I take 10 paid vacation days and 7 paid personal days. Like Momof4, I decide on all my vacation days (I also take a week unpaid) in December and give it to parents at contract renewal time (January). That makes it easy for them to plan ahead. I would never be responsible for arranging back-up care for the parents. I tell them right in the interview that they must have their own plan for my vacations or days I might be sick and have to close the daycare. They either need to have enough leeway with their work or have an alternate caregiver (grandparent, etc). I strive to be reliable and don't close when I don't have to, but I am human and I do get sick sometimes and I think it is quite reasonable that we be able to rest when we are sick. Last week I had strep throat and had to close for 3 days. It was awful and I felt guilty, but it was beyond my control as I had a fever and could barely get out of my bed...plus it was very contagious. I caught it from my daycare families in the first place, so they were all quite understanding.