The challenges of balancing work and parenting have given rise to a new hybrid model: coworking spaces with on-site childcare. These parent-friendly coworking spaces are emerging to support working parents who need a professional environment without sacrificing proximity to their children. Instead of choosing between career and family, parents can now access flexible workspaces where their kids are cared for just steps away.
Why Coworking with Childcare?
Traditional childcare often requires rigid, full-day commitments, which can be impractical and costly for freelancers or part-time workers. Coworking spaces that incorporate childcare fill this gap. For example, Third Door in London pioneered this concept in 2010 as the UK’s first coworking space with an on-site nursery. Third Door allows parents to purchase bundles of childcare hours and use them as needed, offering unparalleled flexibility. The benefit is twofold: parents remain productive while having peace of mind that their children are nearby, safe and engaged. Being able to drop a child at an on-site nursery and simply walk upstairs to work is a game-changer, eliminating long daycare commutes and easing parents’ anxiety.Demand for these hybrid spaces is growing as more professionals embrace remote and flexible work schedules. In fact, some coworking operators have seen their childcare offerings fill up almost instantly. Work.Life’s Farringdon coworking site in London launched a free summer kids club for school-age children, and all 15 spots were snapped up within minutes, with a waiting list quickly forming. This enthusiastic response highlights a real need for flexible childcare solutions integrated with work environments.
Examples of Childcare-Enabled Coworking Spaces
Around the world, numerous innovative spaces blend work and childcare. In Berlin, juggleHUB provides a community-centric workspace with on-site childcare, born from two working moms’ vision to “juggle” career and family under one roof. In the U.S., NextKids (an extension of NextSpace in San Francisco) was one of the first in the country to offer dedicated childcare alongside coworking. While the original NextKids location closed in 2016, its legacy spurred others to iterate on the model. For instance, The Cube in Baltimore is a coworking hub created by and for Black mom entrepreneurs that distinguishes itself with on-site babysitting services. And in Los Angeles, BümoWork offers a modern workspace conjoined with a fully staffed childcare center for children from 6 months to 7 years old. These examples illustrate the variety of approaches – from full nurseries integrated into coworking, to partnerships that bring in childcare providers – all with the goal of helping parents pursue their careers without compromising on quality child care.Another key example is SHIFT Work + Play in the U.S., founded by a mother who saw the need for part-time, drop-in childcare paired with a workspace. Members can reserve work time while their kids enjoy structured play sessions – an arrangement that many describe as “life-changing”. Such models attract freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote employees who might otherwise struggle to find reliable part-time childcare.
Benefits and Challenges of Coworking + Childcare
For parents, the benefits are clear: these spaces enable productivity without guilt. Professionals can focus on work knowing their child is nearby and well cared for. Many parents also find community in these environments, networking with like-minded working parents. Coworking with childcare can even improve mental well-being – by allowing parents to combat post-natal depression by allowing her to resume creative work while her baby was close by. Being surrounded by other working parents also provides an emotional support network and a sense of not “going it alone.However, running a coworking space with childcare is not without challenges. Childcare services add significant overhead: hiring qualified caregivers, complying with local regulations and licensing, and outfitting safe play areas. Profitability can be difficult: many early co-childcare spaces struggled to sustain the model, and some had to put their childcare plans on hold. Operators have learned to adapt by diversifying revenue streams and carefully managing capacity. Some spaces offer childcare only during certain hours or days to control costs, or charge a premium for childcare-inclusive memberships.
How Cobot Can Help
This is where management tools like Cobot can help operators keep the model sustainable. With Cobot, spaces can create tailored plans that reflect different childcare options, automate billing and invoicing so that childcare usage is accurately tracked, and streamline bookings for childcare rooms or time slots. Cobot also provides usage analytics, allowing managers to see when demand is highest and adjust staffing, pricing, or scheduling accordingly. By reducing the administrative burden, operators can focus more energy on creating a safe and supportive environment for families.
The momentum behind this hybrid model suggests it is more than a passing trend. As one workspace founder observed, “the crisis of childcare and the conversation of how we can enable and empower parents… is just starting”. Coworking spaces thrive when they solve real problems for their communities – and the work/family conflict is a big one. By thoughtfully combining work and childcare, these spaces are creating a future where professionals no longer have to choose between earning a living and being present for their children.