What options do you have when your child is enrolled in a daycare in Basel (Basel-Stadt or Basel-Landschaft) and is ill? The obvious answer is that you stay home with your child until he or she feels better. But what options do you have when:
- You have an important appointment that is difficult to reschedule.
- One parent is traveling.
- You just need some extra help taking care of your child at home?
- Keep reading to find how what services are available in and around Basel.
Children with a fever or those feeling unwell cannot attend daycare
Especially during colder months, caregivers may check your child’s temperature upon arrival. In case of an elevated temperature, your child may be refused for the day. Besides evident signs of an illness, such as a fever or flu, other reasons for refusal include strong coughs, contagious diseases such as chicken pox, or potentially contagious infections such as ear or eye infections.
It might happen that caregivers accept a child in the morning but call parents for pickup later in the day. It is your responsibility to make sure your child can be picked up as soon as possible. Employers, thankfully, often demonstrate understanding when a child is sick and grant employees early leave.
Try to arrange a babysitter
We recommend parents look for a babysitter once they have settled in Basel. We know from experience that babysitters can be lifesavers for expat families without extended family close by.
There are several local organizations in Basel that assist families in finding babysitters. Some organizations have a network that, besides students, also employs older women, some of whom babysit full-time and have better daytime availability than students. It is worth considering this option if you and your partner both intend to take up employment and you want a backup option in case your child is sick.
Local Red Cross organizations in Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft help families find babysitters through their babysitting courses. You can sign up through the link below:
Red Cross Basel-Stadt
https://www.srk-basel.ch/dienstleistungen/babysitter-vermittlung
Red Cross Basel-Landschaft
Contact your local organization on the list below:
https://www.srk-baselland.ch/sites/default/files/2024-05/230612_Liste_Babysitterkontakthilfe.pdf
Contact your local Red Cross about their emergency support service.
Basel-Stadt emergency support service for sick children
The Swiss Red Cross offers an emergency support service to care for sick children at home on weekdays between 7.00 and 18.00. This service enables parents to meet urgent obligations (i.e., work) while a trained Red Cross employee looks after their sick child.
During office hours, an assignment can usually be organized within four hours. The minimum duration of this emergency support service is three hours; the maximum is 9.5.
Please note, there is a surcharge of CHF 7.50 an hour for services between 18.00 and 7.00, on weekends, and public holidays. This service is only available for children under 12.
The Red Cross emergency childcare service operates on an hourly basis. Caregivers are paid per hour, and the rate depends on your monthly income.
- Up to a gross income of CHF 3,500 a month: CHF 7.50/hour
- Up to a gross income of CHF 5,000 a month: CHF 10/hour
- Up to a gross income of CHF 6,500 a month: CHF 15/hour
- Up to a gross income of CHF 8,000 a month: CHF 20/hour
- Up to a gross income of CHF 9,500 a month: CHF 35/hour
- Up to a gross income of CHF 11,000 a month: CHF 45/hour
- From a gross income of CHF 11,000 a month: CHF 55/hour
You can find more information on the Red Cross Basel website here:
You can read more about the conditions (German only)
Apply or request information:
Tel: 0041 61 319 56 51 (Monday–Friday, 8.00 – 12.00 / 13.30 – 16.00 pm)
Email: kinderbetreuung@srk-basel.ch
Basel-Landschaft emergency support service for sick children
The Swiss Red Cross in Basel-Landschaft offers a similar emergency support service, with slightly different conditions for applying. During office hours, an assignment can usually be organized within four hours.
The Red Cross emergency childcare service operates on an hourly basis. Caregivers are paid per hour, and the rate depends on your monthly income.
- Up to a gross income of CHF 5,000 a month: CHF 10/hour
- Above a gross income of CHF 5,000 a month: CHF 15/hour
- Above a gross income of CHF 8,000 a month: CHF 27/hour
- Above a gross income of CHF 10,000 a month: CHF 40/hour
- VAT and mandatory travel allowance (CHF 8) are excluded
Conditions: The minimum duration of this emergency support service is three hours, and the service is available from 7.00 to 20.00 on weekdays. This service is only available to children under 12 years old.
You can find more information on the Red Cross Basel-Landschaft website
Read the information leaflet (German only) here
Online application form (German only):
Submit the form by email to: familienentlastung@srk-baselland.ch
Tel: 0041 61 905 82 19 (Monday–Friday, 8.00 – 11.30)
Contact form: https://www.srk-baselland.ch/fuer-sie-da/entlastung/familienentlastung
Do you want to know everything about childcare in Basel?
Check out our book here: Amazon US or look for “Childcare in Switzerland, the Basel area edition” on your local Amazon website.
Read More: Statistics on childcare in Switzerland — a European comparison
