Doctors appointments, etc

[Mamma_Mia]

I've on two seperate occasions had to take dcg with me & my DD to the walk-in. My DD woke up a) with a bloody eye....like tears of blood and b) weezing needing her puffer meds refilled. Luckly I only had one dc kid that day but it was MY CHILD at risk so hells yeah I went to the Dr. and the parents were fine with it. I text mom as we were leaving the house as to whats going on.

There was one time though where my DD again woke up from nap with a very bad eye (she has constant issues and we're at sick kids each month...scared cornea, loss of vision & sensations) but at that time not knowing what was wrong I was told by the eye specialist that if she got gunky or red eyed again to head down ASAP. Well she woke up looking like a horror movie...blood everywhere and coming out of her eye. Thank GOD my mom was home and got to my house in 10min. I called all the parents and told them that I was leaving and why, also that my mom was there. All the kids were fed and sleeping. I can't remember how many times I said I'm sorry but they all understood that with kids things happen and each mom called the next day (Saturday) to ask how DD was doing. Lets hope I don't have any more surprises like that.....

[Daycare123]

I have 5 personal days per calendar year. These are not sick days. I give parents 3-4 weeks notice.

[Sunflower]

I am very upfront with potential clients , I tell them I have appointments with a specialist every x # of weeks and that I will always open late those days.

If I have to go to the walk in clinic I either close or have my DH replace me.

I really do try to be professional and give them as much notice as possible but sometimes that's just not possible.

I found it really helps to tell potential clients that I may close if my children are too sick and need my attention, if I am really sick,ETC...I always ask if they are prepared for this and ask if they have family in the area that could help them out.
I have lost only 1 potential client due to this and the others who became clients never ever complained when I took time off,whether it be for appointments, illness or my 4-5 weeks of vacation per year.

[Momof4]

Of course we have personal lives and families and we run into personal problems now and then. That's why we must make sure we have understanding and respectful clients who view us as humans doing our very best. But we must be professional at all times to keep a good reputation.

I have three personal paid days in my contract but I never use them. Some year I may need to use them and I hope that my clients will be understanding. As Sunflower mentioned, if you have a chronic problem and regular appointments and you tell your clients up front so they can make arrangements then that is being professional. But I wouldn't take the children with me to appointments like that.

[jec]

At interviews I advise my daycare families that I don't have back up care and there will be emergencies that I have to take my kids to Dr etc....
For the most part dh and I share taking days off. Recently dd#1 fractured her arm and I had to get the daycare parents to pick up their kids as I couldn't reach dh to come and get her to take to emergency- for the cast I got family to take her and bought them all lunch so I wouldn't have to take another day off on my daycare families. They understand if I take a day- I have to and I don't charge them. I would not take daycare kids with me as my focus is my kids because if I'm taking a day off, they have to be sick and they need my focus.
Our dr is out of town too ~ makes it tricky but I give as much notice as I can! One of down sides :-(

[kidlove]

i would inform all parents that I would be opening later that am due to an unexpected appt. if its an am appt I dont feel as bad, opeing later isnt too big a deal for most parents. when I have had stuff going on i nthe afternoon I have always asked my mother to cover for me, the kids call her grama and love her, all the parents know her quite well (small town) reccently however, i have a new baby, (firdt time parents) they had a prblem with anyone else taking care of their daughter for one appt last week (had to cancel, but understood their concern) did shake up my personal life however. soooo....after 10 years, I have devised a new plan hopefully it will work for me, and may give you a little idea too. I have set aside two fridays each month for potential appts. these are open in advance and my mm is on standby, in the event I have to go to dr bring my kids to visits OR JUST want to take a afternoon with my kids or out to lunch. I added it to my contracts especially for these new parents to agree to, they were thrilled to have a set day and cant wait to meet my Mom this week, I will have her over for dinner during their pick up time so everyone can meet and minds can be at ease. My daughter has a DR appt this friday, and after we will go to the beach!!!!! NEVER get to do that during the week, so excited!