ChildcareGPT · Guides
Plain-English guides to costs, subsidies, and finding care — written for parents, not bureaucrats.
Getting Started·May 26, 2026·3 minNew York licenses child care in five flavors, each with different rules, ratios, and vibes. Here's how to tell them apart, and which one usually makes sense for which family.
Read guideIn some counties there are two working families with young kids for every licensed seat. Here's how to spot a child care desert, why it happens, and what to do if you live in one.
Read guideEligibility·May 22, 2026·3 minCCAP eligibility looks complicated on paper. In practice it boils down to four questions. Run yourself through them before you spend an afternoon on the application.
Read guideSubsidies·May 20, 2026·3 minNew York's Child Care Assistance Program can cover most of the cost of care — but the rules are confusing. Here's who qualifies, what you'd pay, and how to actually apply, in plain English.
Read guideGuides·May 18, 2026·4 minBy the time you've toured your third place, every clean lobby starts to look the same. Here's what to actually look at, what to ask, and the small signals that separate a great provider from a polished one.
Read guideCosts·May 14, 2026·3 minInfant care is the most expensive kind of child care there is — and the price swings hard by county and care type. Here's how to read the numbers, why infants cost more, and where to find what's near you.
Read guideGuides are informational, not legal advice · always confirm current rules with your county Department of Social Services