https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:49:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2349185 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 13:21:16 +0000 JoJoGirl 2349185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sucks taking time off for a sick kid, but that's part of what it means to work (I think). So one of us always stays home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2349155 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 13:13:10 +0000 snowjewelz 2349155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I'd stay home, unless it's a prolonged thing and you really can't afford to miss more than 2 days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347905 Sun, 08 Nov 2015 06:50:04 +0000 Cherrybee 2347905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on how sick they are. E is just getting over stomach flu and was so poorly and scared. In that situation I would definitely stay home with her. But if she had a cold, I would use the in-home care option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347831 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 23:15:15 +0000 littlejoy 2347831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, if LO is sick, DH or I will stay home. I wouldn't feel comfortable with a stranger watching her when she's sick, and I feel like if I was sick, I'd just want to be home. The first year of daycare has been full of illness, and it's pretty crazy how much a couple of sick days in a row can destroy schedules. Not ideal to miss work, but it's what works best for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347803 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 21:56:40 +0000 iheartleopardprint 2347803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, FI Or I would stay at home. I would much rather inconvinence my work than a sick LO. Thankfully, both of our work places are more than understanding regarding sick LOs, and manage things around to allow us time off as neither of us can work from home. </p> <p>I have never heard of a back up care system like you've mentioned, I wouldn't want a stranger to look after a sick LO. And our daycare centre has a strict illness policy so I can't see that as an option either. </p> <p>I voted take time at home. The only thing that would change my vote would be if it was an ongoing illness or my LO was very frequently unwell. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347786 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 21:29:00 +0000 AggieDaze 2347786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We both have backup care available, but I've never investigated it. I honestly would have a hard time trusting a random person/service that I hadn't used (it was hard enough finding a daycare) so that would be one obstacle for me. But even worse, if my LO doesn't feel good he is for sure not going to be ok with me leaving him with someone he doesn't know so that would make it a complete no go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347689 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 19:17:37 +0000 hellobeeboston 2347689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of us stays home usually, sometimes my MIL can come and help if we are super busy at work and LO isn't *too sick. We have a backup daycare option through Bright Horizons too, but they will not take a sick child. And now that LO is older I think he'd freak out in an unfamiliar environment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347669 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 18:07:49 +0000 MamaCate 2347669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a backup care option through DH's work but I have honestly never used it for exactly the reason of LO freaking out if she were to be left with a stranger when sick.</p> <p>My job is fairly flexible to balance DH's job (health care) so I am usually the one who stays home. There are occasionally things I can't get out of so I like knowing we could use it if we absolutely had to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347637 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 16:36:00 +0000 Andrea 2347637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't feel comfortable using a stranger so one of us always stays home. I know people who do use the back up care since it is paid for by the company and they've been fine with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347636 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 16:30:34 +0000 MenagerieMama 2347636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: yeah that's part of why I think DH feels like we should use the backup care. I work in a primary care clinic so they just reschedule my patients, which clearly isn't ideal but it's not like when I used to work inpatient. I just can't weigh the maternal obligation with my professional obligations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347610 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 15:22:32 +0000 avivoca 2347610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I had the option for backup care, I would definitely take it. I'd like to meet the providers first though, but it would be so nice to not lose all my sick time early in the year (DH's sick time accrues and mine is a lump sum). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347594 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 14:40:34 +0000 ChitownRo 2347594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in healthcare and def wouldn't call in - too hard to find another provider to see patients. That's why we have a nanny. I would certainly use the backup care in your case </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347578 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 13:56:39 +0000 SeptMomma12 2347578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We also have backup care through Bright Horizon but haven't used it yet. DH and I have the same disagreement. It's great to have the "back up" but I just can't get behind leaving my sick kid with a stranger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347569 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 13:44:59 +0000 LilSprinkles 2347569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I went back to work, I used care.com and found a back up babysitter for when DS is sick. At the beginning, I would have DS go to her house once a month, so he would get use to her. That way he wasn't unfamiliar with her if he got sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347548 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 12:54:52 +0000 catomd00 2347548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have back up care through bright horizons. I haven't personally used it, but I know many have and have had a great experience. I asked me coworkers for their favorite sitters so in the future if needed I can try and request one of them. I would use it if I absolutely had to but if it wasn't dire, I like to have one of us or a grandparent with DD when she's sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347546 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 12:40:45 +0000 MenagerieMama 2347546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Supposedly there are some daycare centers who do sick care. I honestly am not even sure if there are options in our area because I would always pick the in home option. It's called Bright Horizons (the backup care program) if any one else is familiar with it. The in home they basically have nanny agencies and the like in their network that they hire through. So the nanny agency we used is also a Bright Horizon's contracted group, so if we asked for in home care through their agency they would send a nanny out and we would pay the subsidized hourly rate (about 60% of what they charge usually). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347545 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 12:39:51 +0000 ShootingStar 2347545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is almost 2 and he'd be a disaster if we tried to leave him with a stranger. DH and I just switch off who stays home with him. I feel like it's pretty normal, my co-workers definitely do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347544 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 12:38:04 +0000 Truth Bombs 2347544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't understand... How is center based care an option? If your LO is sick, she shouldn't be around other children. If in home care is an option, who provides the care? Is it like a nanny service? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/backup-care-when-lo-is-sick#post-2347539 Sat, 07 Nov 2015 12:19:05 +0000 MenagerieMama 2347539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I can't agree on this issue. We have access to a backup care system at a subsidized cost when LO is sick so we don't miss work time. Options are in home care at an hourly rate or center based care. We can actually use our old nanny through the in home care option, but she has yet to be available when LO is home sick. </p> <p>I am uncomfortable with someone we haven't met before taking care of LO when she is sick, and would rather us use our sick or PTO time to stay home with her. DH feels like it inconveniences his coworkers, etc too much for taking sick time when he has an option (backup care) to work. We both work in healthcare with patients, but neither of us are critical essential staff that would cause a major crisis to not be at work. We don't live near any family and haven't made friends yet in our new town, so those aren't options.</p> <p>What do you think? Who are you comfortable with taking care of your LO when they are sick if family isn't an option?</p> <p>ETA: Neither of us can work from home (patient care!) so that is unfortunately not an option. </p>