Child Care Contract
Set clear expectations with the person caring for your children.
Includes 30 days of edits
- 5 to 20 minutes
- Print-ready PDF
What is a Child Care Contract?
A child care contract is a written agreement between a child's parents or guardians and a caregiver, such as a nanny, a regular babysitter, a family child care home or a daycare provider. It records who will be cared for, where and when care takes place, what the caregiver will be paid, and what the caregiver is expected to do.
Child care arrangements often start informally, but small misunderstandings about hours, overtime, late pickups, sick days or paid holidays can quickly strain a relationship that both sides depend on. A written contract gives parents and caregivers a shared reference and makes it easier to raise concerns early.
The contract also captures the information that matters most in an emergency: who may pick up the children, who to call, the children's allergies and medical needs, and whether the caregiver may seek emergency treatment. It sets out house rules on discipline, screen time, transportation, visitors and social media, and explains how either side can end the arrangement.
When to use it
- You are hiring a full-time or part-time nanny to care for your children in your home.
- A regular babysitter cares for your children on a set schedule and you want terms in writing.
- You run a home daycare or child care business and want families to sign consistent enrollment terms.
- Two families are sharing a nanny and need to document the schedule and pay.
- You want a clear record of emergency contacts, authorized pickups and medical permissions for a caregiver.
What is included
- Parents, caregiver and children covered, with care location
- Weekly schedule, start date and optional trial period
- Pay rate, overtime, pay schedule and late pickup fees
- Paid holidays, time off and guaranteed hours
- Caregiver duties, transportation and mileage
- Discipline, screen time, visitors and house rules
- Medication, allergies, sick child and emergency procedures
- Emergency contacts and authorized pickup persons
- Confidentiality, photos and social media
- Termination notice, governing law and signatures
How to make your Child Care Contract
Answer the questions
Tell us about the parties and the terms you want. Most documents take about 5 to 20 minutes.
Review the preview
Check the draft as you go and change any answer. The document updates instantly.
Download, sign and keep a copy
Download a print-ready PDF, sign it with the other parties, and give everyone a copy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a written contract with a nanny or babysitter?
It is not legally required in most situations, but a written agreement prevents many common disputes about hours, pay, overtime, time off and duties. It also gives the caregiver written permission and instructions for emergencies, which is valuable for everyone.
Is a nanny an employee or an independent contractor?
In many cases a nanny who works in the family's home, on the family's schedule and under the family's direction is treated as a household employee under federal tax rules. That can mean withholding and paying employment taxes and following wage laws. A daycare business that sets its own methods and serves several families is usually independent. Check IRS household employer guidance and your state's rules, or speak with a tax professional.
Do I have to pay a nanny overtime?
Federal law requires overtime pay for many domestic workers, including most live-out nannies, and some states add their own overtime and break rules. Live-in caregivers are treated differently under federal law. This contract lets you set an overtime rate, but you should confirm the rules that apply in your state.
What are guaranteed hours?
Guaranteed hours mean the family pays the caregiver for the regular scheduled hours even if the family cancels care, for example because they go on vacation or a parent stays home. It gives the caregiver a reliable income and is common in nanny arrangements.
Can the caregiver give my child medication?
Only if you allow it. This contract lets you authorize the caregiver to give medication according to written instructions from a parent or the child's doctor. Licensed daycare facilities may be subject to additional state licensing rules on medication.
Does a home daycare need a license?
Most states require family child care homes to be licensed or registered once they care for more than a certain number of unrelated children, and the thresholds vary. If you are a provider, check your state's child care licensing agency. This contract asks the provider to confirm it holds any license the law requires.
How can a child care contract be ended?
Either side can usually end the arrangement by giving written notice a set number of days or weeks in advance, sometimes with pay in place of notice. The contract also allows immediate termination for serious issues such as endangering a child.
Does a child care contract need to be notarized?
No. It is valid when signed by the parents and the caregiver. Notarization is not usually required for this type of agreement.
