Life can be messy and complicated. Sometimes the best-laid plans don't exactly pan out the way they were supposed to. Kate and Wills were dead set on being "hands on" and going it alone, but seems even Royals don't get it right all the time and now they're looking to hire help. So if your job isn't going so well and you fancy a great paid job over in Kensington Palace, then go for it.

But if you don't fancy doing that and you're in your own child care crisis; you've moved house; your nanny has left or your child care needs have changed for whatever reason, what do you do when you need to make new plans?

Talk to your employer. Don't be afraid to tell your boss and ask for short-term (or long term) flexibility. If you've been with the company a while, you are most likely entitled to ask for flexibility anyway.

Ask if you can work from home for a few days until you get things sorted. Most employers will be sympathetic and will want to help. But if you can't work from home, you can ask to take some extra days to work out an alternative. Your employer can't sack you for having a short-term crisis. The worst they can really do is to ask you to take unpaid leave if you've used up your holiday quota.

So if you've been dumped in the proverbial do-do, for whatever reason, follow the following advice:

Flexibility is key. There are a number of options open to you in the short or long term. Be prepared to step outside of the child care you have set your heart on and look at the alternatives. You never know, you may find something even better and more suited to your needs.

Friends and Family. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Your friends and/or family are there to help, because they're your friends and / or family! You will almost certainly be able to find a person or people in the interim who are prepared and able to step in the short term to help you out of the child care hole.

Nanny or AuPair share. Some of your friends or colleagues may have a nanny or aupair who could use some extra work if they're not employed full time, or they may be happy to take on an extra child. Your friend or colleague may also be happy for some temporary financial help in terms of not only sharing the care, but sharing the cost of the carer.

Agencies – If you haven't got time to put ads in papers and interview people, then agencies are there, not only to provide long-term carers, but also for short-term relief. They take the load off in terms of doing most of the work for you.

Their nannies or babysitters are qualified, referenced and police-checked for you. All you have to do is see a short list of nannies they recommend and make a decision. Yes, it will cost you, but depending on the agency, you will likely be able to claim child care rebate for the care you receive if the agency is registered and an "approved child care provider". Ask the question.

Child Care Centre – you're not necessarily looking for a long term place and already have a CRN (your allocated child care number given to you by Centrelink/Human Services), so call a few of your local child care centres and see if they have temporary space due to families being on holiday.

Family Day Care – Family Day Care in Australia is still an often unknown and under-used resource. Search for registered family day care in your area and you will likely find a place.

Occasional Care – this is exactly the sort of care that can get you out of a sticky situation. Occasional care exists to offer a more flexible and ad hoc child care arrangement. You have to register with them and do all the usual administration that you would for a regular long day care service, but once you're registered with them, you can generally drop in your child whenever you need to for occasional and short term care.

Vacation Care – depending on the time of year, if your crisis coincides with the school holidays, then you may strike lucky with a local vacation care provider.

If you're in a child care conundrum, click here for our Child Care Super Search and pop in your details and needs. The Super Search will trawl through all the child care options open to you in your area.

The results will give you information such as current vacancies (the red houses), parents testimonials, fees and a direct email form to get in touch straight away.

Keep Calm & Carry On! You will find a solution.