Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM) 10-Q 7 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Entity Registrant Name	'BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001437578	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	65,138,465

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$35,010	$34,109
Accounts receivable-net	55,418	62,714
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	45,909	27,827
Current deferred income taxes	11,335	11,367
Total current assets	147,672	136,017
Fixed assets-net	385,598	340,376
Goodwill	1,097,447	997,344
Other intangibles-net	444,841	432,580
Deferred income taxes	128	132
Other assets	12,081	9,659
Total assets	2,087,767	1,916,108
Current liabilities:	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	7,900	2,036
Borrowings on revolving line of credit	20,600	'
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	109,034	97,207
Deferred revenue	98,015	90,563
Other current liabilities	24,882	12,087
Total current liabilities	260,431	201,893
Long-term debt	757,544	904,607
Accrued rent and related obligations	35,255	24,944
Other long-term liabilities	19,753	23,717
Deferred revenue	4,309	3,727
Deferred income taxes	152,432	148,880
Total liabilities	1,229,724	1,307,768
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)	'	'
Redeemable non-controlling interest	8,093	8,126
Common stock, Class L, $0.001 par value; 1,500,000 shares authorized, none in 2013 and 1,327,115 shares in 2012 issued and outstanding	'	854,101
Stockholders' equity (deficit);	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized in 2013; none issued and outstanding in 2013	'	'
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 475,000,000 shares in 2013 and 14,500,000 shares in 2012 authorized; 65,126,829 shares in 2013 and 6,062,653 shares in 2012 issued and outstanding	65	6
Additional paid-in capital	1,261,361	150,088
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-5,191	-8,816
Accumulated deficit	-406,285	-395,165
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	849,950	-253,887
Total liabilities, non-controlling interest, common stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$2,087,767	$1,916,108

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Common stock, Class L, par value	$0.00	'
Common stock, Class L, authorized	1,500,000	1,500,000
Common stock, Class L, issued	'	1,327,115
Common stock, Class L, outstanding	'	1,327,115
Preferred stock, par value	$0.00	'
Preferred stock, authorized	25,000,000	'
Preferred stock, issued	'	'
Preferred stock, outstanding	'	'
Common stock, par value	$0.00	'
Common stock, authorized	475,000,000	14,500,000
Common stock, issued	65,126,829	6,062,653
Common stock, outstanding	65,126,829	6,062,653

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue	$308,663		$267,927		$899,599		$797,512
Cost of services	240,158		207,835		689,879		614,847
Gross profit	68,505		60,092		209,720		182,665
Selling, general and administrative expenses	33,017		27,621		109,048		94,847
Amortization	7,699		7,116		22,049		20,298
Income from operations	27,789	[1]	25,355	[2]	78,623	[3]	67,520	[4]
Loss on extinguishment of debt	'		'		-63,682		'
Interest income	16		44		76		106
Interest expense	-9,211		-21,376		-31,463		-61,808
Income (loss) before income taxes	18,594		4,023		-16,446		5,818
Income tax (expense) benefit	-3,652		-1,417		5,114		-1,536
Net income (loss)	14,942		2,606		-11,332		4,282
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-102		160		-212		294
Allocation of net income (loss) to common stockholders-basic and diluted	15,044		2,446		-11,120		3,988
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	15,044		-18,521		-11,120		-59,073
Earnings (loss) per common share:	'		'		'		'
Common stock-basic	$0.23		($3.05)		($0.18)		($9.75)
Common stock-diluted	$0.23		($3.05)		($0.18)		($9.75)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:	'		'		'		'
Common stock-basic	64,916,558		6,062,664		61,815,607		6,057,128
Common stock-diluted	66,831,413		6,062,664		61,815,607		6,057,128
Common Stock Class L [Member]	'		'		'		'
Allocation of net income (loss) to common stockholders-basic and diluted	'		20,299		'		58,401
Earnings (loss) per common share:	'		'		'		'
Basic and diluted	'		$15.30		'		$44.05
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:	'		'		'		'
Basic and diluted	'		1,327,115		'		1,325,903
Common Stock Class A [Member]	'		'		'		'
Allocation of net income (loss) to common stockholders-basic and diluted	15,044		-18,521		-11,120		-59,073
Nonvested [Member] | Common Stock Class L [Member]	'		'		'		'
Accretion of Class L preference	'		20,299		'		58,401
Vested [Member] | Common Stock Class L [Member]	'		'		'		'
Accretion of Class L preference	'		$668		'		$4,660
[1]	For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, income from operations includes acquisition-related expenses of $1.7 million related to full service center-based care.
[2]	For the quarter ended September 30, 2012, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013 in the amount of $1.0 million, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment ($0.7 million to full service center-based care, $0.2 million to back-up dependent care, and $0.1 million to other educational services).
[3]	For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013, including a $7.5 million fee for the termination of the management agreement with Bain Capital Partners LLC, and $5.0 million for certain stock options that vested upon completion of the Offering, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment, and $3.5 million of acquisition-related expenses related to full-service center-based care ($13.3 million to full service center-based care, $1.9 million to back-up dependent care, and $0.8 million to other educational advisory services).
[4]	For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the modification of stock options in the amount of $15.1 million and expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013 in the amount of $1.4 million, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment ($12.2 million to full service center-based care, $3.0 million to back-up dependent care, and $1.3 million to other educational advisory services).

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net income (loss)	$14,942	$2,606	($11,332)	$4,282
Foreign currency translation adjustments	15,768	7,307	3,804	5,168
Comprehensive income (loss)	30,710	9,913	-7,528	9,450
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	199	529	-33	298
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.	30,511	9,384	-7,495	9,152
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	30,511	-11,583	-7,495	-53,909
Common Stock Class L [Member] | Nonvested [Member]	'	'	'	'
Accretion of Class L preference	'	20,299	'	58,401
Common Stock Class L [Member] | Vested [Member]	'	'	'	'
Accretion of Class L preference	'	$668	'	$4,660

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	($253,887)	$6	$150,088	($8,816)	($395,165)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	6,062,653	'	'	'
Conversion of Class L common stock	854,101	47	854,054	'	'
Conversion of Class L common stock (shares)	'	46,708,466	'	'	'
Initial public offering	234,944	12	234,932	'	'
Initial public offering (shares)	'	11,615,000	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options	8,671	'	8,671	'	'
Exercise of stock options (shares)	'	740,710	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	9,528	'	9,528	'	'
Tax benefit from stock option exercises	4,088	'	4,088	'	'
Translation adjustments, net of ($179) attributable to non-controlling interest	3,625	'	'	3,625	'
Net loss attributable to Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.	-11,120	'	'	'	-11,120
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$849,950	$65	$1,261,361	($5,191)	($406,285)
Ending Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	'	65,126,829	'	'	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Translation adjustments, attributable to non-controlling interest	($179)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	'
Translation adjustments, attributable to non-controlling interest	($179)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Net (loss) income	($11,332)	$4,282
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	53,313	45,210
Amortization of original issue discount and deferred financing costs	2,009	5,051
Loss on extinguishment of debt	63,682	'
Interest paid in kind	2,143	17,528
Change in the fair value of the interest rate cap	'	67
Gain on foreign currency transactions	-11	'
Non-cash revenue and other	-239	-224
Impairment losses on long-lived assets	'	675
Loss on disposal of fixed assets	721	375
Stock-based compensation	9,528	16,700
Deferred income taxes	367	-14,913
Changes in assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	10,977	13,159
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-21,123	3,383
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-553	6,332
Deferred revenue	2,479	-8,369
Accrued rent and related obligations	8,258	3,331
Other assets	-1,966	-1,238
Other current and long-term liabilities	3,212	1,300
Net cash provided by operating activities	121,465	92,649
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Purchases of fixed assets	-55,244	-47,791
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets	85	'
Payments for acquisitions-net of cash acquired	-125,389	-108,040
Net cash used in investing activities	-180,548	-155,831
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'
Borrowings of long-term debt	769,360	82,321
Extinguishment of long-term debt	-972,468	'
Proceeds from initial public offering	234,944	'
Cumulative borrowings under revolving line of credit (2013)	80,600	'
Cumulative repayments under revolving line of credit (2013)	-60,000	'
Principal payments of long-term debt	-5,925	-5,260
Purchase of treasury stock	'	-5,140
Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of options	8,671	2,115
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	4,845	3,381
Net cash provided by financing activities	60,027	77,417
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	-43	374
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	901	14,609
Cash and cash equivalents-beginning of period	34,109	30,448
Cash and cash equivalents-end of period	35,010	45,057
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:	'	'
Cash payments of interest	26,757	30,351
Cash payments of taxes	$9,911	$7,972

