When you need care today, the fastest options are an employer backup care benefit, a drop-in childcare center, an on-call sitter through a vetted agency, a family child care home with an opening, and trusted relatives. Employer backup care is usually cheapest if you have it; drop-in care commonly runs $10 to $25 an hour, per US Department of Labor ranges.
The fastest options are an employer-sponsored backup care benefit, a drop-in childcare center, an on-call sitter through a vetted agency or app, a family child care home with an opening, and trusted relatives or neighbors. Employer backup care is usually the cheapest if you have it, often a low copay for a set number of days a year.
Drop-in and hourly care commonly runs about $10 to $25 an hour, per US Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices ranges. Family child care homes sometimes have same-day openings that centers do not, because they are smaller and more flexible, so they are worth a call even when a center says it is full.
Start with your employer's benefits portal to see whether you have a backup care program, then call local drop-in centers and licensed family child care homes about same-day openings. Your state child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agency can point you to licensed providers with availability and to any local crisis or respite care.
| Source | Typical cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Employer backup care benefit | Low copay, often $15 or less a day | Same day, if enrolled |
| Drop-in childcare center | $10 to $25 an hour | Same day to next day |
| On-call sitter (vetted agency or app) | $15 to $30 an hour | Hours, with screening |
| Family child care home with an opening | $8 to $20 an hour | Same day to a few days |
| Relative or trusted neighbor | Free to informal rate | Immediate |
Vetted sitter agencies and apps can fill a single day, but confirm background screening and any required licensing before you book. On short notice it is tempting to skip vetting, which is exactly when a known provider or a licensed drop-in center is the safer choice.
Yes, if it lets you work and the provider qualifies. Drop-in and backup care for a child under 13 can count toward a Dependent Care FSA and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit when the care enables you to work, per IRS Publication 503. You need the provider's name, address, and taxpayer ID to claim it.
One honest note. Last-minute care is expensive and the hardest to vet, because you are choosing fast and paying a premium at the same time. The real fix is a standing backup plan made before you need it: know whether you have employer backup care, keep two licensed drop-in centers and one trusted sitter on a list, and confirm a relative who can step in. A plan made calmly beats a search made in a panic.
What are my options? Employer backup care, drop-in centers, on-call sitters, family child care homes, and relatives.
Where do I look today? Your benefits portal first, then drop-in centers and your state CCR&R agency.
What does it cost? A low copay for backup care, or $10 to $25 an hour for drop-in care, per US Department of Labor ranges.
Can pretax money help? Yes, a Dependent Care FSA can reimburse qualifying drop-in care, per IRS Publication 503.
The full daycare logistics guide, from hours and billing to backup care.
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