Childcare remains one of the biggest cost burdens for working families in the US. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average cost of infant care exceeds the price of public college tuition in 38 states.

For dual-income households, single parents, or freelancers without employer support, it’s a cost that can shape nearly every other financial and professional decision. 

At the same time, workplace structures haven’t caught up yet. The Best Place for Working Parents National Trends Report outlined that in 2023, only 15.8 percent of companies with more than 1,000 employees offered on-site childcare. For mid-sized businesses, that number drops to 7.6 percent. While more people are working remotely, many are still navigating outdated models of that don’t align with how they actually work or live. 

Fast Company reports that this disconnect has created space for a different kind of solution, hybrid spaces that combine licensed childcare with coworking and wellness services. One example is Haven, a membership-based network that has opened locations in Rhode Island and New Jersey and began franchising earlier this year. Haven is a fully licensed facility with flexibility build in for working parents. 

A global survey by Randstad found that 85 percent of workers ranked work-life balance as more important than pay. That’s the highest it’s been in the survey’s 22-year history. Other studies point to ongoing burnout and a lack of flexibility. The American Psychological Association reported that a third of employees or 33 percent don’t feel they have the tools to balance work and home demands. AFLAC’s WorkForces Report shows that far more millennials at 66 percent are facing moderate to high burnout.

These reports suggest that the more traditional approaches, such as short-term daycare options, may not meet the needs of a large segment of working parents. Many are looking for care that adapts to how their work schedules actually operate and doesn’t force a separation between parenting and productivity. 

Other coworking-childcare spaces are emerging with a similar structure. MOMentum in Pennsylvania, for example, offers licensed care and shared workspaces in a community setting. While some spaces avoid the licensing process by requiring parents to stay on-site, facilities like Haven meet the legal requirements that allow parents to leave for meetings or other responsibilities, making them more comparable to traditional daycare in terms of coverage.