Organization_and_Basis_of_Pres

Organization and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Organization and Basis of Presentation	'
	1	ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	Organization—Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (“Bright Horizons” or the “Company”) provides workplace services for employers and families throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, and also in Puerto Rico, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and India. Workplace services include center-based child care, education and enrichment programs, elementary school education, back-up dependent care (for children and elders), before and after school care, college preparation and admissions counseling, tuition reimbursement program management, and other family support services.
	The Company operates its child care and early education centers under various types of arrangements, which generally can be classified into two categories: (i) the management or cost plus (“Cost Plus”) model, where Bright Horizons manages a work-site child care and early education center under a cost-plus arrangement with an employer sponsor, and (ii) the profit and loss (“P&L”) model, where the Company assumes the financial risk of the child care and early education center’s operations. The P&L model may be operated under either (a) the sponsored model, where Bright Horizons provides child care and early educational services on a priority enrollment basis for employees of an employer sponsor, or (b) the lease/consortium model, where the Company provides priority child care and early education to the employees of multiple employers located within a real estate developer’s property or the community at large. Under each model type the Company retains responsibility for all aspects of operating the child care and early education center, including the hiring and paying of employees, contracting with vendors, purchasing supplies, and collecting tuition and related accounts receivable.
	Principles of Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The cumulative translation effect for subsidiaries using a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar is included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
	Initial Public Offering—On January 30, 2013, the Company completed an initial public offering (“the Offering”) and, after the exercise of the overallotment option on February 21, 2013, issued a total of 11.6 million shares of common stock in exchange for $233.3 million, net of offering costs including $1.6 million expensed in 2012. The Company used the proceeds of the Offering, as well as certain amounts from the 2013 refinancing discussed in Note 4, to repay the principal and accumulated interest under its senior notes outstanding on January 30, 2013.
	On June 19, 2013, certain of the Company’s shareholders completed the sale of 9.8 million shares of the Company’s stock in a secondary offering (“the Secondary”). The Company did not receive proceeds from the sale of shares in the Secondary. The Company incurred $0.6 million in offering costs related to the Secondary, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
	Basis of Presentation—The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2013 and the condensed consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the interim periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 have been prepared by the Company, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements by generally accepted accounting principles and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	Management’s Opinion—In the opinion of the Company’s management, the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2013 and the results of its consolidated operations and consolidated cash flows for the interim periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results of the interim periods presented. The operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.
	Business Combinations—Business combinations are accounted for at fair value. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred and recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses; restructuring costs associated with a business combination are expensed subsequent to the acquisition date; and changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date affect income tax expense. The accounting for business combinations requires estimates and judgment as to expectations for future cash flows of the acquired business, and the allocation of those cash flows to identifiable intangible assets, in determining the estimated fair value for assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair values assigned to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. If the actual results differ from the estimates and judgments used in these estimates, the amounts recorded in the financial statements could result in a possible impairment of the intangible assets and goodwill, or require acceleration of the amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets.
	The Company adjusted the balance sheet amounts at December 31, 2012, where appropriate, to account for the measurement period adjustments related to the Huntyard Limited purchase price allocation discussed in Note 3 below.

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	'
	2	GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):
			Full service				Back-up				Other				Total
			center-based				dependent				educational
			care				care				advisory
											services
	Beginning balance at December 31, 2012		$	817,304			$	159,215			$	20,825			$	997,344
	Additions from acquisitions			93,747				—				3,854				97,601
	Tax benefit from the exercise of continuation options			(620	)			(121	)			(16	)			(757	)
	Effect of foreign currency translation			2,699				560				—				3,259
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	913,130			$	159,654			$	24,663			$	1,097,447
	Goodwill as of December 31, 2012 has been retroactively adjusted in 2013 to reflect an adjustment made within the measurement period for the Huntyard Limited acquisition, which increased goodwill and deferred income taxes by $3.9 million.
	The Company also has intangible assets, which consist of the following at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
			Weighted average		Cost				Accumulated				Net carrying
			amortization period						amortization				amount
	September 30, 2013:
	Definite-lived intangibles:
	Contractual rights and customer relationships		14.4 years		$	402,256			$	(145,834	)		$	256,422
	Trade names		7.4 years			5,939				(1,299	)			4,640
	Non-compete agreements		5 years			54				(38	)			16
						408,249				(147,171	)			261,078
	Indefinite-lived intangibles:
	Trade names		N/A			183,763				—				183,763
					$	592,012			$	(147,171	)		$	444,841
	December 31, 2012:
	Definite-lived intangibles:
	Contractual rights and customer relationships		14.9 years		$	370,527			$	(124,048	)		$	246,479
	Trade names		9.1 years			3,147				(883	)			2,264
	Non-compete agreements		5 years			54				(33	)			21
						373,728				(124,964	)			248,764
	Indefinite-lived intangibles:
	Trade names		N/A			183,816				—				183,816
					$	557,544			$	(124,964	)		$	432,580
	The Company estimates that it will record amortization expense related to intangible assets existing as of September 30, 2013 as follows over the next five years (in millions):
			Estimated
			amortization
			expense
	Remainder of 2013		$	8
	2014		$	29
	2015		$	26.5
	2016		$	25.6
	2017		$	24.9

