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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

What is acceptable to ask a nanny to do for a sick child?

22 replies

Nightsdrawingin · 21/04/2011 10:23

My ds is a bit ill, not very ill but possibly chicken pox pre-spots. I rang the doctor today and they asked me to bring him in - I'm at work and couldn't get back in time, so asked nanny to take him, explained symptoms I'm worried about to her. Now I feel very guilty and wonder if I should have taken day off work to take him or if it is okay to ask nannies to do that sort of thing. The guilt is made worse by the fact he had a complete melt down this morning before I left, pleading with me not to go to work - nanny texted me 5 mins later to say tantrum was over and he was fine but I felt terrible. When do you think a parent should take time off work to deal with a sick child or do you think that looking after an ill child is part of the nanny's role? He is generally very happy with her and I trust her completely to make decisions about how ill he is and whether she needs to call us.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Tarenath · 21/04/2011 10:44

I've not been in this situation as a nanny but I wouldn't have a problem with taking a charge to the doctor if I was asked. One of the reasons for employing a nanny is so that you don't have to take a day off work if your LO is sick because you know they're in good hands and you don't have to worry about care being refused to protect other children like can happen with a nursery.

My only concern would be making sure your nanny has a letter of permission from you so she can take your LO to the doctor. It's very useful to have so she can authorise medical treatment in your absence in case of an emergency.

nannynick · 21/04/2011 10:57

I've taken a child to the doctors in the past. GP didn't ask for any evidence that I had permission to take the child.

While you told your nanny of your concernes, they may not have been able to relay those to the GP in the same way you could have done. However the GP in my view would look at the child and use any information available to help decide what should be done. If nanny was also concerned about the child, then they will have been able to tell the GP of changes they have noticed compared to how the child is normally.

Original poster

Nightsdrawingin · 21/04/2011 11:42

Thanks both of you for responding, am relieved to know I'm not asking too much! As it turns out doctor said he was fine and just to keep going, he was apparently cheerful (typical!).
Thanks Tarenath for thoughts about letter of permission, hadn't thought about that - obviously she wasn't asked for it today but I guess if she had to rush him to A&E for a broken bone or something it would be useful in case they need to do something before I can get there - can you just do a general one which can be used at any time?

OP posts:

drinkyourmilk · 21/04/2011 13:33

gosh I seem to live at the doctors with my charges (mainly have sen). I have also taken them to consultants, private doctors, hospital appts, dentists and even for an operation once! Do not worry about your nanny taking your lo- it's perfectly normal

eurycantha · 21/04/2011 15:02

I have to agree with drinkyourmilk I have in my time taken children to hospital for xrays after falls at school ,to the doctor for every illness from earache coughs and chest infection up to suspected meningitis.I go to any hospital,dental appointments as needed,I have never needed aletter for permission I took a little girl to hospital after she bumped her head and they just xrayed her ,no permission was asked.

TheOriginalFAB · 21/04/2011 15:08

I looked after children who were ill when I was a nanny and also took them to doctors appointments. Part of the job imo.

surpriseme · 21/04/2011 15:41

Yes its perfectly normal part of the job. I've always been responsible for taking to doctors etc.Majority of the time its been me thats made the choice to take them.I work 5 days a wk and my bosses cant take constant time off from there jobs so this is yet another advantage of having a nanny

Original poster

Nightsdrawingin · 21/04/2011 21:51

Thanks again to all of you, I feel very reassured - she was very calm about it and it all seemed to go fine and he has now miraculously completely recovered, you're right, one of the great advantages of having a nanny! Next time I won't worry about it at all...

OP posts:

CharlieCoCo · 22/04/2011 00:20

im a nanny and i alwasys take my charges to the dr or hospital appointments. its probably best you write a note for your nanny saying she has permission because some can be a bit funny (mine once must of thought i plucked some random child from the street and decided to give him vacinations lol). it has never occured to me that a boss would take a day off work, its a benefit of having a nanny:o

Samedi · 22/04/2011 00:26

I used to take my ex-charge a lot, doctors, physio, hospital, and arranging home visits. She had many health needs. Just part of the job, if I needed to take my current charges I would do, or take them to a pharmacist if I wanted an opinion on something.

seeker · 22/04/2011 00:50

Fine for you to ask the nanny to do this. But you don't need to take a child with chicken pox to the doctor unless he has other complicating factors.

ohnoshedittant · 23/04/2011 02:12

Fine to aks your nanny to do this, part of the job.

