You can use a service such as Sittercity to help you find a babysitter to use as a backup child care plan. This is important if you’ve got small children because in real life they get sick. You never know when the flu, virus, strep throat or accident will occur. Most employers are not that happy when one has to miss an important work schedule, or a special presentation, so being prepared for inevitable is the key. Know what some of your options are, so you’ll be stress free when the day arrives of illness from your children.
It’s true that finding reliable daycare is hard enough, but finding it on a deadline with illness is very hard. Most daycare centers are very picky when it comes to children with communicable illness at their centers. They do have to make a profit, and the last thing they need is an empty daycare with a lot of mad parents. However, you have to get to work and there are ways to get there. Some centers will have extra staff on hand for children that are sick. Most though will require the child to be on antibiotics before their readmitted to the care of the employees. Some are on staff permanently, and some have to be called in for emergency work. At times they are not at home, but it’s an option to look at when choosing a daycare center.
Another option for a backup child care plan would be to use a family member when your children get up and are sick. You’ll need to look at the fact though that some members of your family might not be home, or more importantly don’t need to care for a sick child. If an elderly parent has certain medical issues that could be complicated if exposed to an illness, then find someone that is reliable, but doesn’t have the health issues. A backup plan with trusted family members is the way most working people solve their sick children issues, so talk with others and arrange for help if it’s needed.
Online Internet agencies exist for emergency childcare problems, and some are listed right in your local telephone directory too. Just make sure that their credentials are stated, and if possible talk with others before the situation ever arises that you need emergency care for your children. There are a few very specialized agencies that offer nurses to come to your home, and care for sick children. Please understand though these are very hard to find, and most of these types of services don’t exist in many areas of the U.S. At times you might even be able to find care from a local hospital service for working parents with sick children. Again, these are hard to find, but if you do find one your company might pay part of the bill, so you’ll not miss work. Both of these services are very expensive, and depending on the area can cost over $100.00 for an eight hour work day.
Some neighborhood communities have a backup child care system set up where mothers or fathers that need help can get it by letting their child either stay with a parent that is off work, or with their nanny if for some reason their nanny is sick. The drawbacks are that the help might be suddenly called in to work, or they consider that your child is to sick to stay with the care giver. Look to your local church or synagogue as an important aid in getting quality child care help too. A helpful pastor might be willing to care for your children, and the benefit is that they know many people that would likely help you out in a jam. Even if they can’t recommend anyone within your religious organization they have access to other centers and hospitals that could care for them.
Finally, there is the option that you can take the day off by using a few vacation or sick days if your employer offers it. Also, look into eliminating child care back up plans by either starting a business from home, or asking your employer to let you telecommute from home. There are many that are offering that solution, and the Internet is making it a very viable option for today’s working parents. Don’t forget your partner either, ask them to fill in if their schedule allows.
Having a backup child care plan is the best way to get quality child care, and if you plan well enough ahead for the emergency it’s likely that you won’t be stuck high ad dry without help. Remember though, at times even the best laid plans get derailed, so just take it on the chin, and spend some quality time with your children because they need you.