Daycare Sick Days and Illness Policies: What Parents Need to Know in 2026

The call every working parent dreads: "Your child has a fever. You need to pick up right away."

Daycare sick days are inevitable. Understanding your daycare's illness policy, having backup plans, and knowing what to expect can turn a crisis into a manageable situation.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Daycare Sick Policies
• When Your Child Must Stay Home
• Common Illness Guidelines
• The First Year Reality
• Building Your Backup Care Plan
• Navigating Work and Sick Days
• When Your Child Gets the Call
• Reducing Illness Frequency

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Understanding Daycare Sick Policies

Every daycare has rules about when sick children must stay home.

Why Policies Exist

Protecting other children:

• Illnesses spread quickly in group settings
• Young children have developing immune systems
• Some children are immunocompromised

Protecting your child:

• Sick children need rest to recover
• Group care is hard when unwell
• Prevents prolonged illness

Protecting staff:

• Teachers can get sick too
• Staffing already challenging
• Work conditions matter

What to Expect

Standard policy elements:

• Fever threshold (usually 100.4°F)
• Symptom-based exclusions
• Required fever-free period (24 hours)
• Doctor's note requirements
• Return guidelines

Getting the Policy

Before enrollment:

• Ask for written policy
• Understand fever definition
• Know who decides when child must leave
• Clarify what symptoms trigger exclusion

Questions to ask:

1. "What temperature requires pickup?"
2. "What other symptoms require children to stay home?"
3. "How long must they be symptom-free to return?"
4. "When is a doctor's note required?"
5. "Who makes the decision to send a child home?"

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When Your Child Must Stay Home

Most daycares follow similar exclusion guidelines.

Fever

Standard rule: Temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

Return requirement: Fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication

Important: Don't give Tylenol to mask fever and send child to daycare. They'll spike later and you'll get called anyway—plus you've exposed others.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Exclusion: Any vomiting or diarrhea

Return requirement: 24-48 hours after last episode

Why strict: These spread rapidly in group care.

Rashes

Exclusion: Unknown rashes, especially with fever or behavior change

Return requirement: Doctor clearance that rash is non-contagious, or resolution

Eye Symptoms

Pink eye (conjunctivitis):

• Excluded until: 24 hours on antibiotics (bacterial) OR cleared by doctor (viral)
• Return: When discharge has stopped or doctor confirms non-contagious

Respiratory Symptoms

Varies by severity:

• Mild runny nose: Usually allowed with other symptoms clear
• Persistent cough: May require exclusion if severe
• Breathing difficulty: Always excluded

Other Exclusions

Usually excluded:

• Head lice (until treated)
• Strep throat (until 24 hours on antibiotics)
• Hand, foot, and mouth disease (until fever-free)
• COVID-19 (per current guidelines)

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Common Illness Guidelines

What to expect for specific illnesses.

Common Cold

Symptoms: Runny nose, mild cough, mild congestion Daycare policy: Usually allowed if no fever and child is comfortable Home time needed: 0-1 days typically Contagious period: Most contagious days 1-3

Ear Infection

Symptoms: Fever, ear pain, irritability Daycare policy: Excluded until fever-free 24 hours Home time needed: 1-2 days typically Return: When fever gone and comfortable

Stomach Bug (Gastroenteritis)

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes fever Daycare policy: Excluded until 24-48 hours after last symptoms Home time needed: 2-4 days typically Prevention: Hand washing is key

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Symptoms: Fever, sores in mouth, rash on hands/feet Daycare policy: Excluded until fever-free Home time needed: 3-7 days Contagious period: Spreads easily before symptoms appear

RSV

Symptoms: Cold symptoms, can progress to breathing difficulty Daycare policy: Excluded with fever or respiratory distress Home time needed: Varies widely (days to weeks) Note: Most contagious first few days

COVID-19

Symptoms: Fever, cough, congestion, fatigue Daycare policy: Follow current CDC/state guidelines Home time needed: Typically 5 days isolation plus precautions Note: Guidelines may change—check current requirements

Strep Throat

Symptoms: Sore throat, fever, no cough Daycare policy: Excluded until 24 hours on antibiotics Home time needed: 1-2 days Diagnosis: Requires test to confirm

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The First Year Reality

The first year of daycare is often the hardest for illness.

What to Expect

Statistics:

• Children in daycare average 8-12 illnesses per year initially
• Most are mild respiratory infections
• Frequency decreases over time

The silver lining:

• Building immune system early
• By kindergarten, daycare kids often have fewer sick days
• Each illness builds immunity

Month-by-Month Reality

| Month | What's Typical | |-------|----------------| | Months 1-3 | Several illnesses as immune system adjusts | | Months 4-6 | Still frequent but may recognize patterns | | Months 7-9 | Some improvement as immunity builds | | Months 10-12 | Fewer illnesses for most children | | Year 2 | Significant reduction for most |

Managing Expectations

For yourself:

• This is normal, not a failure
• It won't last forever
• Other daycare parents are going through it too

For work:

• Communicate proactively with employer
• Use sick days for what they're intended
• Build flexibility where possible

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Building Your Backup Care Plan

Don't wait until you need it.

