Co-parenting is easier when calls and messages reach the right parent
Buy a Care Number and enter it as your primary contact number at your kids’ school/daycare. When the school calls or texts, your Care Number forwards it to whichever parent has the kids that day, based on your custody schedule. On Dad's days, it goes to Dad. On Mom's days, it goes to Mom.
Free for 30 days, then $12.99/mo.
One subscription covers both parents.
Make the right phone ring at the right time.
- One subscription covers both parents. Whoever signs up adds the other parent’s number.
- Calls and texts follow your schedule. Change it anytime, and it updates instantly.
- Need a schedule that doesn’t fit a daily or weekly pattern? Write to hello@carenumber.net and we’ll sort it out.
Free for 30 days,
then $12.99 a month.
Cancel anytime.
Set it once and the magic begins.
Example Care Number
(347) 555‑0142
Pick out the Care Number you want — in the area code you want. When the school or daycare calls this number, the right phone rings based on your schedule.
Example Schedule
| This Week | Next Week | |
|---|---|---|
 Dad’s Real Phone Number(217) 555‑0176 | Gets All Calls & Texts | Doesn’t ring |
 Mom’s Real Phone Number(217) 555‑0118 | Doesn’t ring | Gets All Calls & Texts |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dad’s Real Phone Number(217) 555‑0176 | Doesn’t ring | This phone gets calls and texts | This phone gets calls and texts | This phone gets calls and texts | This phone gets calls and texts | This phone gets calls and texts | Doesn’t ring |
| Mom’s Real Phone Number(217) 555‑0118 | This phone gets calls and texts | Doesn’t ring | Doesn’t ring | Doesn’t ring | Doesn’t ring | Doesn’t ring | This phone gets calls and texts |
Make sure the parent with the kids gets the calls.
- One subscription covers both parents. Whoever signs up adds the other parent’s number.
- Calls and texts follow your schedule. Change it anytime, and it updates instantly.
- Need a schedule that doesn’t fit a daily or weekly pattern? Write to hello@carenumber.net and we’ll sort it out.
Free for 30 days,
then $12.99 a month.
Cancel anytime.
Why this service was built
When a child gets hurt at school or pickup plans change, the first call tends to go to Mom, even during Dad's time. So she ends up playing the role of messenger, which can be exhausting.
Nobody planned it that way. Mom is often just the first number people think to try. But being the family's go-between adds up: forwarding texts, making calls, and following up, often from work in the middle of the day.
It isn't ideal for Dad, either. Hearing everything secondhand means details can get lost along the way, and he can't always get back to the school as quickly as he'd like.
With Care Number, each parent hears directly on their own days, nobody has to play messenger, and teachers and caregivers always know how to reach whoever has the kids.
Frequently asked questions
Does Care Number work for texts, or just calls?
Both. Calls and texts to your Care Number go to whichever parent has the kids, based on your schedule. Photo support is coming in a future update.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Care Number works with any US cell phone, including iPhone and Android, and there's no app to install. Calls ring your regular phone and texts land in your regular Messages app. You manage your schedule at app.carenumber.net from any browser.
Does the other parent have to sign up too?
No. One subscription covers both parents. Whoever signs up adds the other parent's number, and Care Number starts forwarding to them on their days. They don't need an account, but they can sign in at app.carenumber.net with their mobile number any time to see and update the schedule.
How do I reply to a text?
Forwarded texts come from your Care Number. Each one shows who sent it and a short tag, like this:
(509) 555-1234 (caretag @1) wrote: "Can you pick up Maya at 2 today?" Reply @1 [your message] to respond
Using the tag ensures your reply goes to the correct school, daycare, or doctor. If you forget to include the tag, your reply won’t be sent. So don’t worry about your message going to the wrong place. It won’t!
What does the person who texted see when I reply?
They see your reply coming from your Care Number, starting with your name, so they know which parent answered:
Vanessa: Yes, I'll be there at 2.
What happens the first time someone texts my Care Number?
Their message is forwarded right away, and they get a one-time reply letting them know how it works:
Vanessa and Ethan are using family text forwarding powered by Care Number. We've forwarded your message. Learn more: https://carenumber.net/hellosender
It names both parents but never shares either parent's personal number.
What do callers hear when they call my Care Number?
A short greeting, for example, "Connecting you to Vanessa", and then they hear a normal ringing sound like any other phone call. When your phone rings, you’ll see the caller's real number, so you know it's the school (or doctor or dentist) before you answer.
Will the school or daycare ever see my personal number?
No. Calls and texts go through your Care Number, and replies go out from it, so the school or daycare only ever sees your Care Number. That said, it's still a good idea to leave your personal number on file as a secondary contact, in case they can't reach either parent through your Care Number.
What happens when we change the schedule?
Changes take effect right away. The very next call or text follows the new schedule.
Make the right phone ring at the right time.
- One subscription covers both parents. Whoever signs up adds the other parent’s number.
- Calls and texts follow your schedule. Change it anytime, and it updates instantly.
- Need a schedule that doesn’t fit a daily or weekly pattern? Write to hello@carenumber.net and we’ll sort it out.
Free for 30 days,
then $12.99 a month.
Cancel anytime.