In studying the guilt of mothers of infants and toddlers who use day care, 89 white, middle‐class mothers were used as the sample. A questionnaire was administered to them which included a Maternal Guilt Scale and a Maternal Satisfaction Scale. Mothers who reported more satisfaction with child care also reported feeling less guilt about leaving their child in day care. Mothers who reported more satisfaction with home‐school communication reported feeling more guilt. Mothers with girls reported feeling moreguilt about leaving their child than mothers with boys.