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SEATTLE -- Child care experts say working parents need to find a back-up child care plan in the event of an early morning emergency to give them peace of mind that their children are in safe hands.
Matt Eriksen and his wife both work odd hours and spend time with family when they can. They had a part-time nanny watching their children but issues kept popping up.
Eriksen said, "Sometimes the nanny could just call at like 7:30 or 8 in the morning, scheduled to be here at 8:30 or so, and say I've got the flu.”
Marty Jacobs at Child Care Resources sees these problems every day.
Jacobs said, "Illness of a provider or illness of a child can really create havoc in a family’s life. It’s challenging to maintain child care under all those circumstances.”
Jacobs says when parents find their primary child care option their work isn't done. Working parents should have a Plan 'B' and Plan 'C'.
A lot of companies like Microsoft and T-Mobile offer child care for employees. Visit your Human Resources department to find out if your company also offers similar benefits.
Childcarenet.org is a great resource to find child care options. Jacobs advises parents to find trustworthy friends and family members with flexible schedules before an emergency strikes.