At some point during parental leave, every Brooklyn parent faces the same question: what kind of childcare do we actually want? The options break down into three broad categories. You can hire a nanny to watch your child at home. You can enroll in a family daycare, which is a small program run out of someone's home. Or you can choose a center-based daycare, a licensed facility with classrooms, multiple teachers, and a structured program.
Each option has real advantages and real drawbacks. The right choice depends on your child's age, your budget, your work schedule, and what you value most in a care setting. This guide walks through the differences honestly, with NYC-specific cost data and regulatory details that apply directly to families in Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
How the Three Types of Care Actually Work
A nanny is a private employee who cares for your child (or children) in your home. You set the schedule, the routines, and the activities. The nanny works for you, and you are their employer in every legal sense.
A family daycare is a licensed program run out of a provider's home. In New York State, a family daycare home can care for up to 6 children at a time (including the provider's own kids under age six). A group family daycare home can care for up to 12 children with an assistant. These programs are regulated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) under Part 416 and Part 417 of the state regulations.
A center-based daycare is a facility specifically designed for group childcare, with separate classrooms organized by age, multiple teachers per room, a director, and a formal curriculum. In New York City, center-based programs are regulated by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene under Article 47 of the Health Code. This is a separate and more detailed regulatory framework than the one that governs family daycares.
What Each Option Costs in Brooklyn
Cost is usually the first question, so here are realistic numbers for Brooklyn in 2025. These are averages. Rates vary by neighborhood, with areas like DUMBO and Park Slope running higher than East Flatbush or Canarsie.
- Nanny (full-time, live-out): $900 to $1,100 per week in Brooklyn, based on Care.com's Brooklyn market data. That works out to roughly $3,600 to $4,400 per month before taxes.
- Family daycare: $1,200 to $1,800 per month for infants and toddlers. Family daycares generally cost 25 to 35 percent less than centers.
- Center-based daycare: $1,800 to $2,400 per month for infants, $1,500 to $2,100 for toddlers, and $1,200 to $1,800 for preschoolers. Centers with structured curricula and enrichment programs typically land in the higher range.
One important cost factor: if you have more than one child, a nanny's rate stays roughly the same (you might add $2 to $4 per hour for a second child), while daycare tuition doubles because you are paying per child. For families with two or more children close in age, a nanny share or a single nanny can become the more affordable option.
On the other end, if you hire a nanny, you become a household employer under New York law. That means paying payroll taxes, carrying workers' compensation insurance, providing paid sick leave and paid family leave, and filing quarterly tax returns. Budget an additional 10 to 15 percent on top of the nanny's gross pay for employer-side costs.
Regulatory Oversight: Who Is Watching the Watchers
This is where the three options differ most, and it matters more than many parents realize.
A nanny working in your home is not regulated by any childcare agency. No one inspects your home, reviews your nanny's qualifications, or checks whether they have CPR certification. You are fully responsible for vetting, training, and supervising the person caring for your child. There are no required background checks unless you arrange them yourself.
A family daycare in New York State must be licensed or registered through OCFS. Providers undergo background checks, complete initial training hours, maintain specific safety standards, and receive periodic inspections. However, family daycares are inspected less frequently than centers, and the regulatory requirements are less extensive. A registered family daycare home (1 to 6 children) has fewer requirements than a licensed group family daycare home (7 to 12 children).
A center-based program in NYC operates under Article 47, which is among the most detailed childcare regulatory frameworks in the country. Article 47 mandates specific teacher-to-child ratios by age, minimum staff qualifications, daily health screenings, safe sleep protocols, fire safety compliance, and regular inspections by DOHMH. Inspection records are public. You can look up any licensed center's violation history before you even schedule a tour. For a deeper look at how Article 47 works, we have a full guide to NYC daycare licensing for parents.
What the Research Says About Child Development
The largest and longest-running study on this question is the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, which followed over 1,300 children from birth through age 15. The findings are useful for any parent weighing these options.
Children who spent time in center-based care showed stronger cognitive and language development by age three, and better academic skills at age four and a half, compared to children in other care arrangements of similar quality. The key phrase is "of similar quality." Quality matters more than the type of care. A skilled, attentive nanny can provide better developmental support than a poorly run center, and vice versa.
