Irish parents spend €1.1 billion on childcare services every year, according to a new survey.
The research found that 29 per cent of working parents used paid childcare services, costing an average of €482 per month.
Additionally, one-third of working parents - more women than men - take 5.5 working days off each year to care for a sick child.
Of those parents, one-third took the time off as unpaid leave, potentially adding an additional €47.6 million in costs.
Dr Stephen Murphy, a GP who practises in south Dublin, said the study outlined the impact a sick child can have on a working parent, from both economic and social perspectives.
The poll, carried out by TNS/mrbi, questioned 1,006 adults on childcare expenses and the impact a sick child has on their work schedule.
The survey also asked parents how they felt about balancing work and family when a child became sick.
Some parents (16 per cent) admitted taking their child to a childcare facility knowing that they were unwell, as they had no alternative childcare option.
Some 45 per cent of working parents said they found it difficult to advance in their careers and care for children, and the same percentage hoped to cut back on work hours.
"When you have both parents working and a child gets sick, someone has to take time off. There isn't an ideal solution," Dr Murphy said.
Additionally, 64 per cent of adults said parental duties came before work responsibilities.
Since this particular survey looked only at short-term sicknesses in children, it would be worthwhile to study the impact of long-term illnesses on both children and parents, Dr Murphy added.
"This is just something that does impact quite broadly on a great number of people, to a lesser or greater degree," he said.
The survey was carried out on behalf of Nurofen.