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions	'
	3	ACQUISITIONS
	2013 Acquisitions
	Children’s Choice Learning Centers, Inc.
	On July 22, 2013, the Company acquired the outstanding shares of Children’s Choice Learning Centers, Inc., an operator of 49 employer-sponsored child care centers throughout the United States, for cash consideration of $54.2 million, inclusive of certain adjustments. The purchase price was financed with available cash on hand and funds available under the Company’s revolving credit facility. The Company has incurred acquisition costs of approximately $1.7 million through September 30, 2013, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
	The purchase price for this acquisition has been allocated based on preliminary estimates of the fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities at the date of acquisition as follows (in thousands):
	Accounts receivable		$	981
	Prepaids and other assets			334
	Fixed assets			5,637
	Intangible assets, primarily customer relationships			12,800
	Goodwill			38,818
	Total assets acquired			58,570
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(3,441	)
	Deferred revenue and parent deposits			(885	)
	Total liabilities assumed			(4,326	)
	Purchase price		$	54,244
	The allocation of the purchase price consideration was based on preliminary estimates of fair value; such estimates and assumptions are subject to change within the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date) as the Company gathers additional information regarding the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed.
	The Company recorded goodwill of $38.8 million, which will be deductible for tax purposes as permitted under federal tax rules. Goodwill related to this acquisition is reported within the full service center-based care segment.
	Intangible assets of $12.8 million consist of customer relationships and trade names that will be amortized over approximately ten years.
	Kidsunlimited Group Limited
	On April 10, 2013, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Limited and Kidsunlimited Group Limited pursuant to which it acquired 100% of Kidsunlimited, an operator of 64 nurseries throughout the United Kingdom for cash consideration of $69.0 million, subject to certain adjustments. The purchase price was financed with available cash on hand. The Company has incurred acquisition costs of approximately $1.8 million through September 30, 2013, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
	The purchase price for this acquisition has been allocated based on preliminary estimates of the fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities at the date of acquisition as follows (in thousands):
	Cash		$	4,888
	Accounts receivable			1,809
	Prepaids and other assets			2,509
	Fixed assets			13,901
	Intangible assets, primarily customer relationships			17,901
	Goodwill			53,604
	Total assets acquired			94,612
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(8,173	)
	Unfavorable leasehold interests			(1,759	)
	Deferred revenue			(4,475	)
	Other current liabilities			(8,378	)
	Deferred taxes			(2,840	)
	Total liabilities assumed			(25,625	)
	Purchase price		$	68,987
	The allocation of the purchase price consideration was based on preliminary estimates of fair value; such estimates and assumptions are subject to change within the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date) as the Company gathers additional information regarding the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed.
	The Company recorded goodwill of $53.6 million, which will not be deductible for tax purposes. Goodwill related to this acquisition is reported within the full service center-based care segment.
	Intangible assets of $17.9 million consist of customer relationships and trade names that will be amortized over approximately eight years. A deferred tax liability of $4.1 million was recorded related to the intangible assets for which the amortization is not deductible for tax purposes.
	Other Acquisitions
	During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company also acquired two businesses for aggregate cash consideration of $7.0 million, net of cash acquired of $2.6 million. The Company recorded goodwill of $5.2 million, intangible assets of $2.9 million consisting of customer relationships, and working capital of $1.5 million in relation to these acquisitions.
	2012 Acquisition
	Huntyard Limited
	In May 2012, the Company acquired the outstanding shares of Huntyard Limited (“Huntyard”), a company that operated 27 child care and early education centers in the United Kingdom under the name Casterbridge Early Care and Education, for cash consideration of $110.8 million. The Company also incurred acquisition costs of $0.5 million during the second and third quarters of 2012.
	The purchase price for this acquisition has been allocated based on the estimated fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities at the date of acquisition as follows (in thousands):
	Cash		$	2,872
	Accounts receivable			341
	Prepaids and other current assets			2,880
	Fixed assets			65,843
	Intangible assets, primarily customer relationships			6,004
	Goodwill			49,573
	Total assets acquired			127,513
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(7,520	)
	Taxes payable			(656	)
	Deferred revenue and parent deposits			(3,006	)
	Deferred taxes			(5,570	)
	Total liabilities assumed			(16,752	)
	Purchase price		$	110,761
	The Company recorded goodwill of $49.6 million, which will not be deductible for tax purposes. Goodwill related to this acquisition is reported within the full service center-based care segment.
	Intangible assets of $6.0 million consist of customer relationships and trade names that will be amortized over five and seven years, respectively. A deferred tax liability of $1.5 million was recorded related to the intangible assets for which the amortization is not deductible for tax purposes.
	During the second quarter of 2013, the Company obtained additional information to determine the fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Based on such information, the Company retrospectively adjusted the fiscal year 2012 comparative information resulting in an increase in goodwill of $3.9 million with a corresponding increase in deferred income taxes. There were no changes to the previously reported condensed consolidated statements of operations or condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
	Pro Forma Information
	The operating results for each of the acquisitions are included in the consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The following table presents consolidated pro forma information as if the acquisitions of Children’s Choice Learning Centers, Inc. and Kidsunlimited had occurred on January 1, 2012, and as if the acquisition of Huntyard had occurred on January 1, 2011 (in thousands):
			Pro forma (Unaudited)
		Nine Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
Revenue		$	943,745		$	896,609
Net (loss) income attributable to Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.		$	(9,221	)	$	8,888
These acquired businesses contributed total revenues of $74.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The Company has also determined that the presentation of net income for each of those acquisitions, from the date of acquisition, is impracticable due to the integration of the operations upon acquisition. The goodwill resulting from the 2012 and 2013 acquisitions arises largely from the synergies expected from combining the operations of the acquisitions with our existing operations.

Borrowing_Arrangements

Borrowing Arrangements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Borrowing Arrangements	'
	4	BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS
	Outstanding borrowings were as follows at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
			September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Term loans		$	784,075		$	—
	Tranche B and Series C new term loans			—			430,474
	Senior subordinated notes			—			300,000
	Senior notes			—			197,810
	Total			784,075			928,284
	Deferred financing costs and original issue discount			(18,631	)		(21,641	)
	Total debt			765,444			906,643
	Less current maturities			7,900			2,036
	Long-term debt		$	757,544		$	904,607
	On January 30, 2013, the Company entered into new $890.0 million senior secured credit facilities, which are secured by substantially all assets of the Company, to refinance all of the existing indebtedness under the senior credit facilities and the senior subordinated notes and to reflect modifications to certain provisions of the senior credit facilities. Significant terms of the refinancing are as follows:
		•		$790.0 million term loan facility, with quarterly principal payments of $2.0 million, which commenced March 31, 2013, and a final payment due on January 30, 2020.
		•		$100.0 million revolving credit facility with a maturity date in 2018, of which there was $20.6 million outstanding at September 30, 2013 with an effective interest rate of 5%.
		•		The applicable margin percentages for the term loans are 2.0% per annum for base rate loans and 3.0% per annum for LIBOR rate loans provided that the base rate for the term loan may not be lower than 2.0% and LIBOR may not be lower than 1.0%.
	The existing term loans (Tranche B and Series C term loans) were redeemed for an aggregate $431.0 million, including the redemption premium on the Series C term loans, and the $300.0 million senior subordinated notes were redeemed in full for an aggregate $328.2 million, including the redemption premium. The Company used the net proceeds of its initial public offering and certain proceeds from the issuance of the $790.0 million senior secured term loan to redeem the senior notes in full for $213.3 million, including the redemption premium.
	The refinancing, which reduced the Company’s overall weighted average interest rate from approximately 8.5% as of December 31, 2012 to 4.2% as of September 30, 2013, resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $63.7 million, which included the redemption premiums and the write-off of existing deferred financing costs.
	The future principal payments under the new term loan at September 30, 2013 are as follows (in millions):
	Remainder of 2013		$	2
	2014			7.9
	2015			7.9
	2016			7.9
	2017			7.9
	Thereafter			750.5
			$	784.1
	The senior secured credit facilities contain certain customary affirmative covenants and other covenants that, among other things, may restrict the ability of Bright Horizons Family Solutions LLC, our indirect subsidiary, and its restricted subsidiaries, to incur certain liens, make investments, loans, advances and acquisitions, incur additional indebtedness or guarantees, pay dividends on capital stock or redeem, repurchase or retire capital stock or subordinated indebtedness, engage in transactions with affiliates, sell assets, including capital stock of our subsidiaries, alter the business we conduct, enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends; and consolidate or merge.
	The revolving credit facility requires Bright Horizons Family Solutions LLC, the borrower, and its restricted subsidiaries, to comply with a maximum senior secured first lien net leverage ratio financial maintenance covenant, to be tested only if, on the last day of each fiscal quarter, revolving loans and/or swingline loans in excess of a specified percentage of the revolving commitments on such date are outstanding under the revolving credit facility.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	5	STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	On January 11, 2013, the Company effected a 1–for–1.9704 reverse split of its Class A common stock. All previously reported Class A per share and Class A share amounts in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.
	The Company’s Class L common stock was classified outside of permanent equity as the timing of the conversion or redemption event was outside of the control of the Company. In December 2012, the Company’s controlling shareholder effectively fixed the conversion ratio and the Class L common stock was re-measured to its final redemption amount using the fixed conversion ratio and the estimated fair value at that time.
	In connection with the 1–for–1.9704 reverse split of its Class A common stock and as determined by its holders, the Company converted each share of its Class L common stock into 35.1955 shares of Class A common stock, and, immediately following the conversion of its Class L common stock, reclassified those shares as well as all outstanding shares of Class A common stock, into common stock. As a result of the reclassification of Class A common stock to common stock, all references to “Class A common stock” have been changed to “common stock” for all periods presented.
	On January 30, 2013, the Company completed the Offering and, after the exercise of the overallotment option on February 21, 2013, issued a total of 11.6 million shares of common stock.
	The Company also authorized 25 million shares of undesignated preferred stock in 2013 for issuance, of which none was issued as of September 30, 2013.

