In the first years of their children's lives, all parents go through the same, often bureaucratic, process steps. From pregnancy to finding a day care centre, there are a number of formalities to take into account. In their new role, many parents experience uncertainty about what organisational tasks they will have to deal with, what family benefits they are entitled to or what formalities are required. Confusing formalities around the birth in particular contribute to parents seeing the organisational processes as a stress factor. Childcare places, which are considered a prerequisite for a good work-life balance, are in short supply nationwide due to the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. The difficulty of finding childcare is one of the major factors influencing parental planning uncertainty.
