https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:14:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2871059 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 21:27:08 +0000 Amorini 2871059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Sorry to hear it’s been such a rough winter. We were exactly where you are last year and I don’t even want to say anything about this year, for fear of jinxing us!</p> <p>We love our daycare, too. And we recently learned most teachers babysit for families on off time when the school is closed (weekends, evenings). Using that same idea, maybe you could quietly find out who their subs are. They aren’t working everyday so if they aren’t at school, maybe they might be availabe for you. Maybe you could find out who they are and swap contact info and they could be your back-up sitters. They will have gone through the vetting process and background checks — and if they are like our subs — know and LOVE your kid already. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2871057 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 21:16:17 +0000 periwinklebee 2871057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: yeah, I don't see how our current arrangement could work with more than one kid. we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our daycare, but the constant illness is a huge issue. It's expensive, too, so I'm pretty sure multiple kids there would be at least as expensive as a nanny. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2871056 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 21:06:45 +0000 Anagram 2871056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: we’ve used Bright Horizons backup care before and it was fine. But the illnesses got to be too much for us, so after we had our second, we got a nanny. The price was less than having 2 in full time daycare where we live. We would still take off for the first day of an illness (like the acute illness part), and then have the nanny keep the sick kiddo for all subsequent days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2871054 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 20:36:21 +0000 periwinklebee 2871054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: This is super helpful! I have 20 days that expire end of June, and haven't used any of them. I hadn't even thought about it in the context of odd work hours, which I occasionally have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2871052 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 20:31:43 +0000 raspberries 2871052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: That's exactly what we did! My husband and I both got 10 days of Backup Care from our employers, so we used his for the two weeks our daycare closed in the summer (and I gotta admit, it was super convenient - we told them the situation, and they had the same two people cover the entire time so it wasn't a stream of random caregivers.) And then we used my days for other random things that would come up, like work holiday parties (and to be honest, we would go to the holiday party for an hour or two and then out to a new bar or restaurant we wanted to try, haha.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2871049 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 20:03:38 +0000 periwinklebee 2871049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: Thank you! I'm going to check it out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2871042 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 18:32:28 +0000 JJ2626 2871042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: omg that’s crazy! Does seem like it might be worth trying out a few sitters that have flexibility so you can call them in this situation. Urbansitter is really popular in my area if you don’t have luck with care.com. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2871004 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 15:24:39 +0000 periwinklebee 2871004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: Thank you! This makes a lot of sense... Our daycare does have tons of closures (i.e. two weeks in summer). We've tried to cover with family but are having a hard time making that work for this summer, so it's good to know it worked for this and I'm going to look into it... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870968 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 12:53:31 +0000 raspberries 2870968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: We've used back up care a few times when I can book in advance (like, daycare closed, work functions at abnormal times, etc.) but I was just gonna say we've only actually gotten a care giver on the same day maybe once? They never have enough at the last minute, so it hasn't been super helpful for actual last minute sickness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870960 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 12:02:28 +0000 periwinklebee 2870960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ALV91711: thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870941 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:24:40 +0000 ALV91711 2870941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: well that sucks! Hope he’s better quickly so you can get back to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870921 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 08:37:17 +0000 periwinklebee 2870921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: I tried to use this service b/c DS got sick again with some sort of mystery virus, but not that sick, and I am in a bind with work and my husband is away. But no caregivers were available in our area. Hah, so much for that.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870769 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 22:09:07 +0000 periwinklebee 2870769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winter_wonder: Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870767 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 21:45:57 +0000 winter_wonder 2870767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: this isn't the one from my area, but very similar. <a href="https://baycare.org/hospitals/morton-plant-hospital/services/childrens-health/related-articles/sickchild-care-program" rel="nofollow">https://baycare.org/hospitals/morton-plant-hospital/services/childrens-health/related-articles/sickchild-care-program</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870765 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 21:41:31 +0000 periwinklebee 2870765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winter_wonder: interesting! I haven't heard of anything like that, but also didn't particularly check... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870763 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 21:35:39 +0000 winter_wonder 2870763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: nope, it's just something offered to people with sick kiddos in our community! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870756 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 21:02:40 +0000 periwinklebee 2870756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winter_wonder: Interesting! Do you work at the hospital? </p> <p>@Corduroy: yeah, I have exactly these concerns. Not necessarily about breathing, but other stuff that can come up... Like two weeks ago, LO developed hives - we think in reaction to the tamiflu - and his anaphylaxis plan says to administer the epi at any sign of an allergic reaction, since he's had a previous anaphylactic reaction. But I felt like I could assess the situation in combination with the nurse and know that was not necessary and it was just a mild reaction. </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: yeah, like I've heard cases of HFM lasting for two weeks, where the kid was basically fine besides a blister or two. Like there's no way I could take that much straight time off... and by that point you know they're okay. </p> <p>@muffinsmuffins: I wish my husband's job had a bit more flexibility. I had some flexibility to schedule in advance my hardest commitment for the next few months and did it at the time that DH is least likely to have something he can't miss. So hopefully it works. but I just stress about the time it doesn't... </p> <p>@JJ2626: Thank you! yeah, there might also be scenarios where I could phone in part of the day from the hallway of our building - but just can't have a screaming, demanding kid in the background - so I would be really nearby at least... