The Importance of Backup Care

Anyone with life experience can tell you that things don’t always go the way you plan them. Simply put, life is unexpected at times. Unfortunately, when you have kids, these unpredictable moments can leave you in a pinch. So how do you handle care for your children when life disrupts your routine? Below we discuss the importance of having backup care and some of the everyday situations that necessitate a backup plan.

Illness

Whether it is your child or a caregiver, it is inevitable that at some point one of them will get sick. If you have an in-home caregiver who becomes ill, you may not want to subject your child to the risk of your usual caregiver's germs, even if they are feeling up to the task of caring for your child. Similarly, if your child is sick and they typically go to daycare, they may not be able to enter the daycare center until they are well. Most facilities have a clause in their contracts that states that they will not care for sick children as it poses a risk to the other kids in their care. Even if you are the one who provides care for your children, it may be tough for you to do so if you are incapacitated by the flu or another sickness. The inconvenience of all of these situations can be avoided through the use of backup care.

Emergencies

Another common reason families need backup care is emergency situations where short notice prevents your usual caregiver from helping you out. It could be that your work requires you to come in on a scheduled day off, the hospitalization of a loved one, or any number of other situations that can’t be planned for because they require an immediate response. While it is our hope that you won’t have to face these types of challenges if you do, having backup care available to you, frees you up to respond promptly and take care of the situation.

Spontaneity

Being spontaneous is similar to having an emergency in the sense that it is short notice, but the main difference is that spontaneity is fun. Whether you want to surprise your partner with a spur-of-the-moment date night or you just need a mental health break, getting out of the house and away from the rigors of daily life can be therapeutic. However, these sorts of impulsive plans could leave you in a bind if you don’t have someone you can rely on to provide backup care. Having a plan in place allows you to enjoy opportunities for spontaneity that come fast and vanish just as quickly.