Coleen3
Intuit Alumni

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

The money you paid her depends on the intention behind it. If it were not your relative, payments for child care generally be considered self-employment income. However, if out of the kindness of her heart she sat with them, and out of the generosity of yours, you gave her a gift, then that is what it is.

If it is a gift, you can't claim the credit.