A return-to-work childcare plan.

Returning to work goes smoothest when you confirm a childcare slot two to three months ahead and build a backup for the gap weeks. Full-day care runs roughly $30 to $120 a day per child depending on age and setting, per US Department of Labor ranges, and a Dependent Care FSA plus the federal childcare credit can lower the bill, per IRS Publication 503.

How far ahead should I arrange care?

Aim to have a confirmed slot two to three months before your return date, and start the search earlier than that. Infant and toddler rooms fill first because of tight licensed ratios, and popular programs carry waitlists of several months.

Lock in your return date with your employer first, then work backward to set a daycare start that gives you a week or two of overlap to settle in before your first day. If you are coming straight off leave, our leave-to-daycare guide covers the handoff, and the newborn timeline shows how early infant waitlists open.

What will it cost?

It depends on age and setting. Full-day center care commonly runs about $30 to $120 a day per child, with infants at the top of that range, per the US Department of Labor (DOL) National Database of Childcare Prices. Family child care homes often cost less than centers.

Two tax tools cut the net cost. A Dependent Care FSA lets most households set aside up to $5,000 pre-tax, and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit counts up to $3,000 of expenses for one child or $6,000 for two or more, per IRS Publication 503. Estimate your own number with the cost calculator and compare care types in the cost guide.

What if the dates do not line up?

Build a bridge plan. A short gap is common when a slot opens after leave ends or before it begins. Options include a relative, a temporary nanny or nanny share, a backup-care benefit through your employer, or starting part-time for a few weeks.

Ask your employer about a phased return or a couple of remote days during the transition. Keep at least one written backup so a single gap does not derail the whole plan. If money is tight in the gap, check whether your state's Child Care and Development Fund subsidy applies, per ACF rules, and see our backup childcare options.

How should two parents split the load?

Splitting drop-off and pickup spreads the daily load and gives you a built-in backup when one parent has an early meeting or travel. Decide a default schedule in advance rather than negotiating it each morning.

1. Set a default for who does drop-off and who does pickup on a normal day.
2. Name a sick-day owner, since most centers exclude children with fever for a set period, per state licensing rules.
3. Agree on a travel rule for when one parent is away or working late.
4. Write it down, because a shared note beats improvising at 7 a.m. with a feverish child.

Quick answers

How far ahead? Confirm a slot two to three months before your return.

What does it cost? Roughly $30 to $120 a day per child, per DOL ranges.

What about gaps? Keep one written backup, like a relative, nanny share, or employer benefit.

Any tax help? An FSA up to $5,000 and the federal credit, per IRS Publication 503.