Your Backup Care Arsenal

Tier 1: Same-day options

• Partner (if available) — Can either of you work from home?
• Grandparents/family — Who's local and available?
• Trusted neighbor — For emergencies

Tier 2: With notice

• Babysitter — Regular sitter who can do sick care
• Backup care agency — Some provide sick child care
• Employer backup care program — If offered

Tier 3: Fallback

• Take the day off — Sometimes necessary
• Alternate schedule with partner — Trade off days

Creating Your Plan

Step 1: List all possible helpers | Contact | Availability | Limitations | |---------|-------------|-------------| | Mom (grandma) | Weekdays | 30 min away | | Neighbor Jane | Flexible | Only ages 2+ | | Babysitter Ali | With notice | $18/hour |

Step 2: Establish communication

• Share daycare calendar (closures, etc.)
• Set up group text for emergencies
• Discuss expectations and compensation

Step 3: Prep in advance

• Emergency contact info current everywhere
• Backup people on daycare pickup list
• Basic supplies at grandparents' house

Employer Backup Care Programs

What they offer:

• Emergency childcare when regular care is unavailable
• In-home care or center-based backup
• Subsidized rates (often $15-40/day)

Companies known for backup care:

• Bright Horizons partnership companies
• Many Fortune 500 employers
• Some smaller companies offer stipends

Ask your HR:

• "Do we have a backup care benefit?"
• "What's the process to access it?"
• "What's the cost to me?"

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Navigating Work and Sick Days

Balancing work obligations with sick child care.

Know Your Rights

FMLA (Federal):

• Up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for serious health conditions
• Doesn't cover regular sick days, but applies to extended illness

State laws:

• Some states have paid family leave
• Some require paid sick leave
• Check your state's specific laws

Company policy:

• Understand your sick day policy
• Know if you can use sick days for child's illness
• Ask about flexibility options

Communicating with Your Employer

Be proactive:

• Let them know if you're a backup to sick childcare
• Ask about WFH flexibility for sick child days
• Discuss coverage plans

During a sick call:

• Notify early (as soon as you get the call)
• Provide estimated return
• Share what you can cover remotely if applicable
• Follow up as situation evolves

Sample message:

Hi [Manager], I just got a call that [Child] has a fever and I need to pick up from daycare. I'll be out today and potentially tomorrow. I'll check email periodically and can join [specific meeting] by phone if needed. Will update you tomorrow morning.

Work-From-Home with Sick Child

Realistic expectations:

• You'll be less productive
• Interruptions are inevitable
• Focus on must-do tasks

Strategies:

• Work during naps
• Use screen time strategically
• Save less-focused tasks for these days
• Communicate realistic timeline

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When Your Child Gets the Call

What to do in the moment.

The Pickup Call

What they'll say:

• Specific symptom (fever of X, vomited, etc.)
• Request for pickup timeframe
• Any other relevant observations

What to ask:

• "How is she acting otherwise?"
• "When did symptoms start?"
• "Has anything similar been going around?"
• "What's required for return?"

At Pickup

Gather information:

• When symptoms first appeared
• What child ate/did before
• Any injuries or incidents
• What else is circulating

Collect belongings:

• Make sure you have everything
• Note what needs washing
• Confirm return requirements

At Home

Immediate steps:

1. Assess symptoms (temperature, behavior)
2. Provide comfort and rest
3. Decide on doctor visit if needed
4. Notify backup care or work
5. Prepare for potential multi-day absence

When to call the doctor:

• Fever over 104°F
• Difficulty breathing
• Signs of dehydration
• Symptoms worsening
• Your instincts say something's wrong

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Reducing Illness Frequency

You can't prevent everything, but you can help.

Hygiene Habits

At home:

• Handwashing after daycare (first thing)
• Regular bath time
• Clean frequently-touched surfaces
• Separate sick family members when possible

Ask daycare about:

• Their cleaning schedule
• Handwashing frequency
• Sick child policies
• Diaper changing procedures

Immune Support

Basics:

• Adequate sleep (huge factor)
• Good nutrition
• Age-appropriate activity
• Breastfeeding if possible (infants)

Vaccinations:

• Stay current on schedule
• Annual flu shots
• Ask pediatrician about timing

Reducing Spread at Home

When one is sick:

• Isolate as practical
• Increase cleaning
• Separate toothbrushes
• Good ventilation
• Handwashing constantly

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Your Sick Day Survival Kit

Keep these ready for when illness strikes.

At Home

Medicine cabinet:

• [ ] Age-appropriate fever reducer
• [ ] Thermometer
• [ ] Electrolyte solution (Pedialyte)
• [ ] Saline spray
• [ ] Humidifier

Comfort supplies:

• [ ] Favorite books and shows queued
• [ ] Easy foods (crackers, soup, toast)
• [ ] Clean sheets and towels
• [ ] Bucket (for car and beside bed)

Your Emergency Contacts

Keep updated:

• [ ] Pediatrician (regular and after-hours)
• [ ] All backup care people
• [ ] Pharmacy
• [ ] Work supervisor
• [ ] Partner's work contact

At Work

Have ready:

• [ ] Backup care contact info
• [ ] Plan for urgent work coverage
• [ ] Laptop/tools for WFH
• [ ] Communication plan with manager

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Resources

• CDC Exclusion Guidelines
• AAP Healthy Children
• Daycare Directory
• Back to Work Guide

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Last updated: December 2025