Trying to build your startup takes a lot of work. Add childcare to the mix and it can feel almost impossible. We know juggling the long hours spent handling the demands of work and home life can be exhausting even for people focused on pursuing traditional careers. While each parent has their own personal preferences, here are a variety of childcare hacks we’ve found useful for busy startup founders. 

Lean on Family

Starting any business can lead to long hours and a fair share of blood, sweat, and tears. As much as we love our children, it’s outright hard to manage the delicate balance of work and family. One great way to make sure your kids are taken care of while you’re off conquering the startup world is to ask your family to lend a helping hand. 

From parents and in-laws, siblings to cousins, or even close friends, your family can be an invaluable resource when you have to dedicate long days to your startup. If they’re able, ask for their assistance in watching your little (or not-so-little) ones. You’ll undoubtedly need help you get in the hours it takes to run your startup and having a familial support network is a blessing. 

Have you heard of co-ops?

Another great childcare hack that’s increasing in popularity is co-ops. This community-minded approach to childcare involves groups of parents taking turns watching each other’s kids. For instance, you may have your friends’ kids on Monday, and in exchange, another parent watches the children on Thursday. This type of collaborative parenting can be a fantastic way to not only have the kids build friendships with each other but provide an economic solution to your childcare needs. 

Private or public daycare

Though not exactly a “hack”, parents may take the traditional daycare route. This classic option can be ideal for your child to build relationships with others under daycare staff supervision. While daycares can be more expensive, they provide a steady drop-off and pick-up schedule. Time management is key to a successful startup, so a structured daycare schedule can be beneficial.  Daycare also provides the security of knowing your child is being tended by professionals and provided with daily activities and learning opportunities.

Bring your child to work

While not for the faint of heart, taking your child to work can be a great way to bond while simultaneously getting some work done. If you’re having a hard time figuring out what to do with them during work hours, try setting up a play area by your desk and bring familiar “pieces of home” with you. That familiarity may come as a favorite blanket, books, etc.

If they’re old enough, introduce your child to the entrepreneurial world by having them help out in small ways. These tasks can help them feel involved and teach them what you are doing as a startup founder.

If you’re considering taking your mini-entrepreneur with you to the office, take a peek at this age-based guide for bringing your child to work. 

Hire a nanny

One last childcare hack for your busy startup life is to hire a nanny. Nannies can be a great way to make sure your kid is taken care of at home by a pro. With a nanny, your little one can have an at-home routine and one-on-one time with someone who is committed to nurturing them. This also can limit your kid’s exposure to germs, since they won’t be surrounded by large groups of other kids daily. 

If you’re favoring the nanny route, make certain you look for the right qualities in your nanny candidates and thoroughly vet them before making your hiring decision.

About Lara Tanner: Lara is an Account Associate Intern for Swyft, which is a tech PR firm in Austin and Houston and a top digital marketing and PR agency in Denver since its founding in 2011. Swyft also has a small satellite office where it offers tech PR in San Francisco. Swyft has been listed as one of the top tech PR agencies in Texas for two years running by the B2B services review site, Clutch.co.