My husband is my back up, just 2 weeks ago I had to close down daycare on Tuesday (Monday was family day), and hubby took over Wednesday to Friday. I ended up with bronchitis that just knocked me out, I was bed ridden for 3 days straight. I have never been so sick before in my life, and I still haven't done a full recovery yet!

I have a strict illnes policy with fevers, rashes, pink eye, diarrhea, roto/noro viruses etc but for the common cold or ear infections I accept the child UNLESS the child is too ill to participate in our activities. I don't get sick too often, I have taken 4 sick days in almost 16 years now.

In my opinion, your sick policy should reflect the needs of your family; meaning to protect your own children and yourself. If you get sick often or have your own little ones at home then you need to have a stricter illness policy, if you don't get sick too often and your own children are growing older then your policy can be a little more linient and protect/limit the exposure to the other daycare children.