What to do if your
child is sick
Every working parent knows the moment: your child wakes up unwell and you have a full day ahead. For internationals without family nearby, this can be one of the more stressful parts of life in a new country. The good news is that Belgium has practical solutions some of which surprise even locals.
This page walks you through when a sick child can still go to school or childcare, who can help when they need to stay home, and what leave options exist as a last resort.
Overview
Most families move through these options in order: first check whether your child can still go to school or childcare, then arrange a carer through your mutuality if they need to stay home, and treat formal leave from work as a last resort. How unwell your child actually is determines which of these applies.
Can my child go to school or childcare?
Not every sniffle means staying home. In Belgium, it's common practice for a child with a mild cold - a runny nose but otherwise feeling well - to go to school or childcare as usual.
The general rule of thumb: a child stays home if they have a fever, are clearly unwell, or have an illness that can be passed on to other children. If you're unsure, a quick call to the school or childcare centre is perfectly normal - they'll tell you what their policy is.
Sick-child care through your mutuality
If your child needs to stay home and you can't take the day off, your health insurance fund (mutuality / ziekenfonds) is the first place to look. Most mutualities offer a sick-child home care service (thuisoppas zieke kinderen): a trained carer comes to your home and looks after your child while you work.
For members, this is free or low-cost for a set number of days per year, and it can usually be booked at short notice - often for the same or the next day. Check your mutuality's website or call them to find out how to register - doing this before you need it saves stress later.
Family leave as a last resort
If no other solution is available, employees in Belgium are entitled to leave for compelling family reasons (familiaal verlof / verlof om dwingende redenen): up to 10 days per year to deal with urgent situations such as a sick child.
This leave is generally unpaid, unless your employer or sector agreement provides otherwise - which is why most families treat it as a backup rather than a first option. Inform your employer as soon as possible, since a doctor's certificate for your child may be requested.
Returning to school or childcare
When your child is better, check with the school or childcare centre when they can come back. For some illnesses, such as certain infections, a symptom-free period or a doctor's note may be required.
For school absences, a note from a parent covers short absences a limited number of times per year; longer absences require a doctor's certificate.
Good to know: register for your mutuality's sick-child care service (thuisoppas zieke kinderen) before you actually need it. Most mutualities require membership details in advance, and a carer can then often be arranged for the same or the next day - exactly when you need it most.
Sources
- Belgium.be - Health
- Vlaanderen.be - Health and social security
- FPS Public Health
