Parents who work weekends have four main childcare options: a family child care home with Saturday or Sunday hours, a drop-in daycare center, a weekend nanny or regular sitter, and a family or partner arrangement. Standard centers rarely open on weekends, so most coverage comes from family child care and in-home caregivers. Many state subsidies can help, per the Administration for Children and Families.
Four options cover most weekend schedules: a family child care home that offers Saturday or Sunday hours, a drop-in daycare center, a weekend nanny or regular sitter, and a family or partner handoff. Because standard centers close on weekends, the most reliable option for steady Saturday and Sunday work is usually a licensed family child care home willing to take weekend children.
Match the option to how often you work weekends. Occasional Saturday shifts fit a drop-in center or a trusted sitter; every-weekend work calls for a standing arrangement with a family child care provider or a regular weekend nanny, so your child has consistency and you have a reliable slot.
Weekend care usually costs at the upper end of local ranges because supply is limited. Licensed center and family child care day rates run roughly $40 to $120 a day depending on metro and age, per US Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices ranges, and weekend hours often add a premium. A weekend nanny or sitter typically runs $18 to $30 an hour, with higher rates for infants or multiple children.
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Family child care, weekend hours | $40 to $120 a day, premium for weekends | Regular weekend shifts |
| Drop-in daycare center | $90 to $180 a day | Occasional weekend work |
| Weekend nanny or sitter | $18 to $30 an hour | Care in your own home |
| Babysitting platform sitter | $20 to $30 an hour | One-off weekend days |
| Family or partner handoff | $0 (coordination cost) | Split-shift households |
Infant care sits at the top of every band because infant ratios push rates up. When licensed weekend care is unavailable nearby, many families stagger two parents' schedules so one is home on weekends, trading income flexibility for coverage.
Most do not. Standard licensed daycare centers operate Monday through Friday, so weekend coverage usually comes from family child care homes, drop-in centers in larger metros, or in-home caregivers. Some 24-hour and nontraditional-hour providers serve weekend-working families near hospitals, airports, and retail hubs, but they are scarce outside big metros.
To find weekend care, start with your state's child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agency, which keeps licensed-provider lists you can filter by hours, then call providers directly and ask specifically about Saturday and Sunday availability. Family child care homes are far more likely than centers to say yes. For overlapping needs, see childcare for night shift workers.
Often yes. The federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), administered by states, can subsidize care during nontraditional hours including weekends when a parent works or trains then, per Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Child Care rules. Eligibility is based on income and work activity, and some states actively encourage providers to offer weekend and nontraditional-hour care.
Because rules vary by state, contact your state CCDF or child care subsidy agency to confirm your weekend hours qualify and to find participating providers. A Dependent Care FSA can also reimburse qualifying weekend care that lets you work, for a child under 13, per IRS Publication 503. See how to use a Dependent Care FSA.
One honest note. Weekend childcare is a real gap in the US care system, and licensed Saturday and Sunday options thin out fast outside major metros. If you cannot find weekend care nearby, that is a supply shortage, not a planning failure. Most weekend-working families end up combining family help, a staggered partner schedule, and part-time licensed care rather than one neat arrangement.
What is available on weekends? A family child care home with weekend hours, a drop-in center, a weekend nanny or sitter, or a family or partner handoff.
How much does it cost? Day rates run $40 to $120 with a weekend premium, per US Department of Labor ranges; a weekend sitter runs $18 to $30 an hour.
Do daycares open weekends? Most do not; weekend coverage comes mainly from family child care homes, metro drop-in centers, and in-home caregivers.
Can a subsidy help? Often yes, through the state-run Child Care and Development Fund, which can cover weekend hours, per Administration for Children and Families rules.
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