The research also found that center-based care promoted social skills and peer interaction. Children in group settings learn to share, take turns, manage conflict, and cooperate on a daily basis. These are skills that children cared for one-on-one at home typically develop later, though parents can offset this by arranging regular playdates and group activities.
One trade-off that comes up consistently in the research: children in group care settings get sick more often during the first year or two. More children in a room means more exposure to common viruses. However, studies also show that these children tend to get sick less often once they enter kindergarten, likely because their immune systems had earlier exposure. For families in the 11213 zip code or anywhere in Brooklyn, this is not a reason to avoid group care, but it is something to plan for during those early months.
The Case for Each Option
A nanny makes the most sense when you have an infant under six months and want one-on-one attention in a familiar environment. It also works well for families with non-standard work schedules, since a nanny can start at 6 a.m. or stay until 7 p.m. in ways that most programs cannot accommodate. And if your child has specific medical needs or a complex feeding routine, a nanny can follow individualized protocols that a group setting may struggle to replicate.
A family daycare works well for families who want a smaller, home-like setting with a consistent caregiver but cannot afford a nanny. Many family daycare providers in East Flatbush and Crown Heights have deep roots in the community and offer care that reflects the cultural backgrounds of the families they serve. The smaller group size can feel less overwhelming for a child's first experience outside the home.
A center-based program makes sense when you value structured learning, trained teaching staff, and the accountability that comes with public inspections. Centers offer built-in socialization, curriculum-driven activities, and predictable schedules. They do not close when one teacher is sick because they have substitute coverage. And for families who want their child assessed against developmental benchmarks, centers that use tools like Teaching Strategies GOLD provide that level of tracking.
Questions to Ask Before You Decide
Regardless of which direction you are leaning, here are the questions that will tell you the most during your search.
- For a nanny: What is your experience with children this age? Can I contact your references? Are you CPR and first aid certified? Are you comfortable with me running a background check? How do you handle discipline?
- For a family daycare: Are you licensed or registered with OCFS? How many children are in your care right now, and what are their ages? What does a typical day look like? Can I see your most recent inspection report? What happens when you are sick?
- For a center: What curriculum do you use? What are your teacher-to-child ratios, and do you maintain them during transitions and outdoor time? Can I see your DOHMH inspection history? How do you communicate with parents about daily progress?
The backup care question deserves extra attention. When your nanny calls in sick on a Tuesday morning, you are scrambling. When a family daycare provider has a family emergency, you may get a day's notice. A center-based program has staff redundancy built into its model. For parents who cannot easily take unplanned days off work, that reliability carries significant weight.
Childcare Vouchers and Financial Assistance
NYC's ACS childcare voucher program can help cover costs at licensed family daycares and center-based programs. Vouchers are available to families who meet income eligibility guidelines (generally under 85 percent of the State Median Income) and have an approved reason for needing care, such as employment or education. Both family daycares and center-based programs can accept vouchers. Nannies generally do not qualify for voucher payments unless they are a licensed provider.
One practical note for families near Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Crown Heights: the availability of voucher-accepting programs varies by neighborhood. Before committing to any program, confirm directly with the provider that they accept ACS vouchers and ask about their current enrollment status. Our guide to choosing a daycare in Brooklyn covers financial considerations in more detail.
Making the Decision
There is no universally correct answer. A parent working from home with a flexible schedule and one infant might find a nanny to be the perfect fit. A family with a toddler who is ready for peer interaction and structured learning might do best in a center. A family with a tight budget and a preference for smaller group settings might love their neighborhood family daycare provider.
What matters is that you make the decision based on accurate information rather than assumptions. Visit any program in person. Interview any nanny candidate thoroughly. Check licensing records for any regulated provider. Talk to other parents in your neighborhood who have used the specific provider you are considering.
For families in East Flatbush and the surrounding areas, the good news is that you have options across all three categories. The B44 bus along Nostrand Avenue and the 2/5 trains at the Saratoga Avenue station connect you to programs throughout the area. Your commute route may end up being one of the most practical factors in your final decision.