Long-time lurker, but first time poster :-)
I'm trying to think about a plan for back-up childcare, LO at 13 months has just started nursery and has settled in really well - but there are going to be times when she has the sniffles or something and isnt well enough to go in. If she was really ill then of course OH and I would be there but we are both freelancers and not only dont get paid time off, if we regularly had to take a week off for LO having a cold then I think we would both run a serious risk of being replaced which really isnt good come the end of the month when bills have to be paid. For instance I can be replaced at a days notice as per my contract, if I'm not there to do the job then they will get someone else.
We dont have any friends or family that live close enough to help, so I'm thinking about looking into either, an agency that could provide an emergency nanny in a crisis, OH should hopefully be able to work from home for a few days so would be on hand. Or looking into Sitters.co.uk, we've never ever had anyone to babysit and it would be lovely to go out once every couple of weeks - I saw that Sitters sometimes arrange short term day babysitting as well, so I'm wondering if its fesible to have a regular babysitter who could also do the odd emergency cover during the day - any thoughts?
I appreciate that if LO is really ill then she has to have mummy/daddy around but if its a few days with a heavy cold and I'm going to lose my job and be up the creek financially then I need to think about having a back-up plan.