---
title: "Handle a sick day or early pickup"
description: "When a child needs to go home early, message the parent, write it down in the app, and hand the child over safely."
type: guide
updated: 2026-10-18
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/teachers/attendance/handle-a-sick-day-or-early-pickup
roles: ["teacher"]
platforms: [ios, android]
---
A child wakes from nap with a fever, or just isn't themselves. Here's how to get them home and keep a clear record.

## 1. Check how serious it is

High fever, trouble breathing, a head injury or an allergic reaction? **Call 911 first.** Then tell your director. Don't use the app for this.

For something milder (low fever, tummy ache, very tired), take a temperature if your center allows it and note how the child is acting.

## 2. Message the parent

1. Open the **Messages** tab.
2. Open the parent's chat, or tap new message and pick them.
3. Write what you saw, plainly:

> "Hi Melissa. Jackie has had a low fever (99.8°F) for about 20 minutes and is fussier than usual. She's resting now. Can you or someone you trust come get her?"

Say what you saw, how long, how the child is now, and what you need. Don't guess what's wrong.

For anything urgent, call first. A message can sit unread.

## 3. Write it down

- **Fever, injury or other medical issue:** file an incident report. Pick **Medical** for illness, or **Injury**, **Fall**, **Bump** and so on. See [Report an incident](/teachers/attendance/report-an-incident). Parents get it in their app and acknowledge it, or sign it if your center asks for a signature.
- **Not an incident** ("tired, skipped snack"): log a **Note**. On the **Dashboard**, tap **Log Activity**, then **Note**. Pick the child, type the note, keep **Share with Parents** on, and save.

## 4. Hand the child over

- Every family member has their own pickup code, and it works at the door tablet. See [Check a child in or out](/teachers/attendance/check-a-child-in).
- Tell the adult what happened: "Fever of 99.8°F around 10:45. She's had water and rested."
- Someone you don't know, with no code? Don't release the child. Call a parent or your director.

## Medicine

Only give medicine the family asked for in the app, and only once it's been acknowledged. See [Review medication requests and log doses](/teachers/activities/review-medication-requests-and-log-doses).

## Illness going around

When your director sends families an illness notice, your Dashboard shows **Watching for…** under **Needs your attention**. See [What needs your attention today](/teachers/activities/what-needs-your-attention).

## Good habits

- Follow your center's fever policy. Many send children home at 100.4°F (38°C). Ask your director if you don't know yours.
- Report what you see. Don't diagnose.
- Never talk about one child's illness with another family.
- When unsure, tell the parent. They'd rather hear early.

## Troubleshooting

**The parent hasn't answered.** Call the number on the child's emergency contacts. Then tell your director.

**The pickup person isn't someone you know.** Don't release the child until a parent or your director confirms. A family can add the person in their app, which gives them their own code.

**The parent says "it wasn't like that."** Don't change or delete the incident report. Let your director talk with the family.