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share

Earnings (Loss) Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	'
	6	EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
	Net earnings (loss) per share is calculated using the two-class method, which is an earnings allocation formula that determines net income (loss) per share for the holders of the Company’s common stock and the holders of Class L common stock. Holders of Class L shares contained participation rights in any dividend paid by the Company or upon liquidation of the Company and were entitled to a minimum preferred return of 10% per annum, compounded quarterly.
	Net income (loss) available to common shareholders includes the effects of any Class L preference amounts. Net income (loss) available to shareholders is allocated on a pro rata basis to each share as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed. Diluted net income (loss) per share is calculated using the treasury stock method for all outstanding stock options and the as-converted method for the Class L shares.
	The numerator in calculating Class L basic and diluted earnings per share represents changes in the redemption value of the Class L shares during each period.
	The weighted average number of Class L shares in the Class L earnings per share calculation represents the weighted average from the beginning of the period up through the date of conversion of the Class L shares into common shares.
	The weighted average number of common shares in the common diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation excludes all Class L shares and stock options outstanding during the respective periods, as they would not be dilutive. The weighted average number of Class L shares in the earnings per share calculation excludes all Class L stock options outstanding during the respective periods as they would not be dilutive. The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
			Three months ended					Nine months ended
			September 30,					September 30,
			2013		2012			2013			2012
	Net income (loss)—basic and diluted		$	15,044	$	2,446		$	(11,120	)	$	3,988
	Accretion of Class L preference			—		20,299			—			58,401
	Accretion of Class L preference for vested options			—		668			—			4,660
	Net income (loss) available to common shareholders		$	15,044	$	(18,521	)	$	(11,120	)	$	(59,073	)
	Allocation of net income (loss) to common stockholders—basic and diluted:
	Class L		$	—	$	20,299		$	—		$	58,401
	Common stock		$	15,044	$	(18,521	)	$	(11,120	)	$	(59,073	)
	Weighted average number of common shares:
	Class L—basic and diluted			—		1,327,115			—			1,325,903
	Common stock:
	Basic			64,916,558		6,062,664			61,815,607			6,057,128
	Diluted			66,831,413		6,062,664			61,815,607			6,057,128
	Earnings (loss) per common share:
	Class L—basic and diluted		$	—	$	15.3		$	—		$	44.05
	Common stock:
	Basic		$	0.23	$	(3.05	)	$	(0.18	)	$	(9.75	)
	Diluted		$	0.23	$	(3.05	)	$	(0.18	)	$	(9.75	)
	Options outstanding to purchase 0.7 million shares of common stock were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, since their effect was anti-dilutive. Options outstanding to purchase 0.1 million and 4.7 million shares of common stock were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, since their effect was anti-dilutive, which may be dilutive in varying amounts to future quarterly or year-to-date amounts.

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	7	STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
	The Company has the 2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, which became effective on January 24, 2013, and allows for the issuance of equity awards with respect to up to 5 million shares of common stock, which are fully reserved for. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company granted options to purchase 406,772 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $23.39 per share that vest over three to five years.
	The weighted average fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $9.41 per share. The fair value of each stock option to purchase common stock was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following weighted average assumptions: expected dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility of 44.2%; risk free interest rate of 0.93%; and expected life of options of 5.3 years.
	The Company also had an incentive compensation plan (the “2008 Equity Incentive Plan”) which, as amended in March 2012, was authorized to issue 150,000 shares of Class L common stock and 1.5 million shares of Class A common stock. As discussed in Note 5, the Company effected a 1–for–1.9704 reverse split of its Class A common stock and therefore all previously reported options to purchase Class A shares and Class A share exercise prices in the accompanying financial statements and related notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split. No additional options will be granted under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. However, all outstanding options continue to be governed by their existing terms.
	In addition, on January 11, 2013, the Company converted each share of its Class L common stock into 35.1955 shares of Class A common stock, and, immediately following the conversion of its Class L common stock, reclassified those shares as well as all outstanding shares of Class A common stock into common stock. All outstanding options to purchase Class L common stock have been converted into options to acquire common stock using the 35.1955 conversion ratio with the exercise price adjusted similarly for the conversion ratio.
	The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $9.5 million in selling, general and administrative expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, which included approximately $5.0 million associated with options to purchase 1.3 million shares of common stock that had been issued under the 2008 Equity Incentive plan, which vested upon the effectiveness of the Offering on January 24, 2013.
	At September 30, 2013, there was $7.4 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the plans, which is expected to be recognized over the remaining requisite service period.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	8	INCOME TAXES
	The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits were $2.2 million at September 30, 2013 and $7.4 million at December 31, 2012. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were $2.3 million and $2.6 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The decrease in unrecognized tax benefits was primarily due to the resolution of an income tax enquiry in the United Kingdom, in the second quarter, for the period from 2009 through 2011.
	The Company expects the unrecognized tax benefits to change over the next 12 months if certain tax matters settle with the applicable taxing jurisdiction during this time frame, or, if applicable, statutes of limitations lapse. The impact of the amount of such changes to previously recorded uncertain tax positions could amount to approximately $0.5 million, exclusive of interest and penalties.
	As of September 30, 2013, there were not any Federal or foreign income tax audits in process. The Company’s subsidiaries have income tax audits in certain States for periods that related to 2008 up to 2011. The Company is also subject to corporate income tax at its subsidiaries located in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, India, Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico. The tax returns for the Company’s subsidiaries located in foreign jurisdictions are subject to examination for periods ranging from one to seven years.

