It takes a village to raise a child . . . seriously. No parent can do it totally alone, a fact we all quickly learn, and the more trusted helpers we have for our little ones, the happier, less anxiety-ridden we tend to be as their main caretakers.
I can't tell you how many times a babysitter, a grandparent, or my gym's childcare workers have saved me from losing my mind by giving me a safe, loving place to leave my children while I go out in the world (or just trek on the treadmill) in an effort to regain my sanity. Sometimes it takes an hour, sometimes a few days, but knowing that my kids will be well cared for and happy when I return allows me to have the space to take care of myself, an important effort every mom needs and deserves in order to be her best self for her kids.
Of course, not all childcare is created equally or is appropriate for every situation, but here are the seven kinds the luckiest moms have in their back pocket.