What do you do when your child is ill?

[LostAtTheFair]

I'm new to using a nursery and I've heard about the bugs that kids seem to regularly pick up, particularly in the initial stages of using a nursery. I'm just wondering what people generally do when their child is too sick to attend nursery? We have no family living within a 3 hour radius of us and my DH has a very pressurised job and he can't take time off. Do I need to take annual leave each time?

You may be able to take annual leave or other unpaid leave. It's a good idea to share taking time off with the other parent though, your job and reputation counts too. Please don't assume that it always has to be you staying home.

We are in this situation, we have no family near. We take it in turns to take carers leave and when that runs out it will be annual/ unpaid leave. We have also juggled a bit of flexi time too (me getting up at 5am, working until 9 and then working a few hours in the evening, but I am aware that isn't possible for everyone. It's hard work as she has picked up all the bugs going around.

Yep, annual leave. Or occasionally unpaid leave, which I did a few times when it was getting towards the end of leave year. It's normally rubbish for a few months as they catch everything, and then it settles down.

But you do need to talk to your DH seriously that if you are both working, it can't just be you who takes time off. Not only will it mean you run that slight risk of pissing your work off, but if you use half your leave for covering illnesses, how are you going to be able take family time off? Is your DH going to take that extra fortnight's leave on his own?

Now DD is a bit older she tends to go into nursery for a lot of colds and sniffles etc, and nursery have also been happy to take her for earaches and similar, as long as she is happy and it's not contagious.

When she caught something we knew would need a few days off like hand, foot and mouth we roped grandparents in to come down the next day and help.

Thanks all. Juggling between DH and me isn't an option - we depend on his income for 85% of our household income, so jeopardising that/irritating his organisation just wouldn't be financially possible. But the flexi time and carers leave options are good ones...

Most companies allow you 5 days special parental leave a year

annual leave shared with dh
and half days annual leave shared in case work is too busy to take a whole day off.

your dh is a dad niw and just has to step up to the job.

Your husband's work still may offer carers leave. If your child needs to be off for a few days you will need to share your time off. Your employers really won't be happy if he's not taking his fair share.

I did a mixture of annual leave, unpaid leave and making up the time. I was part time (4 days) and worked a few full weeks to make up time and put DS in nursery to make up for the difference.

It is a bit rubbish but a relatively short phase. They also like to share their illnesses to prepare yourself to get a few more bugs than you're used to.

We rely on dh's job for most of our income too but he still has to share taking time off to cover sickness. We decide based on who has the most urgent thing to do of work/has meetings scheduled.

Why would his bosses be pissed off because he is a parent?