A family child care home is daycare run in the provider's own house, usually for a small, mixed-age group of children. Most states license or register them and cap how many children one home can serve. They tend to cost less than centers, roughly $600 to $1,400 a month, per U.S. Department of Labor childcare price data from 2024.
Sources used: NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children) standards for family child care, 2024; Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), home-based care fact sheets 2024; U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2024; state child care licensing glossaries and capacity rules.
What is a family child care home?
A family child care home, sometimes shortened to FCC or called home daycare, is care delivered in a provider's private residence rather than a commercial facility. Per the Office of Child Care, it is the most common form of regulated home-based care in the United States. A single caregiver, sometimes with an assistant, looks after a small group that often spans several ages, from infants to school-age children. States set capacity limits based on the home, the provider's experience, and the ages of the children.
- Small family child care home
- One provider caring for a limited number of children, with caps set by state rules, often counting the provider's own young children.
- Large or group family child care home
- A bigger home program with an assistant and a higher capacity, allowed in many states under stricter rules.
- Mixed-age group
- Children of different ages cared for together, a defining feature of most home-based programs.
How does it differ from a daycare center?
The differences come down to size, setting, and structure. A family child care home is small, home-based, and mixed-age, usually with one steady caregiver, while a center is larger, groups children by age in separate rooms, and runs on a team of staff. Per NAEYC, both can deliver high-quality care, but they feel different day to day. Home programs often win on consistency, flexible hours, and cost; centers often win on backup staffing, formal curriculum, and coverage when a caregiver is sick.
| Feature | Family child care home | Daycare center |
|---|
| Setting | Provider's residence | Commercial facility |
| Group | Small, mixed-age | Larger, grouped by age |
| Staffing | One caregiver, sometimes an assistant | Multiple staff per room |
| Typical full-time cost | $600 – $1,400 / month | Often higher, varies by city |
| Backup if caregiver is out | Limited | Built-in staff coverage |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices 2024 for cost; NAEYC family child care standards 2024 for structure. Costs vary widely by region and child's age.
What does a family child care home cost?
Home-based care is usually the more affordable option. Full-time family child care commonly runs about $600 to $1,400 per month, depending on the child's age and where you live, per U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices data from 2024. Infant care sits at the higher end because lower allowed ratios mean a provider can take fewer babies. In high-cost metros, home rates climb well above these figures, so treat the range as a national starting point, not a quote.
Honest tradeoff. A family child care home offers warmth, consistency, and a lower price, but it leans on one person. If that caregiver is sick or takes vacation, you may have no coverage, and a single adult means fewer eyes than a center's team. Many families love home care precisely for the close relationship; just go in clear about the backup gap.
How do you vet a family child care home?
Start by confirming the home is licensed or registered on your state's child care licensing search, where you can see any inspection or complaint history, per the Office of Child Care. Then visit, watch how the provider interacts with the children, and ask about backup care, daily routine, ratios, and emergency plans. A clean record plus a good gut read on a visit tells you more than any single credential.
For the bigger decision, see our guide to licensed vs registered daycare, since registration applies most to home programs, and what a daycare license is. To compare options, read our how to choose a daycare pillar and bring the comparison checklist on your visit.