Comprehensive_Loss_Income

Comprehensive (Loss) Income	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Comprehensive (Loss) Income	'
	9	COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
	Comprehensive (loss) income is comprised of net (loss) income and foreign currency translation adjustments, and is reported in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income net of taxes for all periods presented. The Company does not provide for U.S. income taxes on the portion of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that is intended to be permanently reinvested outside of the U.S. Therefore, taxes are not provided for the related currency translation adjustments.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	10	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Leases
	The Company leases various office equipment, child care and early education center facilities and office space under non-cancelable operating leases. Most of the leases expire within ten years and many contain renewal options for various periods.
	Litigation
	The Company is a defendant in certain legal matters in the ordinary course of business. Management believes the resolution of such legal matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
	Insurance and Regulatory
	The Company self-insures a portion of its medical insurance plans and has a high deductible workers’ compensation plan. While management believes that the amounts accrued for these obligations are sufficient, any significant increase in the number of claims or costs associated with claims made under these plans could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
	The Company’s child care and early education centers are subject to numerous federal, state and local regulations and licensing requirements. Failure of a center to comply with applicable regulations can subject it to governmental sanctions, which could require expenditures by the Company to bring its child care and early education centers into compliance.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	11	FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and applies the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to observable inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The Company uses observable inputs where relevant and whenever possible.
	Level 1—Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical investments as of the reporting date.
	Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.
	Level 3—Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.
	The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and long-term debt. The fair value of the Company’s financial instruments approximates their carrying value. As of September 30, 2013, the Company’s long-term debt had a book value of $784.1 million and a fair value of $782.1 million using quoted market prices and a model that considers observable inputs (level two inputs).
	Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist mainly of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company mitigates its exposure by maintaining its cash and cash equivalents in financial institutions of high credit standing. The Company’s accounts receivable, which are derived primarily from the services it provides, are dispersed across many clients in various industries with no single client accounting for more than 10% of the Company’s net revenue or accounts receivable. The Company believes that no significant credit risk exists at September 30, 2013.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	12	SEGMENT INFORMATION
	Bright Horizons work/life services are primarily comprised of full service center-based child care, back-up dependent care, and other educational advisory services. Full service center-based care includes the traditional center-based child care, preschool, and elementary education, which have similar operating characteristics and meet the criteria for aggregation. Full service center-based care derives its revenues primarily from contractual arrangements with corporate clients and from tuition. The Company’s back-up dependent care services consist of center-based back-up child care, in-home care, mildly ill care, and adult/elder care. The Company’s other educational advisory services consists of the remaining services, including college preparation and admissions counseling and tuition assistance, counseling and management services, which do not meet the quantitative thresholds for separate disclosure and are not material for segment reporting individually or in the aggregate. The Company and its chief operating decision makers evaluate performance based on revenues and income from operations.
	The assets and liabilities of the Company are managed centrally and are reported internally in the same manner as the consolidated financial statements; thus, no additional information is produced or included herein.
			Full service		Back-up		Other			Total
			center-based		dependent		educational
			care		care		advisory
							services
			(In thousands)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013
	Revenue		$	263,198	$	38,648	$	6,817		$	308,663
	Amortization of intangibles			7,442		181		76			7,699
	Income from operations (1)			16,392		10,215		1,182			27,789
	Three months ended September 30, 2012
	Revenue		$	230,046	$	33,008	$	4,873		$	267,927
	Amortization of intangibles			6,859		182		75			7,116
	Income from operations (2)			16,201		8,382		772			25,355
	-1	For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, income from operations includes acquisition-related expenses of $1.7 million related to full service center-based care.
	-2	For the quarter ended September 30, 2012, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013 in the amount of $1.0 million, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment ($0.7 million to full service center-based care, $0.2 million to back-up dependent care, and $0.1 million to other educational services).
			Full service		Back-up		Other			Total
			center-based		dependent		educational
			care		care		advisory
							services
			(In thousands)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013
	Revenue		$	775,358	$	107,526	$	16,715		$	899,599
	Amortization of intangibles			21,279		543		227			22,049
	Income from operations (1)			49,326		28,609		688			78,623
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012
	Revenue		$	689,678	$	94,755	$	13,079		$	797,512
	Amortization of intangibles			19,528		544		226			20,298
	Income (loss) from operations (2)			44,108		23,591		(179	)		67,520
	-1	For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013, including a $7.5 million fee for the termination of the management agreement with Bain Capital Partners LLC, and $5.0 million for certain stock options that vested upon completion of the Offering, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment, and $3.5 million of acquisition-related expenses related to full-service center-based care ($13.3 million to full service center-based care, $1.9 million to back-up dependent care, and $0.8 million to other educational advisory services).
	-2	For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the modification of stock options in the amount of $15.1 million and expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013 in the amount of $1.4 million, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment ($12.2 million to full service center-based care, $3.0 million to back-up dependent care, and $1.3 million to other educational advisory services).

Transactions_with_Related_Part

Transactions with Related Parties	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Transactions with Related Parties	'
	13	TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES
	The Company had a management agreement with Bain Capital Partners LLC (the “Sponsor”), which provided for annual payments of $2.5 million through May 2018. In connection with the Offering, the Company and the Sponsor terminated the management agreement in exchange for a $7.5 million payment from the Company to the Sponsor, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. As of September 30, 2013, investment funds affiliated with the Sponsor hold approximately 64.3% of our common stock.

Organization_and_Basis_of_Pres1

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Organization	'
	Organization—Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (“Bright Horizons” or the “Company”) provides workplace services for employers and families throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, and also in Puerto Rico, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and India. Workplace services include center-based child care, education and enrichment programs, elementary school education, back-up dependent care (for children and elders), before and after school care, college preparation and admissions counseling, tuition reimbursement program management, and other family support services.
	The Company operates its child care and early education centers under various types of arrangements, which generally can be classified into two categories: (i) the management or cost plus (“Cost Plus”) model, where Bright Horizons manages a work-site child care and early education center under a cost-plus arrangement with an employer sponsor, and (ii) the profit and loss (“P&L”) model, where the Company assumes the financial risk of the child care and early education center’s operations. The P&L model may be operated under either (a) the sponsored model, where Bright Horizons provides child care and early educational services on a priority enrollment basis for employees of an employer sponsor, or (b) the lease/consortium model, where the Company provides priority child care and early education to the employees of multiple employers located within a real estate developer’s property or the community at large. Under each model type the Company retains responsibility for all aspects of operating the child care and early education center, including the hiring and paying of employees, contracting with vendors, purchasing supplies, and collecting tuition and related accounts receivable.
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The cumulative translation effect for subsidiaries using a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar is included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
Initial Public Offering	'
	Initial Public Offering—On January 30, 2013, the Company completed an initial public offering (“the Offering”) and, after the exercise of the overallotment option on February 21, 2013, issued a total of 11.6 million shares of common stock in exchange for $233.3 million, net of offering costs including $1.6 million expensed in 2012. The Company used the proceeds of the Offering, as well as certain amounts from the 2013 refinancing discussed in Note 4, to repay the principal and accumulated interest under its senior notes outstanding on January 30, 2013.
	On June 19, 2013, certain of the Company’s shareholders completed the sale of 9.8 million shares of the Company’s stock in a secondary offering (“the Secondary”). The Company did not receive proceeds from the sale of shares in the Secondary. The Company incurred $0.6 million in offering costs related to the Secondary, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation—The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2013 and the condensed consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the interim periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 have been prepared by the Company, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements by generally accepted accounting principles and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Management's Opinion	'
	Management’s Opinion—In the opinion of the Company’s management, the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2013 and the results of its consolidated operations and consolidated cash flows for the interim periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results of the interim periods presented. The operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.
Business Combinations	'
	Business Combinations—Business combinations are accounted for at fair value. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred and recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses; restructuring costs associated with a business combination are expensed subsequent to the acquisition date; and changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date affect income tax expense. The accounting for business combinations requires estimates and judgment as to expectations for future cash flows of the acquired business, and the allocation of those cash flows to identifiable intangible assets, in determining the estimated fair value for assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair values assigned to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. If the actual results differ from the estimates and judgments used in these estimates, the amounts recorded in the financial statements could result in a possible impairment of the intangible assets and goodwill, or require acceleration of the amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets.

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill	'
	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):
		Full service				Back-up				Other				Total
		center-based				dependent				educational
		care				care				advisory
										services
	Beginning balance at December 31, 2012	$	817,304			$	159,215			$	20,825			$	997,344
	Additions from acquisitions		93,747				—				3,854				97,601
	Tax benefit from the exercise of continuation options		(620	)			(121	)			(16	)			(757	)
	Effect of foreign currency translation		2,699				560				—				3,259
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	913,130			$	159,654			$	24,663			$	1,097,447
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	'
	The Company also has intangible assets, which consist of the following at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Weighted average		Cost				Accumulated				Net carrying
		amortization period						amortization				amount
	September 30, 2013:
	Definite-lived intangibles:
	Contractual rights and customer relationships	14.4 years		$	402,256			$	(145,834	)		$	256,422
	Trade names	7.4 years			5,939				(1,299	)			4,640
	Non-compete agreements	5 years			54				(38	)			16
					408,249				(147,171	)			261,078
	Indefinite-lived intangibles:
	Trade names	N/A			183,763				—				183,763
				$	592,012			$	(147,171	)		$	444,841
	December 31, 2012:
	Definite-lived intangibles:
	Contractual rights and customer relationships	14.9 years		$	370,527			$	(124,048	)		$	246,479
	Trade names	9.1 years			3,147				(883	)			2,264
	Non-compete agreements	5 years			54				(33	)			21
					373,728				(124,964	)			248,764
	Indefinite-lived intangibles:
	Trade names	N/A			183,816				—				183,816
				$	557,544			$	(124,964	)		$	432,580
Estimated Amortization Expense Related to Intangible Assets	'
	The Company estimates that it will record amortization expense related to intangible assets existing as of September 30, 2013 as follows over the next five years (in millions):
		Estimated
		amortization
		expense
	Remainder of 2013	$	8
	2014	$	29
	2015	$	26.5
	2016	$	25.6
	2017	$	24.9

