How sick are your kids before you take parental leave?

[KnockedUpMell]

I think DS is falling ill... He feels slightly warm, has been off his food, has a snuffly nose and sleeping a lot more than usual. We have a nanny so he'll be home tomorrow anyway. I think I'm being a bit precious to consider staying home when we have a sensible nanny but was wondering if I should stay home with him if he gets much worse (I mean a high temp, refusing food and milk). Work would struggle if I took leave though, as there's lots of people on annual leave this week and we're spread really thin on the ground. would it be unreasonable for me to consider taking leave if he's much worse?

The only time I have taken parental leave is when DD nearly died, ordinary childhood illness (of which she has had very little) I have pulled in every favour I have been owed by friends. With a sensible nanny I would be more than happy.

Hard. I think the younger they are the more cautious you are, but you have to go by your instinct. If they are less than 2 and ill then I would be more cautious, and then less than 5 and then, well it's easier to judge .

If you have a competent nanny then yes I think you are being a wee bit precious staying home for childhood illnesses. If he got desperately ill and you had to bring him to hospital or something that would be different.

If I had a competent and caring nanny I would take parental leave if my child was hospitalised but nothing else.

As an employer I'd have a very dim view of a parent who stayed at home with a child with a temp despite their being the other main carer present.

I wouldn't drive miles away or leave the country but normal work... well yes?

poor spelling...tired :)

Seriously? If they are too ill for nursery and no-one else can care for them, then you take parental leave. If they are admitted to hospital, then you take parental leave. If they feel a little warm and you have a nanny you do not take parental leave. Crikey.

What loopyloops said

Ah, but dear MNetters, there's the what if feeling isn't there? And that's where you must follow your instincts.

You mean 'what if I lose my job?'

This is the great advantage of having a nanny, not worrying about having to either take days off or else fork out for emergency childcare or beg friends/relatives. He'll be fine with the nanny. To be honest I would give DD Calpol, pack her off to nursery and hope for the best in your situation...and ignore phone calls. But I am a self-confessed Calpol Cowboy.

Of hernia just unwell and nanny is on hand I wouldn't take time off. I took leave when they had chicken pox, pneumonia, stayed in hospital or had a major d&v bug. General unwell and my mum would have them for me.

Totally agree with LoopyLoops
(on a few occasions I have used flexi leave to look after DD and then made the hours up when she was sleeping as I can work from home or gone in but done a slightly shorter day)

Well I trust my nanny sufficiently to call me if she's worried it's getting worse or warrants further attention at a&e for example,mat which point I would leave work to be with my sick child.