A series of meta-analyses was conducted on findings from 59 studies to exam
ine the linkage between maternal versus nonmaternal care, 7 indices of chil
d behavior, and 10 potential moderators. Results indicate that children rec
eiving nonmaternal care do not differ from children receiving maternal care
on any of the 7 indices. Year of publication and psychometrics of outcome
index were found to moderate the linkage between maternal versus nonmaterna
l care and attachment classification and between maternal versus nonmaterna
l care and child adjustment, respectively. Examination of the simultaneous
impact of extent of care and age of entry on attachment behaviors revealed
the moderating impact of the latter. Although it cannot be concluded that n
onmaternal care has no impact on children, most of the analyses suggest tha
t in and of itself, or in interaction with one factor at a time, nonmaterna
l care does not affect child development.