New Jersey has excellent daycare centers — and excellent nannies. The right choice depends on your children's ages, your schedules, and what 'good care' means to your family. Here's how they compare on the factors families ask about most.
Cost
Infant daycare in central NJ averages $1,800–$2,500 per month per child; costs scale roughly linearly with each additional child. A full-time nanny costs more for one child but often breaks even — or saves money — with two or more children in care.
Flexibility & illness
Nannies win decisively here: no drop-off windows, coverage during mild illness, and schedules built around your workday. Daycares exclude sick children (as they should), which means backup plans — and backup care costs — for every fever and stomach bug.
Socialization & structure
Quality centers offer built-in peer socialization and curriculum. Strong nannies replicate much of this through library programs, classes, playground routines, and nanny-share playdates — ask candidates how they build social time into the week.
Many EGN families blend both: a part-time nanny plus two-day preschool, or full-time care with scheduled group activities. There's no single right answer — only the right fit for your season of life.
EGN Family Advisory Team
The EGN team supports NJ families and caregivers from our Branchburg headquarters. (908) 505-5484
