Choices in Child Care Seen To Vary Widely With State, Income

By Linda Jacobson

The type of child care used by families and the number of hours young children are in care varies tremendously across the states, according to research the Urban Institute is releasing this week.

Presented as three distinct reports, the study by the Washington-based research organization confirms that, more than ever before, parents are relying on others to help care for their preschool-age children. Nationally, the research found that 76 percent of children under 5 with mothers in the workforce are regularly cared for by someone other than their parents.

Of those pre-schoolers with employed mothers, 32 percent spend time in child-care centers. Another 24 percent are cared for by one of their parents, 23 percent are cared for by a relative, approximately 16 percent are in family child-care homes, and 6 percent are cared for...