my career for motherhood, in part because I couldn’t stomach paying nearly one-third of my salary for childcare. According to the American Mothers on Pause (AMP) study from Mother Untitled, my experience is far from uncommon; 62 percent of stay-at-home and downshifted moms said the cost of childcare was a factor in their decision to leave or cut back on their paid job.

While it remains one of the lowest paying jobs in the United States, caregiving for our nation’s children is also one of our most exorbitant expenses, ranging from an estimated $5,357 to more than $17,000 annually, depending on location.¹ 

For families looking to curb their spending, trimming childcare costs from the household budget seems like a no-brainer. But like anyone toiling away at a job, a stay-at-home parent needs time off—to rest, recalibrate, and maybe even fit in flex or part-time work. 

But when you’re suddenly down an income, paying for childcare, no matter how sporadic, can feel more extravagant than ever, as evidenced by the results of our survey. In the AMP study, 59 percent of at-home and downshifted mothers said the cost of childcare was a barrier to hiring help, while 37 percent said they resisted childcare because they felt guilt paying someone to watch their children when they do not earn an income. 

To help us problem solve, we asked women in the Mother Untitled community and beyond to share their creative solutions for finding affordable—and even free—childcare. Here’s what they had to say. 

Creative Ways Real Moms Save Money on Childcare

1. Opt for Co-Working Fridays

On Fridays, when their 4-year-olds are off from preschool, Sarah W., a mom of three in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a friend spend the day working side-by-side while their little ones play. They take turns going to one another’s houses and also trade off handling interruptions, getting up to help the kids when needed. “It’s not perfect and sometimes we talk more than work. But it’s definitely easier to get things done when the kids play together,” Sarah says. 

2. Utilize Gym Daycare

Several parents chimed in to sing the praises of gym daycares. Rather than using the time to exercise, they set themselves up with their laptops to log some work hours from the gym. While Mara L., a mom of two in Detroit, Michigan, noted the cost of child care at her gym was $95 each month, the price came in far lower, she said, than if she had hired a nanny. 

3. Rotate Babysitting 

A rotating babysitting schedule is one mom group’s answer to the perennial question, when will I have time for myself? Four women with part-time jobs banded together to trade child care, each one signing up for one weekday to host all the kids in their home.

“It can be a circus sometimes, but doing this gives us all three work days to focus in a quiet house,” says Maggie G., a mom of two in Chicago, Illinois. “We’re sharing the load and supporting each other.” 

It can be a circus sometimes, but doing this gives us all three work days to focus in a quiet house. We’re sharing the load and supporting each other.

4. Try a Nanny Share

Setting up a nanny share with like-minded families is one way to cut costs on regular child care. Beth G., a mom of three in Chicago, Illinois, shares that she and two other parents got together to hire a caregiver to watch all three of their children who are too young for school. An added bonus? The kids have the opportunity to socialize and have developed deep bonds by spending so much time together. 

5. Trade the Date Night Shift  

Planning a date night? One group of neighborhood moms trades off night time babysitting, beginning their caregiving duties only after the kids are in bed. This setup affords each couple the opportunity to plan a night out–without asking too much of one another.  

When daily parenting gets me down, I know that time to recharge is coming.

6. Take Turns With Your Partner 

One couple built individual time off into their partnership, scheduling one night off from parenting duties for each of them every week. “It’s life-changing to know that I have a set date on the calendar that’s just for me,” says Alyssa S., a mom of one in Duluth, Minnesota. “When daily parenting gets me down, I know that time to recharge is coming.”

7. Schedule Screen Time

Plenty of parents piped up to say that Netflix is their babysitter of choice. While there may be drawbacks to excessive screen use, scheduling structured time for a show or two allows the whole family to enjoy some downtime. 

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Emily P., a mom of two, has a set time for turning on two episodes of Daniel Tiger. Every day before dinner, the TV goes on, giving Emily enough time to put a meal together—or simply sit and enjoy the silence.

“Thank goodness for Daniel Tiger! He takes over childcare in the late afternoon, just as my kids are getting cranky,” Emily says. “He gives me enough time to collect myself so that I don’t lose my cool when patience is running thin at the end of the day.”

8. Hire a ‘Mother’s Helper’

For a fraction of the cost of a typical babysitter or nanny, a mother’s helper comes in to play with your little ones while you’re at home. Several moms swear by this method, noting their go-to sources for this role are junior high-aged neighbors and young family friends.

“A seventh grade kid in the neighborhood comes by on Tuesdays for three hours after school. It’s enough time for me to catch a breather from my non-stop toddler, handle tasks like making dinner, or answer emails,” says Lisa J., a mom of one in Chicago, IL.

9. Make Use of After Care

When we think of after care at school or daycare, we tend to assume these programs are reserved for parents who work outside the home and can’t get to pick-up when the bell rings. But Liza S. in Boston, MA, says enrolling her daughters in after care for two hours each week has been a game changer. 

“I work 30 hours a week from home and my schedule is very flexible. So I have a tendency to check Slack and answer emails when I’m playing with my girls, which they hate, understandably,” Liza says. Though she doesn’t need after care, she says it is an affordable way to keep her children entertained for those extra long work days. And when she picks them up, work is complete and she can be fully present. 

10. Check Out Community Options

“Our community center offers a two-hour block of childcare on Sunday mornings and it’s super inexpensive,” says Erika W., a mom of two in St. Paul, Minnesota. “My sister and I drop our 5-year-olds there for a morning of crafts and activities, and we grab coffee with our husbands and catch up.” Several moms shared that local churches, schools, and nonprofits in their communities provide similar services. To determine if such a program exists near you, check your neighborhood newspaper, church bulletin, and local Facebook groups. 

References:

1. Landivar, Liana Christin, Nikki L. Graf, and Giorleny Altamirano Rayo. 2023. Childcare Prices in Local Areas: Initial Findings from the National Database of Childcare Prices. Women’s Bureau Issue Brief. U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC. Issued January.