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Sick babysitters?

Bride2bMOBride2bMO member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

Do you expect your babysitter to let you know in advance when they are sick, even if it's just a cold? Do you expect to have the option of canceling if they are?

My babysitter showed up coughing and snotty last week and I didn't handle it very well, meaning I completely ignored the issue because I didn't know what was appropriate. She acknowledged it "oh the twins I nanny for gave me this dang cold, I better go wash my hands before I play with him." I was really tempted to just (nicely) ask her to leave, but I didn't know if that was an overreaction.

Yuck. And he did develop a mild cough a few days later, but it could've been coincidence. And I am sensitive to the fact that babysitters don't get paid for sick days (she's not a full-time nanny for us, just an occasional babysitter). But I do think it's presumptuous for her to just show up with a contagious illness, even if it's minor. Just wonder what the typical etiquette is here.

Not to be all swine-flu paranoid...but at the moment I'd rather not expose my kid to germs when I don't have to.

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Re: Sick babysitters?

  • akgramakgram

    Honestly a cold like that wouldn't bother me as much as the stomach flu symptoms would.  Kids get colds and if she's practicing good handwashing and not kissing your DC I wouldn't worry so much.  Now that is coming from a second time around mom :)  Just my two cents!!

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  • rlthomas7rlthomas7

    I have a daycare kid, so I believe that at any given time, someone in his class is sick. So I probably care less than a SAHM would.

    However, for a little baby, I'd want to be able to cancel that person. Now, I think it's not such a big deal. Not to mention, sometimes I wake up feeling OK and by the end of the day I have a full-blown cold. As a babysitter, I'd feel pretty bad cancelling on the same day and causing you stress.

    I guess here's the question - if you or your DS had a cold, would you call the babysitter and give her an option to cancel?

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  • JoyousJuliaJoyousJulia member
    I think you're right that it wasn't ok for her to show up with a contagious cold. If I or DS is sick, we call as soon as possible. I only watch our babysitting charge twice a week, so I'm usually able to give several days notice so that her mom has time to find another sitter or is able to make arrangements at work.
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  • juietbridejuietbride member
    I am an asthmatic and I have MS, a cold can set me back big time and turn into bronchitus easily.  Someone comes into my home sick I am generally not all that nice about them being so inconsiderate.  Then come around my son, my baby, not cool!  I would have sent the baby sitter home too.
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  • SenoraKristinSenoraKristin

    I am more concerned with vomitting and diarreah symptoms.  My nanny called me last night telling me she caught whatever DH and I had two days ago.

    I was very glad she shared with me in advance so we could make alternative plans for today.

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  • thomas&lynnthomas&lynn member

    If I were a babysitter to young babies I think I'd instinctually call if I were sick and just give the parents the headsup and let them decide if I should come in or not.

    This post has now encouraged me to discuss this with our babysitter before it actually happens!! :) If she wants to "call in sick" that's fine by me. She's sick; we don't need no sick here!!. If she's got a cold and isn't sure what *I* want to do, then the call would be appreciated and we could go from there.

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  • Temp174496125006552Temp174496125006552 member

    Actually, I do. 

    Prior to DH getting laid off two weeks ago, we had two sitters who each watched Ben two days a week -- one of which was my sister.  We don't have a contract for my sister (obviously), but I drafted a contract for the other woman and one of the line items stipulates that if she is sick, she is to notify us right away and we make the determination whether we want her to come or not.  She signed the contract with no problems.  We had two nannies prior to her (who both had to go back to full time employment) and they both signed contracts that said the same thing. 

    If it were me watching someone else's child, as a courtesy, I would call the parent(s) to let them know I wasn't feeling well.  I would hate to know that I was the one that got someone else's baby sick.  But I guess not everyone feels that way -- as evidenced by your sitter.  Sorry. 

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