How to help your caregiver with this topic

• Make sure your caregiver has current contact information for you and your designated back up.



• Many caregivers are of childbearing age, and infections (and treatments) can have devastating effects on a developing baby. If there is ANY chance that your child has been exposed to a dangerous illness, keep them away from care; you may not know if your caregiver is pregnant. A virus called CMV (Cytomegalovirus) is of particular concern to pregnant workers.



• Teach your kids to cough and sneeze into their sleeve (at the elbow level). This helps keep germs from flying through the air and sleeves, unlike hands, don't usually come into contact with doorknobs and other surfaces.



• Don’t ask your caregiver for a tuition discount for days your child misses. You are paying for a licensed space in a facility in addition to your child’s direct care. Your caregiver’s business expenses (like rent and insurance) continue even if your child doesn’t attend.



• When your child starts to get sick, try to stay home with him/her. You do your caregiver a favor by keeping germs at home. You help yourself by lessening the time you may have to take off work if the illness/cold gets worse.



• If your employer is not aware of the Family Medical Leave Act, share with them the sections of the Act that highlight the need to offer leave to care for family members who have a long term illness or serious health condition.



• Negotiate with your employer about calling in sick BEFORE your child gets sick.



Some employers require a parent to send a child to child care and be called for pick up, rather than staying home in the first place. Help your employer understand that this type of policy is not good for the bottom line – it spreads illness and increases health care costs. Receiving a sick, cranky child, or having to say no to a desperate parent places a burden on child care programs.


• Ask about your child care facility’s access to a “child care health consultant”. If the facility does not have contact with a child care health consultant, help your caregiver explore the possibility of getting a child care health consultant involved. To find a CCHC in your area, contact your State Health Department.