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When deciding to go back to work after having a child, daycare often seems the only option. Unfortunately, we all know that it is not necessarily the best solution. Your kids often get sick, they may have anxiety about being left in an unfamiliar place, they may not always get the attention they need, and of course, it can be prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, there are alternatives.

For about a year I worked as a live-in au pair in another country, so from experience I can say that this is a fabulous option that tends to be underutilized in North America. For starters, your children get the stability of a constant caregiver. This greatly lessens separation anxiety often felt by little ones when parents return to work. In addition, you benefit from gaining a family member (as many au pairs become), and you give the au pair an opportunity to visit your country. Financially it is a sound option too, as most of the wage you pay your au pair is in the form of room and board.

Another alternative is a day-home. These offer many advantages to commercial daycare centers, as they are often run by stay-at-home moms, so have fewer children, and more personalized care. Again, day-homes tend to be less expensive. However, you should be sure to check references, as these operations are often un-licensed.
If you are going back to work primarily to make extra money, then you can always consider opening a day-home yourself!

If your job would allow you to work from home for a portion, or all of your work-week, then you should consider doing so. Working from home may mean you can cut your child-care needs down considerably, as you can get your work done faster, and without spending time commuting to work. You may also be able to do your work outside of traditional business hours, so that if you don't mind getting up early, you can earn a living before your kids even wake up (or after they go to bed, for that matter).

Have your spouse pitch-in! The onus for looking after the children doesn't have to be entirely on Mom. Maybe your spouse can also arrange to work from home sometimes. Even better, perhaps he can use his vacation time to cut his work-week back to four days.

If you pool all of your resources, and keep an open mind to combining several different childcare options, you can usually a solution to the day-care dilemma!

Learn more about this author, Krista White.
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