How to Handle Sick Days — For Kids and Caregivers
There is something quietly powerful about a sick day. The pauses between coughs, the soft dim of the living room light, the gentle hum of a humidifier. When a child is unwell, the rhythm of home shifts. And when a caregiver is sick, everything shifts again.
At Hunny Nanny Agency, we see these moments as invitations — invitations to slow, connect, adjust, and honor the human side of childcare. Because whether the one who’s sick is your toddler or the person you entrusted with caring for your toddler, compassion and clarity matter equally.
Feeling sick together — and the shared emotional landscape
When your little one wakes up with a fever, when your caregiver texts they’re not feeling well — there’s a ripple that goes through your home. School gets postponed, work schedules wobble, routines change. Even the most organized household can feel fragile.
Parents often share this vulnerability online. One post on Reddit in the r/toddlers subreddit reads:
“No one prepares you for this. You don’t really get sick days as a parent. … You just lower the bar and get the bare minimum done until you are feeling better.”
That quote hits. Because whether you’re the parent or the caregiver, you feel every shift. You feel the weight of responsibility, the fatigue, the question of “what now?”
In the Cincinnati and Cleveland region, where families lean on caregiving relationships to keep their day-to-day running, these sick-day rhythms matter a lot. A nanny in this region might cover school drop-off, after-school play, dinner prep. When they’re out sick, or when the child is, the domino effect is real.
Setting the stage: policies, communication, and trust
One of the best ways to ease the stress of sick days is to have clear agreements before you need them. At Hunny Nanny Agency, we guide families and caregivers through these conversations so they don’t become reactive — they become prepared.
For families, we encourage questions like:
What is our policy when the child is sick? Fever? Vomiting? A runny nose?
What is our caregiver’s policy when they’re sick? What counts as call-out?
How will backup care work? Will we have a roster, or use an agency service, or rely on family/friends?
How will communication happen? Texts, calls, log/messages? Who updates whom and when?
What compensation looks like — if someone legitimately can’t work due to illness, how are hours or pay handled?
From caregivers’ perspectives, we also hear concerns:
“Am I expected to show up if I have a cold?”
“What if the child is still sniffling but ready enough to play — am I covered?”
“How will my contract handle multiple days out for illness?”
In forums like r/NannyEmployers and r/Nanny you’ll find this exact conversation:
“What is the normal amount of times a nanny should call in sick? … Our nanny has called in sick twice since May … I know sick time is unpredictable and you never know and I’m empathic … but paid sick days for a reason.”
“If I’m sick from the NK/NF, I stay out if I feel I’m able to take care of the kids properly. I stay out if I have body aches and/or fever …”
These voices show how real and nuanced this is.
When the child is sick: what to do
The child being unwell is often the more visible sick day. But it’s also the one that can ripple across the schedule. Here’s how we advise families and caregivers to approach it:
Step 1: Recognize the signs and set the tone
Fever, vomiting, contagious rash — these are clearer markers. But there are also those less obvious moments — a child who is achy, tired, clingier than usual. A caregiver or parent might say: “They’re off today.” It’s OK. It’s part of caring.
Step 2: Communicate right away
If the nanny calls in because the child is sick, the family needs to know ASAP so they can pivot. If the child is sick but the nanny is still coming, both parties should agree: what’s safe? What’s manageable?
Step 3: Activate backup care if needed
Maybe you have a trusted substitute caregiver on call. Maybe your nanny agency offers emergency backup. Maybe grandparents step in. A Reddit parent noted:
“If my mom can’t come down then I take the day off ... My husband or I have also taken vacation to coincide.”
In Cincinnati, you might rely on local services like the urgent-care network at Cincinnati Children’s (with walk-in pediatric urgent care locations) for evaluations if needed.
Step 4: Let the nanny participate in the plan
Often the caregiver knows your child’s rhythms — naps, meds, favorite comfort item. Include them in the plan if they’re working or if the day shifts. Their insight matters.
Step 5: Maintain the contract clarity
If the child’s illness means the nanny cannot come, what are the terms? Guaranteed hours? Paid or unpaid time? Clarify now so no one is scrambling emotionally or financially later.
When the caregiver is sick: softer and structured
It’s all too easy to assume the caregiver will just show up — but they are human, too. When they’re sick, the trust you’ve built needs a safety net.
A real voice from a nanny:
“I think we all struggle with this as nannies. We genuinely feel bad when we have to call out. … I’d maybe have a conversation with her to kindly remind her that you value her as an employee and want her to take care of herself.”
Here’s how families and agencies can handle this thoughtfully:
Step 1: Acknowledge the possibility
Let your nanny know: if you’re sick, we’ll figure it out. Stressing that you want you to rest and come back well can reduce guilt and strengthen trust.
Step 2: Define the illness threshold
What conditions mean “stay home”? Fever? Vomiting? Highly contagious illness? Defining that together — and seeing industry thoughts — helps. One contract example read:
“Our contract allows for up to 5 days of sick time … our nanny will not work during COVID, HFM, or if our kid is vomiting.”
Step 3: Ensure backup care is clear
If the nanny is out, who steps in? Have a roster. Consider local backup options in the Cincinnati / Cleveland area. This could include other caregivers from Hunny Nanny Agency’s network, or trusted local babysitters or agencies.