Acquisitions_Tables

Acquisitions (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Allocation of Purchased Assets and Liabilities	'
	The purchase price for this acquisition has been allocated based on preliminary estimates of the fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities at the date of acquisition as follows (in thousands):
	Accounts receivable	$	981
	Prepaids and other assets		334
	Fixed assets		5,637
	Intangible assets, primarily customer relationships		12,800
	Goodwill		38,818
	Total assets acquired		58,570
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(3,441	)
	Deferred revenue and parent deposits		(885	)
	Total liabilities assumed		(4,326	)
	Purchase price	$	54,244
Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member]	'
Allocation of Purchase Price	'
	The purchase price for this acquisition has been allocated based on preliminary estimates of the fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities at the date of acquisition as follows (in thousands):
	Cash	$	4,888
	Accounts receivable		1,809
	Prepaids and other assets		2,509
	Fixed assets		13,901
	Intangible assets, primarily customer relationships		17,901
	Goodwill		53,604
	Total assets acquired		94,612
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(8,173	)
	Unfavorable leasehold interests		(1,759	)
	Deferred revenue		(4,475	)
	Other current liabilities		(8,378	)
	Deferred taxes		(2,840	)
	Total liabilities assumed		(25,625	)
	Purchase price	$	68,987
Summary of Operating Results	'
	The operating results for each of the acquisitions are included in the consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The following table presents consolidated pro forma information as if the acquisitions of Children’s Choice Learning Centers, Inc. and Kidsunlimited had occurred on January 1, 2012, and as if the acquisition of Huntyard had occurred on January 1, 2011 (in thousands):
		Pro forma (Unaudited)
		Nine Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Revenue	$	943,745		$	896,609
	Net (loss) income attributable to Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.	$	(9,221	)	$	8,888
Huntyard Limited [Member]	'
Allocation of Purchase Price	'
	The purchase price for this acquisition has been allocated based on the estimated fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities at the date of acquisition as follows (in thousands):
	Cash	$	2,872
	Accounts receivable		341
	Prepaids and other current assets		2,880
	Fixed assets		65,843
	Intangible assets, primarily customer relationships		6,004
	Goodwill		49,573
	Total assets acquired		127,513
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(7,520	)
	Taxes payable		(656	)
	Deferred revenue and parent deposits		(3,006	)
	Deferred taxes		(5,570	)
	Total liabilities assumed		(16,752	)
	Purchase price	$	110,761

Borrowing_Arrangements_Tables

Borrowing Arrangements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Outstanding Borrowings	'
	Outstanding borrowings were as follows at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Term loans	$	784,075		$	—
	Tranche B and Series C new term loans		—			430,474
	Senior subordinated notes		—			300,000
	Senior notes		—			197,810
	Total		784,075			928,284
	Deferred financing costs and original issue discount		(18,631	)		(21,641	)
	Total debt		765,444			906,643
	Less current maturities		7,900			2,036
	Long-term debt	$	757,544		$	904,607
Future Principal Payments Under New Term Loan	'
	The future principal payments under the new term loan at September 30, 2013 are as follows (in millions):
	Remainder of 2013	$	2
	2014		7.9
	2015		7.9
	2016		7.9
	2017		7.9
	Thereafter		750.5
		$	784.1

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	'
	The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
		Three months ended					Nine months ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2013		2012			2013			2012
	Net income (loss)—basic and diluted	$	15,044	$	2,446		$	(11,120	)	$	3,988
	Accretion of Class L preference		—		20,299			—			58,401
	Accretion of Class L preference for vested options		—		668			—			4,660
	Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$	15,044	$	(18,521	)	$	(11,120	)	$	(59,073	)
	Allocation of net income (loss) to common stockholders—basic and diluted:
	Class L	$	—	$	20,299		$	—		$	58,401
	Common stock	$	15,044	$	(18,521	)	$	(11,120	)	$	(59,073	)
	Weighted average number of common shares:
	Class L—basic and diluted		—		1,327,115			—			1,325,903
	Common stock:
	Basic		64,916,558		6,062,664			61,815,607			6,057,128
	Diluted		66,831,413		6,062,664			61,815,607			6,057,128
	Earnings (loss) per common share:
	Class L—basic and diluted	$	—	$	15.3		$	—		$	44.05
	Common stock:
	Basic	$	0.23	$	(3.05	)	$	(0.18	)	$	(9.75	)
	Diluted	$	0.23	$	(3.05	)	$	(0.18	)	$	(9.75	)

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Income from Operations by Segment	'
	The assets and liabilities of the Company are managed centrally and are reported internally in the same manner as the consolidated financial statements; thus, no additional information is produced or included herein.
			Full service		Back-up		Other			Total
			center-based		dependent		educational
			care		care		advisory
							services
			(In thousands)
	Three months ended September 30, 2013
	Revenue		$	263,198	$	38,648	$	6,817		$	308,663
	Amortization of intangibles			7,442		181		76			7,699
	Income from operations (1)			16,392		10,215		1,182			27,789
	Three months ended September 30, 2012
	Revenue		$	230,046	$	33,008	$	4,873		$	267,927
	Amortization of intangibles			6,859		182		75			7,116
	Income from operations (2)			16,201		8,382		772			25,355
	-1	For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, income from operations includes acquisition-related expenses of $1.7 million related to full service center-based care.
	-2	For the quarter ended September 30, 2012, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013 in the amount of $1.0 million, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment ($0.7 million to full service center-based care, $0.2 million to back-up dependent care, and $0.1 million to other educational services).
			Full service		Back-up		Other			Total
			center-based		dependent		educational
			care		care		advisory
							services
			(In thousands)
	Nine months ended September 30, 2013
	Revenue		$	775,358	$	107,526	$	16,715		$	899,599
	Amortization of intangibles			21,279		543		227			22,049
	Income from operations (1)			49,326		28,609		688			78,623
	Nine months ended September 30, 2012
	Revenue		$	689,678	$	94,755	$	13,079		$	797,512
	Amortization of intangibles			19,528		544		226			20,298
	Income (loss) from operations (2)			44,108		23,591		(179	)		67,520
	-1	For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013, including a $7.5 million fee for the termination of the management agreement with Bain Capital Partners LLC, and $5.0 million for certain stock options that vested upon completion of the Offering, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment, and $3.5 million of acquisition-related expenses related to full-service center-based care ($13.3 million to full service center-based care, $1.9 million to back-up dependent care, and $0.8 million to other educational advisory services).
	-2	For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the modification of stock options in the amount of $15.1 million and expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013 in the amount of $1.4 million, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment ($12.2 million to full service center-based care, $3.0 million to back-up dependent care, and $1.3 million to other educational advisory services).

