If you are planning to return to work after having a baby, you know you have to arrange for child care. Often times, new parents make arrangements for regular child care, but what about the back-up plan? Whether you choose to hire a nanny, send your child to a center, or baby stays with grandma, you need a back-up plan and a back-up for your back-up.
Life as a parent is demanding and stressful from day to day. Even if one parent plans to stay home, stuff happens. Make it easier on yourself by constructing a contingency plan for the “just in case” situations. Consider these options:
A Center
Drop-in Center - Hourly drop-in child care centers are popping up all over. Make a list of centers in your home and work areas. Check out the facilities and get pricing information for the ones that you want to consider. Some facilities even have a membership policy so you will need to sign-up in advanced. Obtain all forms needed for your child to attend. You may have to provide health and vaccination information. If you need to use the service, you want this information on readily available or on file.
In-Home Care
Agency - There are many local and online services that can help you find someone to look after your child in your home. Do some research and a service that fits your needs best. Online services like care.com and sittercity.com are relatively inexpensive and often will have a number of sitters available. However, you are on your own when interviewing and matching your non-quantifiable needs such as personality with that person. A local nanny service provider might be more expensive, but they will do more of the research and legwork for you such as background checks and connecting your personality with the right person.
Family or Friend - A family or friend can be a good option. In order for this to work, you should discuss this well before the need occurs. Find out about schedules, logistics and regular commitments and discuss how to work together.
Always have a back-up for your back-up! Become knowledgeable of more than one back-up child care center and make sure you have a few options for in-home care. In any case, prepare a cheat sheet to help your back-up caregiver and ensure that things go as smoothly as possible. Click here to download a template.
Life as a parent is demanding and stressful from day to day. Even if one parent plans to stay home, stuff happens. Make it easier on yourself by constructing a contingency plan for the “just in case” situations. Consider these options:
A Center
Drop-in Center - Hourly drop-in child care centers are popping up all over. Make a list of centers in your home and work areas. Check out the facilities and get pricing information for the ones that you want to consider. Some facilities even have a membership policy so you will need to sign-up in advanced. Obtain all forms needed for your child to attend. You may have to provide health and vaccination information. If you need to use the service, you want this information on readily available or on file.
In-Home Care
Agency - There are many local and online services that can help you find someone to look after your child in your home. Do some research and a service that fits your needs best. Online services like care.com and sittercity.com are relatively inexpensive and often will have a number of sitters available. However, you are on your own when interviewing and matching your non-quantifiable needs such as personality with that person. A local nanny service provider might be more expensive, but they will do more of the research and legwork for you such as background checks and connecting your personality with the right person.
Family or Friend - A family or friend can be a good option. In order for this to work, you should discuss this well before the need occurs. Find out about schedules, logistics and regular commitments and discuss how to work together.
Always have a back-up for your back-up! Become knowledgeable of more than one back-up child care center and make sure you have a few options for in-home care. In any case, prepare a cheat sheet to help your back-up caregiver and ensure that things go as smoothly as possible. Click here to download a template.
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