Anonymous
August 4, 2026Childcare solutions used & satisfaction
If you needed childcare in the past 10 years, what childcare solutions (e.g., childcare center/nursery, nanny, family support, adjusted work schedule, etc.) did your family end up using? Are you satisfied with the availability of childcare options in your country of employment, why or why not?
Daycare mostly, nanny on occasion, family support, and ad hoc adjusted work schedule. I am mostly satisfied for myself, probably because I'm almost on the other side and have managed to survive. However, I realize for far too many, the options are financially out of reach or incompatible with work schedules.
Joined multiple waitlists?
Did you join multiple childcare waitlists while searching for care?
Yes
Biggest challenges & their impact
Looking back, what were the biggest childcare challenges (e.g., long waiting times, affordability, quality, location, etc.) your family faced? How did these challenges impact your work and family life?
The biggest challenge was the initial year of daycare - as a new parent, you think you have obtained reliable childcare, but then your child (and the rest of the family) gets sick every few weeks and it throws a wrench into all of your plans. Our work has definitely suffered from having kids. Inevitably, someone has to miss a day of work to deal with illness, and it's not like there is extra time on the weekends to catch up.
One thing to change
If you could change one thing about today's childcare system, what would it be? (For example: access, affordability, quality, employer or university support, emergency backup care, or anything else.)
I have to pick two, because they're interrelated - more options for backup care and for employer support.
Additional insights
Are there any additional comments or personal insights you would like to share about childcare?
Good luck! Please solve this for the next generation :)
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