Tag-team Parenting Grows

In nearly 2 out of 3 American families, both parents work but can't afford daycare. Others don't want outside help to raise the children. Now millions of parents are what sociologists call "Tag team" parents. While one parent works, the other is home with the children and vice versa.

A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research says an increasing number of married couples have become "Tag-team" parents, working different shifts to take turn watching the kids to help ends meet.

According to a recent study, about 12 percent of Americans live below the poverty line, so a lot of struggling parents are tag-teaming. That means Dad works days, then watches the kids while Mom punches the clock on the graveyard shift, or vice-a-versa.

But experts warn while it saves money, there's concern about the lack of sleep and little quality time between parents. Studies show tag team parents are at higher risk for divorce.

According to Economist Heather Boushey, the number of Tag-teaming parents is on the rise. Their expenses have gone up faster than their paychecks, and they can't afford daycare.

Some economists say parents tag-team because they want to watch their kids themselves--not because they can't afford daycare. But Boushey says if that were true, high-income couples would also be playing tag, and they're not.

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Related links:

CEPR Study on Tag-team Parenting:
http://www.cepr.net/documents/work_schedules_2006_08.pdf

Tag-Team Parents Avoid Pricey Child Care
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=2619581&page=1

Dads & Daughters: Tag-Team Parenting
http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/for-expectant-and-new-fathers/tag-team-parenting.aspx

TagTeamParenting - A site for parents of special needs kids
http://www.tagteamparenting.com/

Keeping Connected as a Couple in the Era ofTag-Team Parenting and the Weekend Marriage
http://www.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=9431