Organization_and_Significant_A

Organization and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 19, 2013
			Secondary Offering [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of shares issued under public offering	11,600,000	'	9,800,000
Proceed from issuance of initial public offering	$233,300,000	$234,944,000	'
Payment of initial public offering costs	1,600,000	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of secondary offering	'	'	0
Offering cost incurred	'	'	$600,000

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets2

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	$997,344
Additions from acquisitions	97,601
Tax benefit from the exercise of continuation options	-757
Effect of foreign currency translation	3,259
Ending balance	1,097,447
Full Service Center-based Care [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	817,304
Additions from acquisitions	93,747
Tax benefit from the exercise of continuation options	-620
Effect of foreign currency translation	2,699
Ending balance	913,130
Back-up Dependent Care [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	159,215
Tax benefit from the exercise of continuation options	-121
Effect of foreign currency translation	560
Ending balance	159,654
Other Educational Advisory Services [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	20,825
Additions from acquisitions	3,854
Tax benefit from the exercise of continuation options	-16
Ending balance	$24,663

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets3

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (Huntyard Limited [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Huntyard Limited [Member]	'
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Increase in goodwill	$3.90

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets4

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cost	$592,012	$557,544
Accumulated amortization	-147,171	-124,964
Net carrying amount	444,841	432,580
Cost	408,249	373,728
Accumulated amortization	-147,171	-124,964
Net carrying amount	261,078	248,764
Contractual Rights and Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average amortization period	'14 years 4 months 24 days	'14 years 10 months 24 days
Cost	402,256	370,527
Accumulated amortization	-145,834	-124,048
Net carrying amount	256,422	246,479
Trade Names [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average amortization period	'7 years 4 months 24 days	'9 years 1 month 6 days
Cost	5,939	3,147
Accumulated amortization	-1,299	-883
Net carrying amount	4,640	2,264
Non-Compete Agreements [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average amortization period	'5 years	'5 years
Cost	54	54
Accumulated amortization	-38	-33
Net carrying amount	16	21
Trade Names [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average amortization period	'	'
Cost	183,763	183,816
Net carrying amount	$183,763	$183,816

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets5

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Estimated Amortization Expense Related to Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Remainder of 2013	$8
2014	29
2015	26.5
2016	25.6
2017	$24.90

Acquisitions_Additional_Inform

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 22, 2013

Jul. 22, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Apr. 10, 2013

Apr. 10, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

31-May-12

31-May-12

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Children's Choice Learning Centers [Member]

Children's Choice Learning Centers [Member]

Children's Choice Learning Centers [Member]

Children's Choice Learning Centers [Member]

Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member]

Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member]

Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member]

Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member]

Huntyard Limited [Member]

Huntyard Limited [Member]

Huntyard Limited [Member]

Huntyard Limited [Member]

Huntyard Limited [Member]

Huntyard Limited [Member]

Huntyard Limited [Member]

Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member]

United States

United States

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Business

Center

Nursery

Center

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of centers acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

49

'

'

'

64

'

'

'

27

'

'

'

'

'

Cash consideration

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$54,200,000

'

'

'

$69,000,000

'

'

'

$110,800,000

'

'

'

'

$7,000,000

Business Acquisition Cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,700,000

'

'

'

1,800,000

'

'

'

500,000

500,000

'

'

'

Goodwill

1,097,447,000

'

1,097,447,000

'

997,344,000

38,800,000

38,818,000

'

'

53,600,000

53,604,000

'

'

49,600,000

49,573,000

'

'

'

'

'

5,200,000

Amortization of Intangible assets

7,699,000

7,116,000

22,049,000

20,298,000

'

12,800,000

'

'

'

17,900,000

'

'

'

6,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortization period of Intangible assets

'

'

'

'

'

'10 years

'

'

'

'8 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'7 years

'

Percentage of share purchase agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred tax liability

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,100,000

'

'

'

1,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of businesses acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

Cash through acquisition

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,600,000

Intangible assets including customer relationship

'

'

'

'

'

'

12,800,000

'

'

'

17,901,000

'

'

'

6,004,000

'

'

'

'

'

2,900,000

Working capital in relation to acquisition

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,500,000

Increase in goodwill

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Contribution of revenues by acquired business

$308,663,000

$267,927,000

$899,599,000

$797,512,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$74,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Acquisition_Allocation_of_Purc

Acquisition - Allocation of Purchased Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 22, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Children's Choice Learning Centers [Member]	Children's Choice Learning Centers [Member]
Loans At Acquisition Date [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	'	'	'	$981
Prepaids and other assets	'	'	'	334
Fixed assets	'	'	'	5,637
Intangible assets, primarily customer relationships	'	'	'	12,800
Goodwill	1,097,447	997,344	38,800	38,818
Total assets acquired	'	'	'	58,570
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	'	'	'	-3,441
Deferred revenue and parent deposits	'	'	'	-885
Total liabilities assumed	'	'	'	-4,326
Purchase price	'	'	'	$54,244

Acquisitions_Allocation_of_Pur

Acquisitions - Allocation of Purchase Price (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Apr. 10, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	31-May-12
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member]	Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member]	Huntyard Limited [Member]	Huntyard Limited [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash	'	'	'	$4,888	'	$2,872
Accounts receivable	'	'	'	1,809	'	341
Prepaids and other assets	'	'	'	2,509	'	2,880
Fixed assets	'	'	'	13,901	'	65,843
Intangible assets, primarily customer relationships	'	'	'	17,901	'	6,004
Goodwill	1,097,447	997,344	53,600	53,604	49,600	49,573
Total assets acquired	'	'	'	94,612	'	127,513
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	'	'	'	-8,173	'	-7,520
Unfavorable leasehold interests	'	'	'	-1,759	'	'
Taxes payable	'	'	'	'	'	-656
Deferred revenue and parent deposits	'	'	'	-4,475	'	-3,006
Other current liabilities	'	'	'	-8,378	'	'
Deferred taxes	'	'	'	-2,840	'	-5,570
Total liabilities assumed	'	'	'	-25,625	'	-16,752
Purchase price	'	'	'	$68,987	'	$110,761

Acquisitions_Summary_of_Operat

Acquisitions - Summary of Operating Results (Detail) (Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Kidsunlimited Group Limited [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Revenue	$943,745	$896,609
Net (loss) income attributable to Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.	($9,221)	$8,888

Borrowing_Arrangements_Outstan

Borrowing Arrangements - Outstanding Borrowing (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule Of Borrowings [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding borrowings	$784,075	$928,284
Deferred financing costs and original issue discount	-18,631	-21,641
Total debt	765,444	906,643
Less current maturities	7,900	2,036
Long-term debt	757,544	904,607
Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Schedule Of Borrowings [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding borrowings	784,075	'
Tranche B and Series C New Term Loans [Member]	'	'
Schedule Of Borrowings [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding borrowings	'	430,474
Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]	'	'
Schedule Of Borrowings [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding borrowings	'	300,000
Senior Notes [Member]	'	'
Schedule Of Borrowings [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding borrowings	'	$197,810

Borrowing_Arrangements_Additio

Borrowing Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jan. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Senior Secured Credit Facilities [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Tranche B and Series C New Term Loans [Member]

Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]

Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Term Loan Facility [Member]

Term Loans [Member]

Term Loans [Member]

Term Loans [Member]

Term Loans [Member]

Base Rate Loans [Member]

Base Rate Loans [Member]

Prime Rate (the Base Rate) [Member]

Prime Rate (the Base Rate) [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, face amount

'

'

$890

$100

'

'

'

'

$790

'

'

'

'

Quarterly principal payments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

Maturity date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30-Jan-20

'

'

'

'

Debt, maturity year

'

'

'

'2018

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Outstanding borrowings

'

'

'

20.6

'

'

300

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, interest rate

'

'

'

5.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, applicable margin rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.00%

2.00%

3.00%

1.00%

Payments to redeem debt, including redemption premium

'

'

'

'

431

328.2

'

213.3

'

'

'

'

'

Loss on extinguishment of debt

$63.70

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted average interest rate

4.20%

8.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Borrowing_Arrangements_Future_

