Back up child care

Fullcircle06

Do you have a back up child care option? And if so, how did you go about finding it? We don't live anywhere near family, so that's not an option. I could check out care.com, or similar places, but I have no idea where to look, and obviously, it needs to be affordable. If you have any ideas or experiences, please share what works/worked for you. Thanks!

AsOctoberFalls

We have no backup. However, our local children's hospital does offer sick child care for 60/day. Not exactly convenient or affordable, but it's nice to know that the option is there.

LoCarb

I don't have back up childcare. I have to take the day off. There are two 'sick daycares' 30 min away from me that I have tried to use in a pinch but they were filled on the day I needed them. Google sick daycares for your area. They will keep a child when they are sick and are cared for by RN's. One of the two near me is located in a hospital and they separate the children by illness. Both are expensive at $10-15/hr.

Fullcircle06

LoCarb:

I don't have back up childcare. I have to take the day off. There are two 'sick daycares' 30 min away from me that I have tried to use in a pinch but they were filled on the day I needed them. Google sick daycares for your area. They will keep a child when they are sick and are cared for by RN's. One of the two near me is located in a hospital and they separate the children by illness. Both are expensive at $10-15/hr.

I have never heard of this. Interesting. But, at those prices, it's probably cheaper for me to stay home.

boogerbearoriginal

We are fortunate to have family in the area that often serves as a backup, and I have a very flexible job that I can take off most the time in a pinch.

We've used care.com for p/t nanny service and been happy with the two people we've used.

cecilyandgautam

Our day-care provider's sister has subbed for her several times so we first call DCP's sister, who DD knows & loves. Then one of us tries to stay home. So far, that's been enough to cover us, but we also have a few friends who have offered to watch DD in a bind, so we'd call one of them in an emergency. There's one family that we've watched a couple times that I wouldn't feel like a total moucher if they helped us out. 

cecilyandgautam

AsOctoberFalls:

We have no backup. However, our local children's hospital does offer sick child care for 60/day. Not exactly convenient or affordable, but it's nice to know that the option is there.

Wow, living in Ohio must be awesome. I live in the DC suburbs and pay close to that for my regular childcare costs - and I use a licensed in-home, which is the cheapest option I have. 

IBackBevo

I have a nanny and so far with this current nanny I have never had to get back-up.  However, when I tried to get back-up on short notice before, they ended up cancelling on me the night before at about 6 pm saying that the family she normally worked for needed her last minute...which left me in an even worse predicament.  Care.com is great for long-term positions, but in my experience it doesn't really work for hiring someone just for a day and with very little notice.  My parents and in-laws can usually come if we know a few weeks in advance, but not for anything on short notice.  This is the main reason we have a nanny...because if LO gets sick, DH can't cancel 25-30 patients and if I have a depo or a court hearing, I can't just call in sick.  As an aside, $60 a day seems cheap to me. I pay my nanny alot more than that.

SoMoNY

Both of us have backup coverage through Bright Horizons.

Or one of us will take day off.  Worst case scenario there is MIL but we don't use her too often because she has Lupus and its a lot on her to keep with with a 3.5 year old all day 

bibby32714

We had to have back up for three days last week.  Our in-home daycare provider got injured.  I may have to have backup again in the near future.  Luckily we live near lots of family and they were able to help us out.

And for those who think $60 is cheap, i feel for you.  I used to live out in DC and can only imagine what it costs.  I am so thankful I moved back near family in Nebraska and pay $100 a week.

dglvrk2

DD goes to an in-home day care.  IF DC closes - either a scheduled close or a last minute one, the DCP lets me know if her assistants are available for child care.  I also have two other in-home day cares close to my work that I can call in an emergancy.  The providers know my family etc. However, if they are full, they cannot take DD.  Worse case, either DH or I stay home with DD. 

I do not have family or STHM friends in the area that can watch DD if DC closes.  It required a little leg-work on my end, but I'm really glad I've found a couple of DCs that can likely take DD if necessary.

Mrs.RockyM

DH and I are sick day back up care.  Sometimes we take turns, or split the day into shifts and switch mid day. 

northtamarack

We go to an in home daycare.  She put us in a horrible predicament when she took off three weeks.  Between the IL's, my parents and both my husband and I taking off of work, we couldn't all cover the three weeks.  Luckily, I knew this in advance and could prepare for it.

Our friends use a different home daycare, and it worked out to take DS there.  I took him there a day in advance and he fit right in with the kids (I think that he felt comfortable with our friend's DS being there too).  She is never full (her preference) so there is a very, very good chance that she will always be able to take DS on a last minute emergency situation.

It isn't easy.  GL in finding something that works for you! 

AsOctoberFalls

cecilyandgautam:

Wow, living in Ohio must be awesome. I live in the DC suburbs and pay close to that for my regular childcare costs - and I use a licensed in-home, which is the cheapest option I have. 

Regular daycare is just over $40/day for my toddler, so not dirt cheap, but reasonable.  It gets depressing if you start thinking that you have to pay for regular daycare PLUS sick daycare... it ends up being over $100/day.  Ugh.

Fullcircle06

dglvrk2:

DD goes to an in-home day care.  IF DC closes - either a scheduled close or a last minute one, the DCP lets me know if her assistants are available for child care.  I also have two other in-home day cares close to my work that I can call in an emergancy.  The providers know my family etc. However, if they are full, they cannot take DD.  Worse case, either DH or I stay home with DD. 

This is what I'm looking for. How did you find them?

shakinros

Mrs.RockyM:

DH and I are sick day back up care.nbsp; Sometimes we take turns, or split the day into shifts and switch mid day.nbsp;

This is us too. It totally sucks! I mean, I'm glad to be able to be home with my kid, but my work is definitely taking a big hit. It seems like DD is always sick the weeks H and I both have deadlines.