PIECING TOGETHER CHILD-CARE WITH MULTIPLE ARRANGEMENTS - CRAZY-QUILT OR PREFERRED PATTERN FOR EMPLOYED PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

This study uses data on 469 employed mothers from the 1987 National Su rvey of Families and Households to examine the ways both single and ma rried mothers of preschoolers combine child care arrangements for pres chool children and what factors affect use of multiple versus single c hild care arrangements. Married mothers on average use fewer hours of care from fathers and relatives than do single mothers, but both fathe rs and relatives provide a substantial proportion of the total hours o f child care in multiple care combinations. Logistic regression analys es find that mothers with a varying work schedule, those who work more than 40 hours per week, those with more education, and those in famil ies with the father as main child care provider are more likely to use multiple care arrangements. Mothers working less than 20 hours per we ek are less likely to use multiple care.