A lot of parents out there make too much money to qualify for state aid but don't make enough to afford full-time childcare.  In the recession, many are turning to a relative.

"What we're seeing in the middle-income level, or lower income level families, is that they are having to pull their children out of childcare," says Jo Kirchner, President and CEO of Primrose School Franchising Company.

Childcare can cost as much as rent.

"The average cost of an infant for a childcare center in the U.S. is from $4500 to $15-thousand," says Linda Smith with the National Association of Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies.

Help is available.  You can start by seeing if you qualify for child-care subsidies.

"In the stimulus package, the administration doubled the money from $2 billion to $4 billion to go for childcare subsidies in this country," says Smith.

Contact your childcare resource and referral agency or go to childcareaware.org.

"If you already have childcare, negotiate with your provider," says Smith.  "Look at how you can work around only paying for number of hours that you actually need as opposed to a contract, where you pay for a week and hours you don't need."

You can also talk to your employer about a dependent care allowance--those are pre-tax dollars set aside for childcare.  Or consider sharing costs with another family.

"I do know that people have situations where they nanny-share.  That's a common thing that families do," says Smith.

Family is often an option.  40-percent of grandparents currently provide some sort of childcare for their grandchildren.