Childcare is still pretty extortionate for families in 2026 – a full-time nursery place for a child under two costs on average £12,425 in England (with 15 funded hours), £12,469 in Scotland or £15,083 in Wales, according to Day Nurseries. So it’s no wonder then that grandparents are increasingly stepping in to help look after their grandkids. Whether it’s after- school care, a couple of days a week looking after tiny tots, or something even more substantial, plenty of grandparents are doing their bit – a SunLife survey from 2023 found more than half provided some form of childcare during the working week, giving up more than four hours a day on average. Not only were grandparents not being paid to provide childcare, but it was costing them £80 a week to pay for food , activities and equipment, which totted up to more than £4,000 a year. Should grandparents get paid to look after their grandkids? If grandparents are being left out of pocket, and are contributing a significant amount of time looking after their grandkids, it begs the question of: shouldn’t they be getting paid? People are divided. An analysis by Purebaby.com.au suggests two in five  people (42%) believe it’s a grandparent’s unpaid duty, while 15% think grandparents should be paid and 43% said it depends on context, such as how often grandparents provide care or whether it replaces formal childcare. The analysis of a Reddit thread on the topic suggested that among those who are against grandparents being paid for childcare, more than one-third (37%) said babysitting builds memories and should stay a family duty. Another 25% pointed to cultural norms, saying many grandparents would refuse money. Roughly 23% said paying is morally wrong and risks turning affection into business, while others warned it could cause tax headaches or family tension. Among the 15% who are ‘for payment’, one-third of supporters (33%) said childcare is hard work and deserves pay. Another 21% said it’s about fairness, arguing older relatives shouldn’t be guilted into free labour. Around 19% said unpaid care can hurt grandparents financially, while 14% believed families should at least cover costs like petrol or food. Do you know about grandparents’ childcare credit? For grandparents who care for a young family member before reaching state pension age, Money Saving Expert said there’s a “little-known credit that could boost your state pension by £1,000s”. “These credits work by filling in gaps you may have in your National Insurance record, which is what dictates your state pension amount,” said the MSE website. The experts added that you can even backdate your claim to 2011 if you were previously caring for a child in your family before reaching state pension age. Find out more via the government’s website here. Discussing the findings of their analysis, Miribai Winford, founder of Purebaby, said: “The debate isn’t just about money, it’s about changing family structures and how we value the time and effort that keeps them running. “Looking after children can be exhausting yet rewarding work, and childcare is expensive. It’s important that all members of a family feel valued and understood. “We recommend families sit down and discuss a plan that works for them, and check in with each other regularly to avoid anyone feeling burnt out or stressed. Communication is key.” Related... 'I'm 38 And A Grandma – I Need An Alternative Name That Won't Feel Weird' My Parents Wanted To Adopt More Kids, After I'd Started Having My Own 'I Feel Trapped By Agreeing To Look After My Grandchildren'