Borrowing Arrangements - Future Principal Payments Under New Term Loan (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Long Term Debt Maturities Estimated Repayments Of Principal [Line Items]	'	'
Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal, Total	$784,075,000	$928,284,000
Term Loan Facility [Member]	'	'
Long Term Debt Maturities Estimated Repayments Of Principal [Line Items]	'	'
Future minimum payments remainder of 2013	2,000,000	'
Future minimum payments in 2014	7,900,000	'
Future minimum payments in 2015	7,900,000	'
Future minimum payments in 2016	7,900,000	'
Future minimum payments in 2017	7,900,000	'
Future minimum payments due thereafter	750,500,000	'
Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal, Total	$784,100,000	'

Stockholders_Equity_Additional

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2013	Jan. 11, 2013	Jan. 11, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
			Common Stock Class A [Member]	Common Stock Class A [Member]	Undesignated Preferred Stock [Member]
Common And Preferred Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Reverse split ratio of class A common stock	'	'	1.9704	1.9704	'
Common stock conversion ratio, Class L common stock into Class A common stock	'	35.1955	'	'	'
Number of shares issued under initial public offering	11,600,000	'	'	'	'
Common stock reclassified, authorized	'	'	'	'	25,000,000

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share_Additi

Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Common Stock Class L [Member]	'	'	'	'
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Rate of return for stockholders	'	'	10.00%	'
Common Stock Class A [Member]	'	'	'	'
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Options to Purchase Common Stock Shares Outstanding excluded from diluted earnings per share	0.1	0.7	4.7	0.7

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share_Comput

Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocation of net income (loss) to common stockholders-basic and diluted	$15,044	$2,446	($11,120)	$3,988
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	15,044	-18,521	-11,120	-59,073
Common stock:	'	'	'	'
Basic	64,916,558	6,062,664	61,815,607	6,057,128
Diluted	66,831,413	6,062,664	61,815,607	6,057,128
Common stock:	'	'	'	'
Basic	$0.23	($3.05)	($0.18)	($9.75)
Diluted	$0.23	($3.05)	($0.18)	($9.75)
Common Stock Class L [Member]	'	'	'	'
Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocation of net income (loss) to common stockholders-basic and diluted	'	20,299	'	58,401
Weighted average number of common shares:	'	'	'	'
Weighted average number of common shares: Class L-basic and diluted	'	1,327,115	'	1,325,903
Earnings (loss) per common share:	'	'	'	'
Earnings (loss) per common share-basic and diluted: Class L-basic and diluted	'	$15.30	'	$44.05
Common Stock Class L [Member] | Nonvested [Member]	'	'	'	'
Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Accretion of Class L preference	'	20,299	'	58,401
Common Stock Class L [Member] | Vested [Member]	'	'	'	'
Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Accretion of Class L preference	'	668	'	4,660
Common Stock Class A [Member]	'	'	'	'
Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocation of net income (loss) to common stockholders-basic and diluted	$15,044	($18,521)	($11,120)	($59,073)

StockBased_Compensation_Additi

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 11, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average fair value, per share	'	9.41
Expected dividend yield	'	0.00%
Expected stock price volatility	'	44.20%
Risk free interest rate	'	0.93%
Expected life of options	'	'5 years 3 months 18 days
Common stock conversion ratio, Class L common stock into Class A common stock	35.1955	'
Stock based compensation	'	9.5
Unrecognized compensation cost	'	7.4
Common Stock Class A [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Reverse split ratio of class A common stock	1.9704	1.9704
2008 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Options to purchase shares	'	1,300,000
2008 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Common Stock Class L [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Shares available for issuance	'	150,000
2008 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Common Stock Class A [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Shares available for issuance	'	1,500,000
2008 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Stock Option [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Stock based compensation	'	5
2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Shares available for issuance	'	5,000,000
Shares grant in period	'	406,772
Weighted average price of options granted	'	23.39
2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Stock option vested	'	'3 years
2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Stock option vested	'	'5 years

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified			Foreign [Member]	Foreign [Member]
			Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized income tax benefit	$2.20	$7.40	'	'
Interest and penalties accrued for income tax	2.3	2.6	'	'
Change in uncertain tax positions	$0.50	'	'	'
Statute of limitations	'	'	'1 year	'7 years

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (Maximum [Member])	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Maximum [Member]	'
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'
Operating leases, years until expiration	'10 years

Fair_Value_Measures_Additional

Fair Value Measures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
			Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	Revenue [Member]	Accounts Receivable [Member]
				Customer	Customer
Fair Value Measurements Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Long Term Debt, Carrying Value	$784,075,000	$928,284,000	'	'	'
Long Term Debt, Fair Value	'	'	$782,100,000	'	'
Concentration risk percentage	'	'	'	10.00%	10.00%
Number of Customer Generating more than 10%	'	'	'	0	'
Clients accounting for more than benchmark	'	'	'	'	0

Segment_Information_Income_fro

Segment Information - Income from Operations by Segment (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	$308,663		$267,927		$899,599		$797,512
Amortization of intangibles	7,699		7,116		22,049		20,298
Income (loss) from operations	27,789	[1]	25,355	[2]	78,623	[3]	67,520	[4]
Operating Segments [Member] | Full Service Center-based Care [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	263,198		230,046		775,358		689,678
Amortization of intangibles	7,442		6,859		21,279		19,528
Income (loss) from operations	16,392	[1]	16,201	[2]	49,326	[3]	44,108	[4]
Operating Segments [Member] | Back-up Dependent Care [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	38,648		33,008		107,526		94,755
Amortization of intangibles	181		182		543		544
Income (loss) from operations	10,215	[1]	8,382	[2]	28,609	[3]	23,591	[4]
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Educational Advisory Services [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	6,817		4,873		16,715		13,079
Amortization of intangibles	76		75		227		226
Income (loss) from operations	$1,182	[1]	$772	[2]	$688	[3]	($179)	[4]
[1]	For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, income from operations includes acquisition-related expenses of $1.7 million related to full service center-based care.
[2]	For the quarter ended September 30, 2012, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013 in the amount of $1.0 million, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment ($0.7 million to full service center-based care, $0.2 million to back-up dependent care, and $0.1 million to other educational services).
[3]	For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013, including a $7.5 million fee for the termination of the management agreement with Bain Capital Partners LLC, and $5.0 million for certain stock options that vested upon completion of the Offering, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment, and $3.5 million of acquisition-related expenses related to full-service center-based care ($13.3 million to full service center-based care, $1.9 million to back-up dependent care, and $0.8 million to other educational advisory services).
[4]	For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, income from operations includes expenses incurred in connection with the modification of stock options in the amount of $15.1 million and expenses incurred in connection with the Offering completed in January 2013 in the amount of $1.4 million, allocated on a proportionate basis to each segment ($12.2 million to full service center-based care, $3.0 million to back-up dependent care, and $1.3 million to other educational advisory services).

Segment_Information_Income_fro1

Segment Information - Income from Operations by Segment (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Operating Income Loss	'	$1	$5	$15.10
Expenses incurred in connection with the Offering	'	'	'	1.4
Sponsor [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Agreement termination fee	'	'	7.5	'
Full Service Center-based Care [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Acquisition related expenses	1.7	'	3.5	'
Contract termination and stock option expenses	'	'	13.3	'
Expenses incurred in connection with the modification of stock options	'	0.7	'	12.2
Back-up Dependent Care [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Contract termination and stock option expenses	'	'	1.9	'
Expenses incurred in connection with the modification of stock options	'	0.2	'	3
Other Educational Advisory Services [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Contract termination and stock option expenses	'	'	0.8	'
Expenses incurred in connection with the modification of stock options	'	$0.10	'	$1.30

Transactions_with_Related_Part1

Transactions with Related Parties - Additional Information (Detail) (Sponsor [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Sponsor [Member]	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'
Annual payment under the agreement	$2.50
Agreement expiration date	31-May-18
Agreement termination fee	$7.50
Percentage of common stock held by investment funds affiliated with sponsor	64.30%