Watching Sick Kids, Would You Do It?

Hi jfeets :) This is a touchy situation but one that I, and pretty much everyone I know with kids, have had to deal with on plenty of occasions. I tend to be the person who keeps my kids home when they are sick because I don't want to burden everyone else's households with illness. But, I have had friends who will show up to a birthday party with kids who have fevers and runny noses and the whole nine yards. That really makes me mad because I feel it's insensitive and disrespectful. The folks that I know who babysit from home have all set out a "policy" about illness. Even between friends, so that there are no uncertainties or hurt feelings. They say no one shows up at the door in the morning with a kid that's already sick (if they were sick all night or are feverish, they stay home). If a child shows signs of becoming ill during the day, the parent gets a call at work or the babysitter gets the number of another person or family member who is willing to take the child (usually because there are no other children in that home at the time). Yes, you agreed to help out but you also have the right to set some parameters. You are providing a service, even if it's to a friend, and it's ok to outline a few "rules" that will have to be followed. Your friend would certainly have rules to follow if she had to place her children in a daycare center, so she really shouldn't be offended. The same people I was referring to also have agreements about what time the kids MUST be picked up at the end of the day because there are folks that abuse that too. One of my neighbors was a sitter and she had a family where the parents used to go out for a leisurely dinner after work and then they'd pick up their kids (while my neighbor had her family home and waiting for their own dinner). Treat your babysitting like a business and you'll have no reason at all to feel awful about any of your decisions :)

well for one i would have told her the minute that she bought the kids over that if they were sick then you cannot watch them as you did not have medical insurance.you should nothave waited until later to tell her that.but anyway since all is said and dione i think that u should make up to her somehow.t is not her fault that her kids wound up sick and whats more would you not like to help you if you were in need??

Hey come on its not your fault. communicable disease transfer easily in kids she was the one who brought them to ur house Talk to her over it Its too common for kids to get sick and there is no need to make an issue over it

I would tell her up front that if your kids are sick you will be picking them up. Did she even have the courtesy to notify you that her kids were indeed sick?

I think your friend should have called and given you the option of watching her sick kids, or not. They may have already exposed all of you if they have been at your house in the last 72 hours. It would have been better for HER kids to have been allowed to stay in their own beds at their own house to get to feeling better. You did what you feel is right for yourself and your child. Do not let mom and boyfriend second guess you. It is too easy to let friends take advantage. I watched sick kids, even as a daycare provider, but some of my people were in a bind and would put their job at jeoparty if they missed work. That is the pits for them , tto. I still say she should have called and given you the option.

You can not be responsible by law for someone kids when they sick. Your agreement was for healty kids, not sick. She should know better. At lest she should ask you before she show up and ask what you think. I think you made smart decision.

I think your friend was taking advantage of you by expecting you to take care of her kids when they were sick. Daycare centers and schools will not allow kids when they are sick, so why would she expect you to keep them? If you didn't have a child of your own, it might be different, but it's not right for her to expose your child to illness like that. You did the right thing.

alot of people would of done the same thing especially where you have a daughter to worry about if a child is sick i do not believe that she should of brought them to your house because their is no sence in getting other people sick.I would of done the same thing you did.I know when my kids are sick i do not bring them around other people because that is how they get sick.

When I had my daycare, I would watch sick kids, only if they weren't feverish or had diahrea. These were also in agreement with the Dept. of Jobs and Family Services. Some kids, if they are too bad off need a mothers care not someone else. Friendship is great, but not when it comes to your own kids getting sick from others. It isn't easy when kids are placed with other kids in any close contact, be it a daycare or school even. They are bound to catch some bug off of other kids. You need to be your own judge, and if you think they are too sick to be around your kids, by all means don't watch them. If you choose to watch them, keep them separated, if they are sick they should be isolated away from other kids anyway.

