Background <p>International studies exploring the enduring effects of early non-familial childhood care on mental health outcomes show varying impacts depending on the quality of care, age of entry, and socio-economic factors.</p> Methods <p>This German longitudinal study, involving 225 families, investigated the impact of early non-familial child care on the development of mental health problems, risk behaviors, and academic as well as vocational achievements in young adulthood (<i>M</i>_age = 22.6&#xa0;years, <i>SD</i>_<i>age</i> = 1.1&#xa0;years).</p> Results <p>In comparison to parental care, early non-familial childcare was associated with significantly elevated levels of risky behaviors (such as risky sexual behavior, alcohol abuse, and tobacco consumption), low intimate relationship quality, and a higher likelihood of achieving advanced vocational qualifications. Migration background was identified as a relevant moderating factor in an exploratory analysis. An early age of entry into non-familial care was weakly associated with more mental health problems in young adulthood.</p> Conclusion <p>Parental decisions on early non-familial childcare should carefully consider the child’s age of entry, the quality of care, and the family's socio-economic context.</p>