You Need a Backup Childcare Plan: Here’s How to Make One

Whether it's a global pandemic or regular old scheduling mishaps, we've got ideas.

By Hannah Fairbanks, originally published on Riveter

Finding reliable childcare solutions is one of the toughest hurdles parents face in the best of times — and the situation becomes vastly more complicated when you throw in a natural disaster or otherwise society-disrupting event. When a single parent or both parents in a partnered relationship work full time, an unexpected breakdown in childcare becomes even harder to manage. That’s why creating a backup childcare plan is crucial. Having backup childcare keeps your kids secure — and your career intact.

And it must be said: It’s no secret that motherhood bias is still very much a reality for working mothers, and having reliable childcare helps break down unfair stereotypes about working moms. And knowing your kids are in a safe place gives you peace of mind to focus on work. It shouldn’t fall to working parents to fix this systemic issue, but it helps to have some tools in our back pocket.

What is backup childcare? 

Backup childcare is simply a substitute childcare strategy. The reasons for needing a backup plan are endless — because life happens. Maybe you’re between childcare arrangements. Maybe you and your [partner, coworker, boss] got your wires crossed about important plans. Or maybe your regular caregiver is temporarily unavailable. Maybe your child’s school is closed. Or your kiddo has a fever. Or you have a fever. Or there’s a global pandemic. Despite the best-laid plans, childcare arrangements regularly fall through.

In fact, in a 2017 study by Child Care Aware of America, researchers found that nearly half of working parents miss an average of four days of work at least once every six months because of child care breakdowns. 

Why is backup childcare useful?

First of all, it’s difficult enough creating one solid childcare plan to keep your kids secure, let alone preparing for the unexpected. So think of backup childcare as a type of insurance, and arrange for it just in case. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, businesses lose $3 billion annually due to employee absenteeism as a result of childcare failures.

Advance preparation will fill in the gaps when issues arise with your regular scheduled childcare. Furthermore, being ready for the unexpected will provide peace of mind and it’s hard to put a premium on that.

What are some alternatives for regularly-scheduled childcare?

Even the most fastidiously-organized systems sometimes fail. These nine ideas for backup childcare can help keep your kids secure and your career intact.

1. Do the juggling act with your partner, if you have one

When both parents in a partnered relationship work full time, simply managing regularly-scheduled daily childcare pickups and drop-offs can feel like a Herculean task. Consequently, when something goes haywire with childcare, it can feel downright impossible to manage. Start by communicating with your partner. Make a schedule for as far out as you can, so you can identify any high-risk time periods. Therapists often advise partnered parents to make a list of every single household chore and responsibility they can think of — including childcare — so they can get a realistic view of who’s doing what. Decide together who has more professional flexibility to take the day off (if either of you are lucky enough to have flexibility in your work schedule) or miss a couple of hours of work — and make a plan for how to ensure that they make up the hours, to keep things equitable.