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Need a nanny but don’t know where to start? There’s a new matchmaker in town—minus the awkward coffee date.
The United Federation of Teachers has launched NYC Childcare Navigator, a free website that helps New Yorkers find affordable, high-quality child care. Originally designed for union members, the tool is now open to everyone, offering what the UFT calls “a digital matchmaker for parents and child care providers.”
“It’s hard enough living in the city of New York,” UFT president Michael Mulgrew told Gothamist. “And we understand how life-changing it can be for a family if they can get access to high-quality, safe child care.”
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And in a city where navigating day care options can feel like applying to college—applications, waitlists, sky-high tuition—the platform aims to make the search less maddening. The site lets users sort through more than 12,000 licensed programs by zip code, cost, hours, language and special needs offerings. It even factors in available subsidies and vouchers, helping parents see whether they qualify for financial aid before they commit to a spot.
The system was built by tech developers Upfront and Mirza, who stitched together data from multiple agencies to create what’s now the most comprehensive child care directory in the five boroughs. “It’s everything in a single location instead of having to go to different websites,” Upfront founder Dana Levin-Robinson, inspired by her own struggles to find care in New York, said to Gothamist.
The site isn’t just for parents—it’s also a lifeline for providers, many of whom are UFT members themselves. Home-based and early education programs can list open spots, ensuring full enrollment and a steadier income stream, in a sector where, according to a 5 Boro Institute report, “razor-thin” margins have forced some centers to close
Users can search anonymously or create an account to save favorites and receive application help. And for parents wrestling with the city’s ever-confusing paperwork, the Navigator offers live chat support in multiple languages.
For a place where child care can rival rent in price and patience, the UFT’s latest initiative might just make parenting in New York a little more manageable. Or at least, help parents spend less time doom-scrolling for day care and more time napping when the kids finally do.