Backup Childcare · Boston & Massachusetts

When childcare falls through,
ask us who's available.

For working parents who want a vetted option when plans fall through.

Backup childcare in Boston from pre-vetted, W-2 caregivers. Backup care, including through Bright Horizons, is available only when caregivers are available. Same-day and last-minute requests are accepted when a vetted caregiver is available, but are never guaranteed.

Ask About Availability See How It Works

Without a backup plan

Even the best childcare arrangements have a single point of failure.

Families who plan for backup stay in control.
The ones who don't remember the last time they didn't.

One plan, no backup
  • ✕ One call-out breaks the entire week
  • ✕ Scrambling costs hours and goodwill
  • ✕ Work gets disrupted — meetings, deadlines, focus
  • ✕ Stress accumulates with every near-miss
  • ✕ You're reactive, not prepared
vs.
Nurture Haven backup care
  • ✓ One call-out becomes a manageable moment
  • ✓ Vetted coverage when a caregiver is available
  • ✓ Work continues. Day stays intact.
  • ✓ Calm, because a plan already exists
  • ✓ You're prepared, not scrambling

This is for you if

You've said any of these things

Backup care isn't for unusual situations. It's for the completely ordinary ones that break your week anyway.

Our nanny is out sick today — I have nothing.
The most common childcare crisis. No notice, no options, meeting at 9am. When a vetted caregiver is available, this is what backup care is for.
Daycare just closed unexpectedly — what do I do?
Weather days, staff shortages, facility issues. Daycares close. When they do, you need a system — not a contact list.
School vacation doesn't match my work schedule again.
February break, April break, random professional development days. The calendar gaps are predictable. The scramble doesn't have to be.
We need coverage this week — not next month.
A project came up. Travel changed. Plans shifted. Short-notice requests are welcome — and filled when a vetted caregiver is available.

Most families use backup care a few times per month —
but rely on knowing it exists year-round.

What we provide

A backup care system —
ready before you need it

📋
Pre-Vetted, W-2 Employed Caregivers
Every caregiver is background-checked, reference-verified, and employed by us before you call. The vetting is done. You're booking a professional.
⚡
Short-Notice Requests Welcome
Same-day and last-minute requests are accepted when a vetted caregiver is available, but are never guaranteed.
⚕️
RN-Informed Care Standards
Massachusetts' only RN-led childcare agency. Healthcare-level thinking applied to every caregiver we employ.
📍
Coverage Across Greater Boston & MA
Boston, Cambridge, MetroWest, and beyond. If you're in Massachusetts and need care, we want to hear from you.

So you're not starting from zero when something goes wrong.

How to Book
Options designed around how you actually use care
Through Bright Horizons
Backup care, including through Bright Horizons, is available only when caregivers are available.
Pay-As-You-Go
Hourly rates, no ongoing commitment. Request care when you need it, with vetted professionals every time.

We'll help you find the right fit on a call.

Ask About Backup Care

The process

Four steps. No searching, no guessing.

01
Request care
Call or send a request when something falls through. We'll confirm whether a vetted caregiver is available.
02
Tell us what's going on
Timing, location, number of children, any relevant needs. One conversation. No lengthy forms.
03
We match an available caregiver
We handle matching, coordination, and logistics. You're informed at every step — but you don't manage any of it.
04
You get your day back
Your child is in professional hands. You make the meeting, handle the work, take back the day.

No searching. No guessing. No stress.

Why not just use an app

There's a difference between
a gamble and a system.

Apps give you access to a marketplace. We give you a vetted team and a coordinator. Not the same thing.

Typical backup care apps Nurture Haven
Caregiver vetting You vet — or trust the platform's basic check CORI, national background check, references, in-person interview — done before deployment
Employment status Independent contractors — you may take on employer risk W-2 employees — fully insured, no liability to you
Coordination You search, select, message, negotiate, arrange We handle all of it — one call, done
Consistency Different person every time, varying quality Matched caregivers build familiarity with your family over time
Oversight Platform-level only — no agency accountability RN-led agency standards, ongoing training, performance accountability

Where we serve

Backup care across Massachusetts

Boston
Greater Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Dedham, and surrounding areas
MetroWest
Framingham, Natick, Hopkinton, Southborough, Westborough, Milford, Ashland
Western MA
Springfield, Worcester, Pioneer Valley, and surrounding communities
Beyond
Coverage extends when availability allows. If you're unsure — call. We'll tell you honestly.

Before you hesitate

The questions you're probably asking

Is this really available on short notice?
Same-day and last-minute requests are accepted when a vetted caregiver is available, but are never guaranteed. Call (774) 292-4600 and we'll confirm availability.
Will it be someone new every time?
Sometimes — but always vetted, trained, and backed by our team. And regardless of who shows up, the vetting standard is identical every time.
Is this complicated to set up?
No — and that's intentional. We want backup care to be in place before you're stressed, not something you're figuring out in a crisis. One conversation gets you set up. After that, it's one call when you need it.
Is backup care guaranteed?
Backup care is something you can ask about when your usual care falls through. Backup care, including through Bright Horizons, is available only when caregivers are available. Same-day and last-minute requests are accepted when a vetted caregiver is available, but are never guaranteed.

Where backup care fits

→ You're here
I don't want that to happen again
"I need a reliable Plan B"
Backup care — this page
→ Overnight Care
We have a newborn
"Overnight support so we can sleep"
Overnight newborn care →
→ Nanny Placement
I want a long-term solution
"A dedicated caregiver for our family"
Nanny placement →

Get started

Stop scrambling when plans fall through.
Have a backup plan that works.

A quick call is all it takes to get backup care in place. No pressure — just a walkthrough of what makes sense for your family.

Get Backup Care Request a Consultation

Or call (774) 292-4600 · We respond within one business day