Dad, be the one they call
Schools and daycares tend to call Mom first out of habit, even when you want to be more involved. With a virtual line from Care Number, you’ll get more of those mid-day calls and texts from the teacher, school office, or daycare.
Getting started is easy:
- 1Get your Care Number. It’s a specific one just for your family, in the area code you choose.
- 2Give it to the school as the primary contact number for both dad and mom.
- 3Set a recurring schedule for whose phone should ring – mom’s or dad’s – when that number is called. That’s it!
Free for 30 days, then $12.99/mo.
One subscription covers both parents.
Be more involved, automatically
- Calls and texts follow your schedule. Change it anytime, and it updates instantly.
- One subscription covers both parents. Whoever signs up adds the other parent’s number.
- 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.
One house or two, it works the same way.
Same house
Share the load, day by day.
If you’re living in the same household and want to balance the day-to-day more evenly, split the week. Take the days that fit your work schedule, and she takes the rest.
With a Daily schedule, calls and texts ring you on your days and her on hers. The school always dials the same number, so they don’t have to remember who to call.
Two houses
Stay in the loop on your weeks.
If you and your kids’ mom live apart and have alternating weeks with the kids, the school shouldn’t have to keep track of whose week it is.
With a Weekly schedule, calls and texts reach you on your weeks and her on hers. The system automatically switches at the handoff time you pick.
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 your role unmistakable.
- Calls and texts follow your schedule. Change it anytime, and it updates instantly.
- One subscription covers both parents. Whoever signs up adds the other parent’s number.
- 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 matters for dads
Many dads want to know everything about their kids’ daily lives, logistics included. But schools and caregivers run on habit, and habit usually means calling Mom first. Without a clear system, responsibility drifts toward Mom, and your role gets harder to see.
Care Number makes your involvement unmistakable. On the days and weeks you pick, you’re the first call: the fever at daycare, the early pickup, the permission slip. You handle it directly.
This builds the respect you’ve been looking for.
Frequently asked questions
Is Care Number only for separated or divorced dads?
No. It works for any two parents sharing the care, in one house or two. Parents in the same house can use a Daily schedule (for example, Dad has Monday through Wednesday). Co-parents in two houses can alternate weeks with a Weekly schedule, or whatever works for them.
Does Care Number work for texts, or just calls?
Both, and photos too. Calls, texts and photos sent to your Care Number go to whichever parent has the kids, based on your schedule.
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.
How does the repeating schedule work?
You set your schedule up once and it repeats into the future until you change it. There are two patterns to choose from:
Daily: Pick which parent has each day of the week.
Weekly: You alternate full weeks with a handoff day and time of your choice (e.g. every Sunday at 2:00 PM Eastern).
You can change the schedule any time at app.carenumber.net.
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.
Find your Care Number.
Pick a number in area codes across the country.