Step 4: Maintain open communication
If your caregiver is ill and is choosing to stay home, ask how you can support their return. Are there tasks they can resume gradually? Do they want to share notes remotely? Their well-being is part of the relationship.
Step 5: Honor the balance of warmth and professionalism
Treating your nanny with care when they’re sick reinforces that your relationship isn’t just transactional — it’s rooted in respect. When you combine that with clear professional boundaries (hours, pay, expectations) you fortify the trust.
Crafting a shared sick-day playbook
Families who thrive through sick days typically have something like this:
A written “sick-day” policy you both reviewed (child illness / nanny illness)
A clear backup roster or agency support plan
A communication checklist: Who texts whom? What info should be included?
A sick-care log: symptoms, meds given, meals skipped, naps taken
Reflections post-illness: what worked? What didn’t? What’s next time?
With these in place, sick days feel less like emergencies and more like managed curveballs.
Emotional and relationship side of sick days
Sick days aren’t just about logistics — they’re about emotions. A baby body aching. A nanny worried about infecting the family. A parent torn between work and care.
One Reddit post echoed that feeling:
“It totally depends on the sickness … a runny nose with no fever … I would still expect them to work.”
That tension lives in many homes: the tension between expectation and care. When a childcare relationship is grounded in mutual respect, that tension softens.
In both Cincinnati and Cleveland, we’ve heard families say:
“When our nanny was out for five days thanks to our toddler’s strep throat, we weren’t panicking — because we knew we had the plan in place, and we felt supported.”
That sense of calm means your home doesn’t slide into chaos. Your caregiver doesn’t feel compelled to push through illness. Your child — you — feel seen.
Local tips for the Cincinnati / Cleveland caregiver landscape
Because local context matters, here are some region-specific resources:
In Cincinnati, the urgent care network of Cincinnati Children’s offers pediatric walk-in help when your child’s symptoms escalate.
For caregivers in Cleveland, you might look to pediatric care centers and local backup-care networks. If your nanny is under the weather, having a list of trusted substitutes nearby in Cleveland wards or suburbs is wise.
For families in both cities, ask your nanny or agency about local backup-care lists: college-age sitters who cover mid-day, other nannies who can swap days, or agencies that specialize in emergency care.
Encourage your nanny to join local peer groups (for example, nanny groups in the Western Reserve / Greater Cleveland area, or caregiver networks in Greater Cincinnati) so she has her own support system — whether she’s recovering from illness or navigating a child’s cold.
Parent and caregiver reflections: Real words
From r/NannyEmployers:
“I’d be sure to tell her you will give 1-2 weeks of sick leave if you want to be sure she doesn’t come in with any colds!”
From r/Nanny:
“10 PTO days and 5 sick days is industry standard. … I would tell her no and I honestly would start looking for another nanny.”
These voices remind us — this isn’t hypothetical. These policies and feelings are being shaped in real homes across the country. And it’s okay to borrow them, adapt them, and make them your own.
When you feel overwhelmed — a gentle reminder
If you’re reading this while your child or nanny is under the weather — first, you’re doing enough. A cold doesn’t make you less capable, a day off doesn’t make you lazy. When you’re juggling illness and care, your compassion matters more than color-coded schedules.
If you feel badly because your nanny is out, it’s okay to acknowledge that. It shows you care. If your caregiver feels bad because they couldn’t come in, acknowledging that can strengthen your relationship more than any perk ever will.
Setting up for smoother days ahead
Looking ahead, here are couple of moves to make so your next sick day is less of a scramble:
Revisit your nanny contract: does it clearly state sick policies for both child and caregiver?
Build or refresh your backup-care roster: names, availability, rates, contacts.
Have a “sick-day supply basket” at home: meds (approved by pediatrician), thermometer, extra blankets, favorite comfort item for your child.
Ask your caretaker: what logistic support would help you if you were ill? Offering clarity ahead of time helps everyone.
After a sick period: debrief. What surprised you? What could have gone smoother? What gaps remain?
Why this matters for families and caregivers
Because sick days aren’t just about downtime. They’re about relationships, respect, boundaries, and trust.
When a nanny knows she can be honest about her own illness and still feel valued — she’ll stay engaged, committed, and present. When a family knows they can rely on their caregiving partner and a backup plan — they’ll feel less stressed and more hopeful.
In both Cincinnati and Cleveland, we’ve seen families thrive long-term when they treat these moments not as disruptions but as part of their care rhythm.
Our invitation to you
If you are in the Cincinnati or Cleveland area, considering a nanny or caregiver placement — or rethinking your sick-day policies and backup plans — we at Hunny Nanny Agency would love to walk with you. Our services include full-time, part-time, and emergency backup placements, and we help both families and caregivers set up agreements that work compassionately and professionally.
Because there is no perfect home, no perfect family — but there is a perfectly human way to handle the days when sickness comes. With kindness. With clarity. With trust.
Here’s to fewer emergency calls, smoother transitions, and the comfort of knowing your caregiving team — whether you’re the parent, the nanny, or both — is prepared, valued, and resilient.
From all of us at Hunny Nanny Agency — you are seen, you’re doing important work, and you don’t have to face sick days alone.
