Choosing Childcare in Canada: Daycare, Home Daycare, Nanny, or Family
16 min readLast updated June 2026Beginner levelOfficial-source checked
At some point the toddler years ask a bigger question than “what snack now?” It becomes: where does my child go next? Daycare, preschool, licensed home care, a nanny, grandparents, EarlyON, kindergarten, nothing yet, a mix? And because this is Canada, the answer depends on province, age, waitlists, fees, licensing, your work schedule, your child’s temperament, your commute, and whether a program has a spot before your child turns 11. This guide compares the options families actually face.
At some point the toddler years ask a bigger question than “what snack now?” It becomes: where does my child go next? Daycare, preschool, licensed home care, a nanny, grandparents, EarlyON, kindergarten, nothing yet, a mix? And because this is Canada, the answer depends on province, age, waitlists, fees, licensing, your work schedule, your child’s temperament, your commute, and whether a program has a spot before your child turns 11. This guide compares the options families actually face.
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