Excerpts from Abstract:
Parents (N = 123; 90% Caucasian; 99% with college experience) of young children (ages 1–5) were asked to list the top three reasons for their childcare choices. Parents were also asked a hypothetical question about how their childcare choices would have changed if money were no object. Results showed that the majority of participants who chose parental at-home care did so mainly to spend more time and bond with their children. A majority of participants choosing nonparental childcare did so for child socialization reasons. In addition, most participants reported no desire to change their decision even if money were no object. However, the majority of those who would change their decision reported a desire for more, or different, nonparental care.