Unfortunately, many companies have no formal policy regarding employees with sick children, so workers resort to make-do options that take their toll on parents and children alike. Most parents take vacation time to care for their kids. The risk, of course, is that parents use up so much vacation time on sick children that they're left with little or no time off for an actual vacation. Some employers, on the other hand, let parents use their own sick days when they need to stay home with a sick child. If you're lucky enough to have family nearby, by all means accept their help.
Some families actually move closer to extended family to get help with sick child care.
Another strategy is to create a network of care with family and friends. Some hospitals even offer sick child care programs in which care is administered by registered nurses. They usually accept children without prior registration, says Huddleston. Sick child care programs outside of hospitals usually require prior registration. Most sick child care programs will take children if they are mildly ill with a tummy ache or runny nose, but will not take kids with a contagious illness like the flu or chicken pox.