by Ashley Rodgers
The struggle is real when searching for child care options, but it’s especially acute when parents are part of the freelance economy. L.A. is one of the largest markets for independent professionals, but add a child to your workflow and the child care conundrum really begins. You quickly learn there aren’t a lot of options other than full-time daycare and in-home care. Many freelancers, like myself, use a mix of family and in-home care, and often depend on daily nap times for work until daycare becomes a viable option. But as the workforce changes, so have child care offerings…and there are now a few local options worth exploring.
Wiggle & Work
Wiggle & Work, located at 968 N. Vermont Ave. (at Santa Monica Blvd.), is a coworking space with on-demand child care, offering a flexible and affordable solution for both working parents and those who just need some uninterrupted time at their computer or to make a few phone calls. Bookable by a mobile app in two-hour increments, Wiggle & Work allows clients to bring their children to work, without having to sacrifice quality work time. While nurtured by a staff of highly trained caregivers, children ages three months to four years play and participate in group activities on an interactive indoor playground that encourages them to climb, romp, and run to their heart’s content. The space also offers a number of different work options. Clients can choose to work along the perimeter of the playground and stay close to the action, adjourn upstairs to the quiet room with individual desks overlooking the playground, or head to the lounge for conversation and coffee. To learn more, visit www.wiggleandwork.com/buzz to sign up for a complimentary two-hour pass.
The Jane Club
Now if, in addition to childcare, you want a car wash, a workout, and to learn basic Spanish, the Jane Club, 429 N. Larchmont Blvd., is the place for you. This membership club, located on Larchmont Blvd., caters to working women, but welcomes all, and is an urbane tri-level coworking space that offers a myriad of timesaving amenities, along with some fun frills, to enrich its members and maximize their time spent on-premise. In addition to access to childcare at The Nest, the club’s adorable indoor/outdoor play area for children three months to 12 years in age, basic membership also includes communal coworking space, community programming such as meditation, concierge service, and bookable private space for meetings and phone calls. It also offers VIP events, countless networking opportunities, and a guarantee to be around some really inspiring women. The Jane Club is accepting applications, so to apply or just learn more about its membership tiers and benefits, visit www.janeclub.com.
Snooknuk
If you head north on Larchmont Blvd. from the Jane Club you’ll come upon Snooknuk, 506 N. Larchmont Blvd., an arts and indoor play café that offers a peaceful respite in its lush gardenscape-themed indoor play space and cafe. In addition to walk-in open play sessions and daily art and music classes, it offers supervised play, which is perfect for those who have a meeting, lunch plans, or need to run a few errands. To reserve two hours of supervised play, please contact Snooknuk 48 hours in advance at (323) 498-5258. To learn more, visit www.snooknuk.com.
Elsewhere
Finally, if you have child care needs in other parts of the city, consider Collab & Play in Glendale, Pamper & Play in Westwood, We Village in Sherman Oaks, and soon-to-open Brella in Playa Vista.
Ashley E. Rodgers is a public relations and marketing consultant representing a range of clients in the arts, hospitality, food, beverage, non-profit and civic space. She is mother to one very energetic two-year-old who teaches her every day that patience is a virtue.Â
