Is it even possible to hold down a job when you have a toddler in nursery?!

[Iwannabelikeyouohh]

My son (20 months) started nursery in March.

Since starting it has been non stop illnesses (including Covid)

Since May I have not done a full month at work (I work 3 days 9-5) because there’s always something wrong.

He’s had chest infections
Tonsillitis
Cough after cough
Temperatures

The nursery have sent him home today as he spiked a temp of 39, they gave him calpol but it wasn’t coming down much and he wasn’t well.

I’m really starting to think I’m going to get sacked with how much time I’ve had off.

Surely it’s not normal for him to be unwell so often.
It’s every few weeks now :( :(

Oh and getting her the chickenpox vaccine has massively helped. It has been such a relief to know that she’s not going to get it (or if she’s does she should only get it mildly)

You need to source alternate childcare, family, friends, or get your DH to do more (bigger salary or not) as you being off work for pretty much 8m is not reasonable and I wouldn't blame your work for being pissed off.

So I say YABU

It does tail off after the first year at most. My eldest had HFM twice, conjunctivitis and had recurrent ear infection the first year or so he was in childcare. His younger brother has only missed one day, and that was due to a mild temp and waiting for the PCR to come back. I can't remember the last day I had to take off for dependent leave, mine have rarely had so much as a cough since 2019.

My little girl caught everything at the start of pre school, fortunately I work in the NHS and my boss is a mum of similar aged kids. Can you negotiate more wfh time?

So @Rugsofhonour do you believe that where both parents work they should both work within say 30mins of the nursery? Even when I commuted into London it was about 2hrs. I was fortunate that OH worked near the nursery and we lived not too far away (almost walking distance). If you're going to get called to a sick child (and it is the ad-hoc problems that are the main issue) it's best the one nearby attends rather than saying it's OH's turn he'll/she'll be there in two or three hours.

My husband will take care of our youngest when she is ill, she goes to nursery 2 days a week, this year he has had to use 17 holiday days to cover her sickness

I'm feeling this at the moment.
Youngest (20 months) started nursery in September. I think she's done 2 full weeks, the rest at least one day off - usually 2-3.

I do work from home most of the time, but I've had to cancel days in the office and, to be honest, I'm a pretty shit employee when I'm trying to work with her at home anyway.
I have an understanding boss but really feel like I'm taking the piss and he'll have had enough soon.

I'm struggling to understand how I can continue to work effectively, but have no option but to work!

I don't have a solution, but I feel your pain.