I had a problem not unlike yours with people bringing sick children to my house. I was giving piano lessons and the lessons were paid for in advance. Rather than keep a sick child at home, the parents were so mean that they took their child for their music lesson regardless of the weather or the childs health. I had two very small grandchildren with special needs in my home and I didn't want them to catch an infection, so I tore strips off the parents for bringing their children to me while they were ill. I didn't feel bad about it. I felt they should have been charged for child neglect.

I have been watching sick kids while working on my degree in medicine. It has not been that of a problem with me since I try not to get to emotionally involved as it is a work-related situation. They happen to be more resilient than most adults so it's not that bad.

Um sorry to know that. You were in a very difficult situation to decide. Anyway, you have done the best choice. A mother or parent should take care of her sons and daughters. Children also needs attention. Have anyone wonder why a kid get sick? NO. The answer is because this kid lack of parent's attention. Maybe we can deny or doubt after the assumption but rationally let's think why? you will get the same answer. Unless, the kid has hereditary disease

As a parent I have made precautions as to having a regular babysitter but also having my mom close so that she could watch my children while they are sick. Although I am very lucky that my mother is there for me. I don't feel you were wrong. Sick kids are not ment to be sent to a day care or a friends house unless you guys had discussed this and you agreed to it. She should have asked you before bringing them over knowing that you have your own child that might get sick. This is a situation that everybody is going to view differently but you must do what you feel it right towards your child and go from there. What your views and your friends are different. You should sit down and talk to her about any other possible scenerios and lay down ground rules.

A childs immune system is not strong as you know they get sick so fast. If you can let them play outside it may not be so bad. But inside the germs surround them. Even if you have insurance who wants their child to get sick. Why should they be put in a position of feeling horrible.Do we feel good when we have a fever?Then you are left with having to deal with a whinny child.And a co-payment, and meds.That was rude of her. I would of done the same thing. I hope you are being paid for babysitting. That is hard work. I did it in my home for a few years.Even my friends paid me.

She should not have brought her sick children to your home, she should have told you they were sick and given you the option to have them come or not. She was wrong and your bf and mom are wrong.

Don't feel bad about this!! You did the right thing and if it was me I would have in a heartbeat did the same thing! I am emetophobic, therefore if any vomiting bugs were brought in, I would be livid! I would probably never want to be friends with her again! If it was a cold or something like that, I would still be upset but not like that... but colds don't trigger my phobia, puking does! You did the right thing, who needs these illnesses??? She should have not let you watch the kids anyway being sick!

I keep my kids home sick. I think she took advantage of you. I mean she wouldnt want your daughter over there sick. Why should you subject your daughter to getting sick. Its not fair and she should have thought about that.

I would have taken care of the kid until her mom gets her and I would ask my kid to stay away from her for a while. but thats me, I dont think your friend would have dropped her kids of to you if it wasnt important or she didnt have a choice...but if she is not doing anythingelse thats taking advantage, I would not even allow my kids to go out of a room when he is sick much more get out of the house... I know you feel guilty and im sure your friend feels bad too... she understands im sure, she is a mother too.

well first of all if you were trying to help out,you could handled this ina much better way.you could have tried giving the children so cold medicines,that I am sure you have in your medicine cabinet,we as parenta always have medicines for our children in our medicine cabinets.and if you were a true friend and was really trying to help her out ,you would have also looked out for the children's help.your child was not sick this time.either way you look at it you were very wrong.those are innocent children,and you turned your back on them,as well as your friend.I hope that you are never in that situation and know one does the same thing to you.

it's good and caring of you that your actually helping your friend with her kids but when kids are sick they need to be at home to get better, also it's not very nice for parents to bring there sick kids to other people's houses as they can catch it and could be far worser off than themselves. i think you did the right thing by calling your friend and her collecting her kids. i wouldn't be too happy if somebody brought there sick children to my home id just explain in a nice way that they can come back when there better and i don't want us catching it and im not being nasty about it etc! she should realise tho and don't you fel bad about it!