Looking Ahead: Your Plan for Childcare
Though parenthood is full of joy, it can also be stressful.
A major point of stress for many parents is childcare. Childcare has become further complicated throughout the pandemic, with higher demand and lower availability for traditional care in some places. Flexibility and creativity may be required, but with proper planning you can figure out how to find the childcare that works best for you and your family. Here are some questions to consider when planning for childcare:
What do you anticipate your schedule/your partners schedule to be like?
A big part of configuring childcare involves logistics. Do you and your partner work similar hours or are there times when one partner could watch the child/children? You might find yourself choosing a daycare facility with only daytime hours, or you may be someone who works nights, and a nanny might be better suited. What type of hours would you need for childcare (i.e. early mornings, daytime, late evenings)? Are your hours going to be recurring or will they change?
How much flexibility will you/your partner have?
Though we all hope for smooth sailing, as parents we find unanticipated events sometimes come up. That could involve a need to leave work early because your little one is running a fever, or an appointment for your child that can only be scheduled during a weekday. It is helpful to sit down together and discuss the amount of flexibility each of you has, and if it isn’t much for either of you, what alternatives might you have (i.e. can a family friend pick you child up in a pinch?).
What are the options for childcare?
Options for childcare vary based on your location. You may be someone who has family and/or friends nearby. You may be in a remote area where daycare facilities are hard to find within reasonable driving distance. You may live in a large city where a nanny share or a service like Otter (a service that matches working parents with vetted stay-at-home parents who provide additional childcare) might be available? Are facilities applications or provider searches competitive in your area/how soon might you need to begin searching?
What are your preferences for childcare?
Now that you’ve considered what is available, it’s time to think about what you want in a provider. Would it be less stressful for you to have someone be in your home (such as a nanny or Au Pair) and provide additional services such as basic housekeeping? Would it be helpful to have different types of childcare for flexibility (for example a grandparent watching your child two days a week and a nanny the other three days)? Do you prefer the consistency and curriculum found at a childcare/preschool facility? What have you heard about local caregivers from family and friends? Can you tour your local facilities to find out more?
What are the financial considerations?
This is such a critical part of configuring childcare. How much will you be able to budget annually for childcare? What do different entities cost? You may be able to find tools can you use to help with this (for example, daycare tuition comparisons or local caregiver average rates found through Care.com’s Rates Calculator).
With a bit of planning, your mind may be put at ease with your caregiving situation. Considering what your options might be? Reach out to your Care Navigator and she can help walk you through our comprehensive Childcare Planning Tool.