Statistical and historical values of performance metrics are actively used to influence routing decisions for optimum topologies in a constrained network. Traffic service level is constantly monitored and compared with a service level agreement. If deviation exists between the monitored traffic service level and the terms of the service level agreement, stability metrics are used to maintain paths through the network that meet the terms of the traffic service level agreement or that improve the traffic flow through the network. Backup parent selection for a node in the network is performed based on previous performance of backup parents for the node.