To go to work when the baby is unwell

[Blarblarblar]

DC2 has just turned 1. He has a burst eardrum, lots of puss etc poor wee thing was in a lot of distress.
He started antibiotics yesterday. Seems in fine form today I'm alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen (as advised)
Doctor said I should keep him off nursery for next couple of days ( he's not contagious) but I have some really important meetings and I'll really let people down if I don't go in.
AIBU to put him to nursery and go to work? I'm pretty sure I know how this will go (awful mother that I am)

Well, being a mum comes with responsibilities. And I suppose a one year old baby is pretty "vulnerable" as well.

Research emergency childcare eg nanny agency for next time . If nursery ok to take him that's fine.

ishall - responsibilities the OP is clearly well aware of and discharging appropriately.

If he normally likes nursery, it will be a good distraction for him.

The nursery might be ok to give meds, but not on clearing up a leaky ear...

It might be ok for him to go in for just a couple of hours, while you have your meetings, but don't leave him all day.

Also, could you consider...? If he sleeps in the car/pram, let him sleep at work during the meeting, with a receptionist or similar keeping an eye on him?

One of our receptionists used to love looking after ds as a baby, while I attended a lecture once a week!

Yay Northern

Ideally we'd all take time off whenever the baby had a sniffle but we can't, so it's often 'best fit.'

As I said I'm keeping him home ishall I'm hardly leaving him in the woods to raise himself.

Blimey Ishall did you mean to sound so pompous
OP I feel your pain, mine are thankfully a little older but the whole juggling stress never seems to go.

Just before I read this thread I read this quote on a blog I follow:

"The obligation that evolves for working mothers, in particular, is a very precise one; the feeling that one ought to work as if one did not have children, while raising one’s children as if one did not have a job. "

The WIfe Drought. Annabel Crabb

You could dose him with a paralink suppository. That will last longer for pain relief.

Do you have to be gone long ??
I think a few hours would be OK.

My dd is no 4 and hardly ever gets the recommended R&R when sick .
I have to drag he on school runs ect

How is he this morning ??

Sympathies OP ,the preschool years are tough.....we ended up having a nanny, but then she would gp off sick, this an utter nightmare. [Flowers]

magimedi

And it tends not to apply to dads...

Bohemond - I don't know - I think being in home surroundings with one to one care is much better than a noisy, busy nursery. Even if it is someone you don't know..

Op I agree with what northern said, if ear drum has already burst and he is on antibiotics yhe worst is over and they tend to pick up quickly so I would send to nursery

My dd is four and has an ear infection, saw gp and got antibiotics Friday after she had been up all night crying in pain. She is prone to them. Anyway she had Friday off school but will be back to school tomorrow, they will administer the antibiotics.

Oh FFS, I think some perspective is needed. And OP, be careful taking advice from people who have never been in the same position as you. If people have chosen to not work or have constant access to free childcare provided by relatives they have no idea of the stress of being pulled in multiple directions.

The ABs should be kicking in by the time work comes around. Nursery will be able to perfectly adequately meet his needs until you come home. Plenty of cuddles before you go and plenty when you return. He has an ear infection which is being treated, not some sort of terminal illness.

Or some people speak from experience of being pulled in different directions of having commitments and a child that needs attention, including hospital at times.
You can't assume that people who put children first have an easy life.

I'd stay at home with him as dh can't.

I always send mine to nursery after their eardrum has popped. As others have said, she's absolutely fine by the time it has popped and, if she doesn't have a fever, all nursery have to do is to administer the drops. They seem fine with this, as long as she has been given the drops for 24 hours prior to going in to check there is no reaction. Clearly I wouldn't do this if she appeared ill....

Ive cancelled my meetings now and told my boss so I'll just look forward to a couple of bonus days with the babe
I suspect the dr was being a bit over zealous and I was being a bit precious after a sleepless night. He can have a restful few days and properly recover.
I feel incredibly guilty and as if I'm letting everyone down but I'm used to that since DC1 arrived. I shall suck it up.

Maybe you should register with a babysitting agency, just in case something similar happens again? You can have someone in your house, then, looking after him one-to-one.

My child would be more comfortable with their familiar carers in nursery than a complete stranger looking after them 1 to 1 - home or not.

OP do try to have a think about what you'll do the next time this happens - kids being ill - frequently - is a reality. I'm not sure how realistic letting your boss down every time would be. And this time it was only an ear infection that nursery can deal with. If it's chicken pox/hand foot and mouth/slapped cheek/scarlet fever/D&V or even impetigo or conjunctivitis nursery may not have him back until he's not infectious.

Why thank you herethere it had not occurred to me that he or my other child might get sick again
For some people there just are no alternatives or spare money to create one. Thankfully my employers understand that, it is me, not them that has issues because I love my job and allways want to give my all.

YANBU. Dh and I are in a similar position. We both have demanding jobs with lots of people relying on us, and all our family is 200 miles away. It's a nightmare when dc are ill, however understanding work are.

I'd probably have gone in, but done minimum hours. Hope he's better soon.

I was trying to imply that you may be playing your 'I've got a sick child and no alternatives' card too early with work. There will be times when nursery won't be an option.

You're also setting a precedent for you and your son that you take time off work whenever he's ill.

Do whatever makes you happy, I'm just offering a different take on it.

Sounds exactly like my boy. I'm still on maternity leave but we haven't been to playgroups etc all week for a couple of reasons. He's slept a lot more than usual, He needs his antibiotics 4 times a day (and is a bugger at taking them ) he will randomly cry in pain even though he can be fine a few mins before and mainly because I wouldn't be happy if I saw other children out with gunky ears they mess with their ears and the puss could get all over the toys etc. He's ill all the time at this age and it's so draining! I hope your little one gets better very soon x