Is there a "golden rule" on how often I should be backing up my iPhone and iPad to iCloud?

The same rule for any backup. Frequently enough so if you lost everything since the last update you would not be upset. If you enable iCloud backup on the phone it will back up once a day automatically, as long as the phone has a WiFi connection and is plugged in to a power source. So turn this feature on (Settings/iCloud), then leave the phone plugged in overnight, every night.

You can also make manual backups to your computer whenever you want to using iTunes. See this Apple tip for more information: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5262

I backup mine at least once a week. Depending on how often you add or change things, and how important that information is, you may end up backing up daily.

Lawrence Finch wrote:

The same rule for any backup. Frequently enough so if you lost everything since the last update you would not be upset. If you enable iCloud backup on the phone it will back up once a day automatically, as long as the phone has a WiFi connection and is plugged in to a power source.

Actually, it backs up everytime you are on wifi and you plug it in.

Chris CA wrote:

Lawrence Finch wrote:

The same rule for any backup. Frequently enough so if you lost everything since the last update you would not be upset. If you enable iCloud backup on the phone it will back up once a day automatically, as long as the phone has a WiFi connection and is plugged in to a power source.

Actually, it backs up everytime you are on wifi and you plug it in.

Mine doesn't. Mine backs up once a day, regardless of how many times I plug it in.