Sick baby

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny to a sweet ten month old baby boy. I left him perfectly healthy on Friday and on Monday, parents inform me he is sick. He is teething and he has a mild fever. I monitor him the past four days and his fever hasn't gone away completely. I asked the mom when is the baby going to see a doctor? She said he's perfectly fine. Just normal teething and it will be fine. I am not comfortable being home with a sick baby. I told the mom if baby is still sick by Sunday, I don't feel comfortable watching him and she said it's up to you.

[Anonymous]

Teething babies often have a low grade fever. Are you experienced with watching babies?

[Anonymous]

No need to call the doctor if it’s mild. It could be teething. Fine to say no

[Anonymous]

How high is the baby’s temperature? What’s considered an adult fever and what’s considered a baby’s fever are very different.

And why would you be uncomfortable caring for him with a fever?

[Anonymous]

You’re going to lose your job, OP.

[Anonymous]

Yes teething + a fever can go hand-in-hand a lot of the time, however I personally think your Mom Boss’s nonchalant attitude about her son’s fever is clearly negligent.

Since he has had the fever for almost a wk., it would be in everyone’s best interest to take the child to see his Dr.
To just throw caution to the wind as this Mother is doing is simply unacceptable in my opinion.

And if she is unwilling to take her baby in - then she should not expect you to care for him until the origin of his fever is detected.
I really feel sorry for this poor child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes teething + a fever can go hand-in-hand a lot of the time, however I personally think your Mom Boss’s nonchalant attitude about her son’s fever is clearly negligent.

Since he has had the fever for almost a wk., it would be in everyone’s best interest to take the child to see his Dr.
To just throw caution to the wind as this Mother is doing is simply unacceptable in my opinion.

And if she is unwilling to take her baby in - then she should not expect you to care for him until the origin of his fever is detected.
I really feel sorry for this poor child.

OP here,

That's what my husband said also. I love the baby and I hate seeing him suffer and his parents calm nonchalant attitude is making me uncomfortable. I am home with the baby from 7 am to 5pm Monday through Friday. What if he's really sick, not just teething?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How high is the baby’s temperature? What’s considered an adult fever and what’s considered a baby’s fever are very different.

And why would you be uncomfortable caring for him with a fever?

Monday through Wednesday, it was in the range 98.5 to 101.
Thursday and Friday, it was super high .103 and 104

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How high is the baby’s temperature? What’s considered an adult fever and what’s considered a baby’s fever are very different.

And why would you be uncomfortable caring for him with a fever?

Monday through Wednesday, it was in the range 98.5 to 101.
Thursday and Friday, it was super high .103 and 104

Yes, that’s a fever and parents should have taken him to the pediatrician. The parents are wrong.

But why would you not go to work? If his fever spikes you can take him to the ER.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How high is the baby’s temperature? What’s considered an adult fever and what’s considered a baby’s fever are very different.

And why would you be uncomfortable caring for him with a fever?

Monday through Wednesday, it was in the range 98.5 to 101.
Thursday and Friday, it was super high .103 and 104

Yes, that’s a fever and parents should have taken him to the pediatrician. The parents are wrong.

But why would you not go to work? If his fever spikes you can take him to the ER.

I walk to work. Ten minute commute, reasons why I took the job and the parents don't want me driving the baby anywhere. I just want the parents to be more cautious when his fever is too high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How high is the baby’s temperature? What’s considered an adult fever and what’s considered a baby’s fever are very different.

And why would you be uncomfortable caring for him with a fever?

Monday through Wednesday, it was in the range 98.5 to 101.
Thursday and Friday, it was super high .103 and 104

Yes, that’s a fever and parents should have taken him to the pediatrician. The parents are wrong.

But why would you not go to work? If his fever spikes you can take him to the ER.

I walk to work. Ten minute commute, reasons why I took the job and the parents don't want me driving the baby anywhere. I just want the parents to be more cautious when his fever is too high.

So you can call 911. I still don’t see why you aren’t going to work.

[Anonymous]

With typical contract, nanny is not supposed to take care of the sick baby. He has to be symptoms free fro 24 hrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With typical contract, nanny is not supposed to take care of the sick baby. He has to be symptoms free fro 24 hrs.

Parents want to upgrade our contract to include sick days for the baby.
I declined. I am not comfortable caring for sick kids, especially this one because his parents seem anti doctors or just medical in general. Plus I have to worry about my family health as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With typical contract, nanny is not supposed to take care of the sick baby. He has to be symptoms free fro 24 hrs.

That’s in your contract?

I’ve always cared for my charges when they were sick. One of the benefits of nanny care over daycare is the sick day coverage. The OP will be fired soon.

[Anonymous]

Parents are going to choose daycare over nanny care if you nannies don’t wise up. Nannies care for sick charges. The kids will get, on average, six colds a year and numerous fevers. While I would have taken this baby to the doctor last week, it’s still no reason for the nanny not to come to work.