Emergency Child Care

Build your own family’s emergency child care plan 

Emergency plans, can focus on supporting your family through the first 24 to 48 hours, or until a family member or friend is able to step in.

To help make your plan practical and reassuring, you might consider:

• Thinking through a range of possible situations, especially if your support network lives far away (for example, if someone may need to travel to you)
• Identifying who could care for your children in different situations, such as for a few hours, overnight, or on weekends
• Keeping clear and up-to-date contact information for each person who may help
• Clarifying how care might work, such as whether someone would come to your home or if your children would go elsewhere
• Outlining helpful routines and logistics, like school or child care drop-off and pick-up
• Sharing simple guidance on what to do in an emergency, including who caregivers should reach out to if support is needed

Add any details about your child(ren) that would be helpful for someone stepping in (e.g., your child(ren)’s dietary needs, routines, activities, school they attend). The plan should also outline arrangements for all those you normally care for such as elderly parents and pets.

You can even have a few plans and order them by preference. And don’t forget to share the plan with the child care provider(s) you’ve listed (they might also have some useful feedback). You can also consider identifying a “coordinator” and providing them with the plan just in case you need someone to take over on your behalf. 

In addition to recording your plan, it’s a great idea to introduce your children to the emergency caregiver(s) ahead of needing their service. This helps ensure everyone is comfortable and familiar with the arrangement.

Create a list of potential child care providers 

Here are some options to consider:

• Family and friends: Reach out to trusted family members or friends who might be able to help.
• Military family networks: Connect with other military families, and colleagues for mutual child care support.
• Neighbours: Consider asking neighbours you know and trust.
• Your local Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC): 
  • Some MFRCs offer emergency child care on site. Contact your MFRC to find out if they offer this service.
  • Some MFRCs help families look for emergency child care. Contact your MFRC to find out if they offer this service.
• Community services: Some communities have emergency child care programs, and some larger cities like Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton have 24/7 child care centres.
• On-demand babysitting and nannies: Look into the on-demand babysitting services available in your area e.g., you can search “on-demand babysitting near me.” Find out about their services, how to access them, and how long it takes to get a babysitter or a nanny. One of our Child Care Navigators can help you with this research.

Important to note: Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, Military Family Resource Centres, and the Canadian Armed Forces can help offset emergency child care costs when families meet eligibility criteria.