Sometimes life gets in the way of your plans, which is why it’s worth making sure you’ve got a Plan B to fall back on when things don’t work out. Once you have kids, having a backup childcare plan can also be a huge help when you’re original care plans fall through.
So, here’s how to organise backup childcare plans for when Plan A (or even Plan B or Plan C) don’t quite work out as you expected.
What is backup childcare?
Put simply, backup childcare is just a substitute childcare plan. There can be a number of different reasons that you might need to put your backup plan into action. Perhaps your child's regular caregiver is unavailable or their childcare centre is closed. Maybe your child is sick, so they can’t attend their regular day care service and you’re unable to get work off.
Or there could be an instance where you’re sick yourself and need someone to take care of your child while you recover. The scenarios are endless and often change depending on what type of childcare you use and your individual circumstances.
But regardless of your situation, it always pays to have a contingency or two for when things don’t go to plan with your childcare.
The benefits of backup childcare
Having a backup plan in place helps take the stress out of things when your original plans change or fall through. The peace of mind in knowing you’ve got a contingency in place is priceless. Plus, knowing the backup means you can action that plan quickly when things change. And you don’t necessarily have to put your life or work on hold when your little one can’t make it to their regular care.
Tips for making a backup childcare plan
When it comes to actually making a backup plan for your little one’s care, the specifics will depend on your individual circumstances. But if you’re a little stuck on where to start, here are a few tips to steer you in the right direction.
1. Check if there’s already a backup plan
Depending on the type of childcare your child attends, it may be worth checking in to see if they’ve got a backup plan in place in the event the original carer is unavailable. If your child attends a family daycare or you use a nanny via an agency, they’ll often have a Plan B in place in case they’re unable to care for the children.
Even if they do have a backup plan in place, it’s still worth devising your own contingency in case your child can’t make it to care.
2. Make plans in advance
The whole point of having a Plan B in place is that you’ve created this backup in advance. There’s nothing more stressful than trying to piece together a contingency plan when your original plans fall through, so spend a bit of time putting a plan in place before you need to use it.
3. Communicate the backup plan to everyone involved
If your backup childcare plan relies on others to look after your little one, it’s well worth getting them involved in advance too. There’s no point in having a backup plan in place if those involved don’t know the details, so be sure to communicate the contingency clearly with everyone. Plus, giving them the heads up also helps them to get organised and mentally prepare in the event that they’re called on to care for your child.
Chat to them before you finalise your plans to see what their availability is like and what they’re comfortable with. You may want to reach out to multiple people in case one backup falls through.
4. Take turns with your partner
If you have a partner, it can be worth having a chat to figure out who can step in when things don’t quite go to plan. In some cases, one partner might have a little more flexibility with their work than the other, so it makes sense for them to take charge when it comes to backup childcare.
Just make sure to keep the lines of communication open when your original plan falls through so you’re both on the same page when it comes to your backup plan.
5. Have a backup caregiver (or two) in place
Not everyone is able to drop their plans to help out, so sometimes it can help to have a couple of people you can call on in case one caregiver is out of action. If you’re lucky enough to live near grandparents, they’re often an obvious choice. Otherwise, you might be able to call on other family members, friends or neighbours if you’re really in a jam.
Alternatively, you might want to look into the different types of childcare options that are available in your local area. Some daycare centres and family daycare operators offer drop-in care, so you can drop your little one off on an as-needed basis. But that’s not to say they all offer this service or you can show up unannounced. Make sure to do your research beforehand to find childcare providers near you that offer this service.
You might also need to register your child ahead of time too. With that said, you’ll often pay a premium for last-minute childcare, but these services can be a great option in a pinch. You can use the Care for Kids childcare search tool to find childcare providers near you.
6. Have the caregiver come to you
If possible, try to make arrangements for your caregiver to come to you. If your backup caregiver is able to come to you to collect or take care of your little one, it can mean one less thing for you to worry about. Plus, some children feel more comfortable in a familiar environment and might prefer to stay at home.
Sometimes, no matter how organised you are, things just don’t go to plan, which is where backup childcare comes in handy. To find quality childcare in your area, use our childcare search tool to search, compare and connect with local childcare providers.