I have been asked for a letter of consent when taking children for their immunisations. I didn't have one but the GP phoned one of the parents to confirm it was ok. I think this is because immunisations, particularly the MMR, can be quite controversial. They wouldn't refuse emergency treatment e.g. pain relief/x-ray/meds etc.

VajazzHands · 23/04/2011 02:16

I once aupaired for a family that made me look after their kids who had D&V bug.. Didn't want to as I catch everything... ENded up throwing up spectacularly in host family's house..

So I'd say if kids are not contagious its not OK, if they aren't its fine.

eurycantha · 23/04/2011 11:29

I have found that parents do prefer to book an appointment for vaccinations when they are able to take their children themselves.I have taken a child for a pre school booster but the Dr knew me and that I looked after Fraser and would be bringing him.I

ednurse · 23/04/2011 11:35

I've taken to doctors appointments, hospital appointments and stayed overnight when they were admitted in hospital - once with 2 of the triplets and then all day with one of the triplets.

Grabaspoon · 23/04/2011 12:35

I've just seen it as part of my job; making appointment if I feel the the child needs to be seen ie if a rash, croupy cough etc.

Cuddling up on the couch if they're poorly or if in deed they're doing gymnastics round the lounge despite having the chicken pox, going out for a walk to stop the cabin fever.

Needanewname · 23/04/2011 12:38

Part of the job, but its nice that you asked!

nannyl · 23/04/2011 17:34

I have taken many sick children to Drs. (no GP has ever questioned me either)

Also look after with colds / coughs / D&V / the pox etc.... it is normal for nanny to look after children when they are a bit poorly.

When one of my charges was hospitalised MB / DB took time off then, and i nannied (lots of extra hours etc) for the siblings, also taking the siblings to visit, and giving the parents a half hour tea break etc. There was just one point, when MB / DB went out with other 2 children for day and i stayed with oldest charge at hospital (he was 9 years old and in for 2 weeks, so used to being there by then etc) (cant remember why, it was important at the time and 9yo was happy with me with him for a few hours, instead of MB / DB who were back as soon as they could)

Have also taken charge to A&E, (when MB / DB on holiday, me proxy parenting all 3 children, but grandma looking after 1 charge who fell off climbing frame and split chin open!)

WishIWasRimaHorton · 23/04/2011 17:42

seeker - i phoned my GP when DS looked like he had chickenpox as DD was only 10 days old and i wanted to check what to do if she came down with it. they told me i had to bring him it to get it confirmed so it could go on his records.

but OP - yes absolutely fine. our nanny would take kids to appointments if we couldn't take time off. she has taken LO to vaccinations / baby clinic etc.

Stars22 · 23/04/2011 20:58

Im a nanny. I wouldnt mind at all taking the child to the doctors, i dont drive tho (but doctors is only 5-10mins away) so could put ill child wrapped up in pushchair. My mb always takes them tho. If any of the children are what i think is ill enough to need a doctors appointment i will text my mb. I see looking after an ill child as part of our job, i wouldnt expect mb/db to be off work to look after them. One of my charges had temp at 40 for a couple of days, doctors just kept saying keep alternating the medicine every couple of hours, i didnt really like looking after a child in that situation but didnt have a choice as its part of my job.

CharlieCoCo · 24/04/2011 21:55

VAJAZZHANDS the thing is though, the advantage of having a nanny is that you can still have childcare when your children are sick. i assume as an au pair you were live in, so you would most likely get contageous things anyway if you were going to get it. i find as a live in, so far, my immunity has been really good and i dont generally get ill from the children. i even had tonisilitis once whilst living with them and none of them picked it up. i have only ever had one sick day off and thats because my boss had a sick day the day before me and gave me her bug. i didnt get it from the children, i got it from her lol.

Original poster

Nightsdrawingin · 25/04/2011 08:53

I did check that the nanny had had chicken pox before! And it was the doctor who told me to bring him in, I rang them to ask for advice as to whether his symptoms were likely to be chicken pox, expecting just to talk to someone over the phone, and they said no, bring him in straight away - think maybe it was because it was the Thurs before the bank holiday weekend. Anyway, he has recovered, no chicken pox and I'm glad to hear that I'm not being unreasonable.

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