It’s inevitable that from time to time your child may come down with a cold or some other common childhood illness. Aside from the worry of caring for your sick little one, you may also have to rearrange your days while your toddler is feeling unwell.
If your child is ill at daycare, you may get a call from the facility letting you know that he needs to be sent home. If you can’t get there, you may have to arrange for someone to pick him up or leave work early, if you can.
It’s a good idea to keep your child home until he’s better so he doesn’t spread germs to the other children at the daycare center. Your healthcare provider will be able to advise on when he’s well enough to return.
If your employer allows it, you may consider working from home during this time. You could also split the duties with your partner: You can take the morning off from work, and have your partner take the afternoon, or vice versa.
If you can’t work from home, consider finding a family member or babysitter who can step in to help watch and take care of your child.
When your child doesn't feel well, he may struggle to sleep at night, so you may be up through the night and be more tired during the day. Now might be a good time to reach out for help from the grandparents or a babysitter so that you have the support you need.
Caring for your sick child isn’t always easy, but don’t be afraid to ask for help, and contact his healthcare provider if his condition doesn’t improve. With most common illnesses like a mild cold or a sore throat, things should resolve within a few days and life will soon get back to normal.
