Parenting Help

Brightwheel's search is built to help parents and guardians to cut through the noise, it’s a streamlined directory of preschools and daycare centers vetted by real parents and educators. In Los Angeles alone, without filters, it shows more than 2,900 options. You can sort by location, curriculum style, and even whether you’ll need to pack snacks. Think Yelp meets Montessori with less stress and more peace of mind. Try it here

Winnie makes it easy for parents to find and connect with the best local daycares, preschools, after-school care and more. With one tap you can search over 250K licensed child care providers, Think Google Maps meets Yelp, but specifically designed for the chaos of finding quality childcare. The app includes pricing info, licensing status, and real parent reviews - essentially everything you need to make informed decisions without playing phone tag. (iOS App) (Android App)

Sittercity is one of the OG babysitter sites and still one of the best 4 Best Babysitting Apps and Websites, Tested and Reviewed. Think of it as the LinkedIn for childcare. It's professional, comprehensive, and surprisingly fast at connecting you with candidates. Premium membership runs $94.99 for 3 month, but the streamlined process and helpful resources (like built-in interview question templates) make the investment feel purposeful rather than painful. See it here

Care.com is the Swiss Army knife of caregiving platform. It includes childcare, eldercare, pet sitting, you name it. With robust filtering options that let you hunt for everything from CPR-certified sitters to non-smokers who'll tidy up after snack time. At $38.95/month for premium access it's pricier than some options, but the extensive background check capabilities and massive candidate pool make it worth considering for parents who want options, options, options. Learn more

Helpr is an excellent option for families needing last-minute or emergency babysitting, when offered as a benefit through one's employer review. This is the VIP lane of childcare apps. If your employer offers it as a benefit, you're golden. All sitters are background-checked, and typically the employer pays for the caregiving up to a certain amount. It's like having a childcare concierge service, but you need the right employer to unlock this level of convenience. Learn more

Meet the LinkedIn-meets-Nextdoor of childcare apps. It taps into your social network to show sitters your friends and neighbors already know and trust. You can browse availability in real time, read parent reviews, and even book someone on short notice. The interface is slick, the sitters are often college-educated, and the transparency is a breath of fresh air. At around $35/month for premium access, it’s not the cheapest, but if social proof matters more than sheer volume, it’s a compelling pick. Check it out