How to Find Childcare in Spokane
Finding childcare in Spokane can feel overwhelming. The options run from full-time daycare centers to at-home nannies to a friend's babysitter recommendation on Facebook. Each path has real tradeoffs, and the right one for your family depends on your schedule, budget, kids' ages, and what actually matters to you.
This guide walks through the main options available in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, honestly. No fluff, no upsell.
1. Daycare Centers
What it is: A licensed facility where kids attend during set hours, usually 6 or 7am to 6pm.
Best for: Families needing full-time, consistent care with a set schedule.
Approximate cost: $1,200-$2,500/month per child in the Spokane area, depending on age and center. Infants cost more than toddlers cost more than preschoolers.
Pros:
Reliable — the center is open even if one teacher is out
Socialization with other kids
Licensed and regulated
Educational programming
Cons:
Set hours (bad if your schedule shifts)
Kids get sick a lot in the first year
Less individualized attention
Long waitlists at popular centers (especially for infants — often 6-12 months)
How to find one:
Ask your pediatrician for recommendations
Ask your friends with kids what worked for them
Search Washington State's DCYF licensed provider database at dcyf.wa.gov
Tour 3-5 before making a decision
2. In-Home Daycare
What it is: A licensed provider caring for a small group of kids in their own home.
Best for: Families wanting a smaller, more family-like setting at a lower cost than a center.
Approximate cost: $900-$1,400/month per child.
Pros:
Smaller group size
Often more flexibility on hours
Home environment
Usually cheaper than a center
Cons:
Fewer resources than a center (activities, curriculum, etc.)
Less coverage when the provider is sick
Variable quality (some are amazing, some aren't)
Still limited hours
How to find one:
DCYF licensed provider database
Ask in local mom Facebook groups
Word of mouth in your neighborhood
3. Au Pair
What it is: A young adult from another country who lives with your family and provides childcare for up to 45 hours per week in exchange for a small weekly stipend, room, and board.
Best for: Families who have a spare bedroom, are open to cultural exchange, and need flexible hours.
Approximate cost: $20,000-$22,000/year (all-in, including agency fees, weekly stipend, health insurance, and educational allowance).
Pros:
Very flexible schedule
Cultural exchange
Live-in convenience (great for early mornings, evenings)
Lower cost than a full-time nanny in most cases
Cons:
Only up to 45 hours/week (federal cap)
Turnover every 1-2 years
Requires a spare bedroom and family integration
Not all au pairs are professional nannies
How to find one:
Through a State Department-approved agency (Cultural Care, Au Pair in America, etc.)
Not a DIY situation
4. Care.com or Similar Platforms
What it is: An online marketplace where you post your job and screen candidates yourself.
Best for: Families with time to vet applicants and comfort managing the process end-to-end.
Approximate cost: Whatever you agree on with the nanny (Spokane rates typically $18-30/hour for professional nannies), plus a subscription fee to the platform ($30-50/month).
Pros:
Large pool of candidates
You control the process
Lower upfront cost than an agency
Cons:
You do all the vetting (background check, references, interviews)
The average family spends 40+ hours searching this way
Quality varies wildly — from experienced professionals to babysitting teens
Higher turnover
No support after you hire
How to use it well:
Set a detailed job description upfront
Run your own background check (through GoodHire or Checkr)
Call every reference — don't skip
Do a trial day before committing
5. Boutique Nanny Placement Agency
What it is: A local agency that vets nannies, matches them to your family, and supports the placement.
Best for: Families who want a personalized nanny match without doing 40+ hours of DIY vetting.
Approximate cost: $2,000 placement fee (paid once), plus your ongoing wages to the nanny ($22-30/hour for a professional in the Spokane area).
Pros:
Every candidate has cleared professional vetting (background check, DMV, references, interview, certifications, Code of Conduct)
Founder-led matching (someone who's actually met the nannies)
60-day replacement guarantee
You save 30-40 hours of your own time
Support after placement, not just before
Cons:
Upfront placement fee (though offset by time savings and match quality)
Smaller candidate pool than a national platform
Requires committing to the process
How to find a good one:
Look for local, not national
Ask what their vetting process actually is (specifically)
Ask about their replacement guarantee
Ask to speak to a family they've placed with (if they say no, that's data)
Which Is Right For Your Family?
There's no single right answer. Here's a rough framework:
You need reliability, structure, and socialization → Daycare Center
You want smaller and cheaper → In-Home Daycare
You have a spare bedroom and want flexibility → Au Pair
You have time to DIY and want the cheapest upfront → Care.com
You want boutique-quality vetting without doing the work → Boutique Agency
Most Spokane families end up trying more than one path over the years. That's normal.
What About Northwest Nanny Care?
We're a boutique nanny placement agency serving families across Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. Every nanny we present has cleared our Six-Point Standard (background check, DMV, three references, founder interview, certifications, Code of Conduct). We handle the sourcing, vetting, and matching so you can focus on your work and your family.
If you're considering a nanny, start a family intake here and we'll be in touch within 1-2 business days.
Whatever you choose, take your time. The right childcare setup can change your family's life.
This guide reflects 2026 pricing and options in the Spokane/CDA area. Costs and availability shift over time — if you notice something out of date, let us know.
