Some jurisdictions directly license providers. Others license agencies who then contract with caregivers and provide monitoring and support according to legislated standards. In either case, most regulated family day care providers are self-employed. Unregulated family day care provides child care in the caregiver's home. There are no regulations governing this care although legislation may limit the number of children who can be cared for at any one site without a license or permit.
Unregulated providers are self-employed.
They are sometimes referred to as 'babysitters' or 'informal' caregivers. In-home care is the provision of child care in the child's home. The caregiver may live-in, or come to the home as required. Caregivers may be the employees of the parents or employed through an agency. Government regulation of family day care providers is usually exclusive to care in the provider's home.