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870748 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 20:28:06 +0000 winter_wonder 2870748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our hospital provides sick care for kids who can't go to regular care. It's more expensive, but not outrageous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870666 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:51:14 +0000 Corduroy 2870666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My last company covered the care.com subscription for this reason. We didn't end up using it. I too had concerns about level of care and compatibility with who showed up. My kids' breathing always gets bad when they have a fever and I find myself not even trusting MIL (a nurse). Logically I'm sure they are fine, my LOs zone out in front of the TV all day when sick and may not even know anyone stayed with them. Maybe when they're older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870665 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:49:19 +0000 Foodnerd81 2870665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve never used a service like this, but have been thinking about it since you posted. I think I’d be very anxious on the first day they are sick at home, to leave them with a stranger - properly vetted, but still, I’d feel bad to leave them on the day they feel sickest. But for those illnesses that drag on for a while before they can go back to school, I’d be more likely to use it. And usually with those you know at least earlier in the day that you’ll need it the next day, as opposed to that morning when they wake up with a fever. Those extra recovery days are often a lot of laying around resting in front of the tv anyway, right? And maybe if you know in the afternoon you can at least speak to the person on the phone before they show up the next morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870664 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:26:36 +0000 IRunForFun 2870664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: Oh that's good to hear, my husband's company has that same deal with Bright Horizons but we haven't used it yet. DD actually isn't in care but we could use the drop-in days anyway. It might be something we look into as I get more and more pregnant and have lots of appointments as I'm high risk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870657 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 10:47:36 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2870657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh I feel you. We missed SO much when DS1 was little. We had a system set up that on the first sick day DW would stay home as I have a job where clients are booked and it’s a pain to reschedule with little notice. I would do the second day since I could reschedule people. I also had work hours that allowed me to go in late and stay late so we would do a half day one of us and half day the other and tack on some make up hours when he was healthy again if required. Luckily my bosses are easy going and have kids so they would have been fine for me to be off and not make it up. Are any of those ideas options? My in laws are 45 mins drive away so we would get them if needed...as in with HFM and pneumonia hospitalization which he was out for 2-3 weeks each.</p> <p>I’m not sure I would trust a last minute babysitter but I think it’s worth a shot if you have no other alternatives. I just know how my kid gets when sick and I would be worrying all day if I left him with a stranger. Maybe the first day he’s ill you can be off, see if DH could do part of a second day or all of it and that gives you the chance to find a sitter 2nd or 3rd day once the worst days of being sick is done with? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870656 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 10:37:25 +0000 JJ2626 2870656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven’t used care.com but I know a lot of people who do, and I would use it in this situation. I’d maybe go into work late to watch them together for a bit but I think it would be fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870654 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 10:25:17 +0000 periwinklebee 2870654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: @oldschooolmama: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: It's a specific service of care.com in our area. There's a set of care providers they vet who are available to provide care for children who can't attend daycare due to illness on short notice. I agree that it would be much better to vet people myself in detail, have LO get to know them, and then use them for backup care. But we don't have much of a need for babysitters on weekends and I think the odds that whoever we vetted would be available for backup care at the last minute are not that high, hence the service of people who their job is specifically to be available weekdays for care.com's backup service, in contrast to the normal care.com people who are mostly available nights and weekends... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870653 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 10:17:58 +0000 oldschooolmama 2870653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a big advocate for care but I’m not sure I’d use it for sick care. Most sitters do not want to care for sick kids and the awesome ones get booed up in advance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870649 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 10:06:19 +0000 DesertDreams88 2870649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ETA: delete - realized comment was not relevant, was thinking you meant other caregivers were sick, not kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870646 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:58:36 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2870646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have used Care.com, but didn’t wait until the very second I needed a sitter. In each instance of had a chance to read through the services they provided including sick days, reviews, ask questions back and forth, speak on the phone, complete background checks, and observe them with my LO during an in person interview. If you do your due diligence now the sitter won’t be a stranger. You could also use them a couple times while your LO is well to forge some type of bond/ familiarity especially if a sick LO is less pleasant than a well LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870643 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:49:41 +0000 MrsSCB 2870643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I do think they vet the people they use pretty heavily! I hired a sitter from a service once (not care.com, but similar) and I made sure to pick one of the ones who had voluntarily agreed to a background check for peace of mind. Basically it was optional for the caretakers, but the service noted which ones had done it. Maybe there's something like that with care or the other service. I'm also not really sure how the sick thing works--I assume they must have some kind of subset of caretakers who have said they're OK staying with sick kids? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870639 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:39:17 +0000 periwinklebee 2870639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: Thanks! It is the in-home version, where someone comes to your house. The cost would be worth it if it saves me in a pinch at work, and my biggest concern is just quality and leaving LO when sick... That's good to hear your coworkers have been happy with it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care#post-2870637 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:26:18 +0000 MrsSCB 2870637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is your employer service Bright Horizons, by any chance? I've used them a ton! I've only done it for days that daycare is closed, though, not when he's sick, so he's gone to one of their centers. It's basically like a copay--for a full day at one of the backup centers, I pay $15. I get either 12 or 15 days a year to use (I forget the exact number). It really saved us when our daycare provider went out of the country before Christmas and was closed for a full week that we both had work. </p> <p>Anyway, a lot of my coworkers have used the in-home option, which does cost more. I think they've been happy with it! When you make a request for a reservation, they ask about your child's health, so that's where you'd tell them your kid is sick. My former boss had toddler twins and a nanny, and would do the in-home care when her nanny wasn't available. </p>