Sick Kids in Daycare Issues

I think that the person who runs the dycare has the resaponcibility to look after all the kids...right?...that means that she should be able to say "No" to kids who might infect others. Just a little tidbit for you.....by the time a person (or a little person) starts showing signs of being sick the odds are the they are done being contagious. You are most contagious with a disease the first few days before you ever start showing that you are sick.

I would definitely say something to the babysitter. Simply b/c that is usually the policy anywhere you go--if the children are sick, they cannot come. Maybe mention that you would hate to take him elsewhere b/c you appreciate what she does and enjoys having her as his babysitter. Maybe guilt her into implementing a policy!!!

Ask your provider what her policy is with sick children, if she does not have a policy in place, ask her if she is going to have a policy..

You should not feel bad about talking to her about this as this is your childs health and well being.

If she is unwilling to do anything, there are other daycares out there that do have a policy in place.

I know for myself if my son is sick he will NOT go to daycare as that will only spread it onto others and he would possibly get sick again.

You are not only thinking of your child, but you are thinking of the other families that attend the same daycare along with the Provider and her family.

Good Luck!

T.

I would definitely talk to your babysitter and just let her know that you are worried about your son getting sick from being around the other children when their mother knows they are sick but drops them off anyway. It'd be different if it was transmitted before they starting showing symptoms (since most colds and things spread around before the sick person knows they're sick).

You might want to phrase it something like this "I'm concerned that my son might be needlessly coming into contact with illnesses because the parents of the other children don't seem to know when their children should stay at home." Tell her that you feel uncomfortable with the situation, and that if your child were sick, you wouldn't dream of dropping him off at daycare and possibly making the other kids sick.

I RUN AN IN-HOME DAYCARE, AND THINK THAT A SICK POLICY IS A MUST, IF THE CHILD IS CONTAGIOUS, THEY DONT COME HERE AT ALL. IF I FEEL THAT THEY ARE REALLY SICK AND MAY BE CONTAGIOUS, THEY DONT RETURN UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN TO THE DR. AND ARE CLEARED BY THE DR. IF SHE DOESNT HAVE A SICK POLICY, WHAT OTHER THINGS SHOULD SHE MAYBE BE DOING THAT SHE ISNT. IT IS OUR JOB AS DAYCARE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO KEEP EVERYBODY HEALTHY, HAPPY AND SAFE. IAM BY NO MEANS SAYING THAT SHE DOESNT CARE ABOUT THE KIDS, WHAT I AM SAYING IS MAYBE SHE JUST DOESNT REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO WRITE BACK.

GOOD LUCK,
D.

I hate to say it but if the provider has ever trained in child care or if they claim they are liscenced, there are state and county regulations for illness. If they are an independent good protocal wuold state that there is an illness policy. From last I knew a child needs to be sent home if they have a fever over 101.0 axulary and/or show symptoms of vomiting,and diarhea( more than 3 in an hour). These are Indiana's State Regulations when I worked at a local liscened day care facility.I hope I could help

my dc provides a letter with guidelines about illness. If your child has a fever above 100 they are not allowed to come for 24 hours. If they aquire one at dc you are to pick them up ASAP and they can't return for 24 hours. Same thing with diarrea (spell?). Unfortuantely, my son is 14 months and is still sick all the time. The guidelines are necessary, and they do lower the spread of illnesses, but infants and toddler get many colds their first couple of years to help build up their immune systems. it no win situation :(

I watch 2 children in my home also and when they are sick I don't expect the parents to bring them. If they get sick during the day I call the parents to pick them up. I worked in a daycare for 7 years before babysitting and I was amazed to see how many parents brought the children to daycare sick. I think you have every right to say something and if the babysitter doesn't come up with a policy I would look for someone else.

Defintily talk to the Daycare provider. It is her job to keep your son safe while in her care. I went through HE double toothpicks last winter while at a daycare that didn't implement that policy. Bright had stomach flu, RSV, Rotavirus, Flu, Colds etc etc - every single thing that was going around Bright got. It was miserable and I ended up staying home with him almost every other week. Talk to your sitter, she should understand.

My first question would be, what is "too sick"? I was in a similar situation as you are. My son was about the same age and was constantly coming home with colds he had caught from other kids in the day care. Everytime he caught a cold, about 2 weeks later he would be running a fever (from an ear infection). This went on all winter long until the sitter decided that her arthritus was getting too bad to carry Gavyn around anymore.

I was extremely frusterated that everytime someone elses kid was sick, mine had to suffer. However, if parents were sending their kids to daycare with a simple cold, no fever, I'm not sure there's much that can be done about that. It happens everywhere. I know Jordan's school has a policy that they will send your kid home with a fever that is 100 or above or throwing up. The only time she ever gets a fever that high is when she has the flu, or when her allergies are going haywire.

I do agree though, if the kids are running fevers and/or throwing up and your sitter isn't sending them home, you need to speak with her about it. If she refuses to do anything, find someone else. Good luck!

I'm sorry to say that when babies are in any daycare situation they will get sick. It is something that you can not change unless you take your child out of daycare altogether. I think if you are paying someone to watch your child you have the right to ask about implementing a sick policy. Not only will this help you but the other people that use the same daycare and help the provider of this daycare from getting ill. Voice your concerns over the illnesses and ask if they is anything that can be done. I believe you have that right and you should not be ashamed to ask, it's your childs health. Good Luck!

Hi A.! Been there,done that. But besides all that, the fact is that any given place where several children are cared for at one time is one of the most "germiest" places there is. Although you love your babysitter, she should want the best for your child, after all you chose her because you trust her with your child,right? Let her know your concerns and ask her to please consider explaning to this parent that other parents are concerned about their child's well being and Dr. visits are added expense to them then let your babysitter make the decision whether money is more important to her than the children.

Hi all! I just saw this post and wanted to add one thing. I am a licensed daycare provider and have been for over 3 years. I do the bleaching, sanitizing, everyone has their own bedding, etc. However, I can not send every child home every time they have a cough or running nose. The state says fevers over 100, excessive diahrea or vomiting.. and the parents know this. So, when a child is sneezing or coughing germs all over and I ask a parent to take them to the doc and then it turns out they have the common cold, I can't really make them miss work for 7-10 days while it clears up. I'm just as much at risk of parents pulling their kids out of my care because they think I'm being rediculous sending them home all the time iwth allergies or a little cold. It's a reality of daycare, just as it's a reality of schools - germs can and will get passed around and all we as providers can do is try to keep things as clean and germ free as possible. Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents as I have had to deal with this very situation recently. HTH K.

Please let her know of your concerns, she probably wants to remedy the situation and just doesn't know how to approach her about it. I have an in home daycare also, I have guidelines that I give my parents about illnesses that require them to be released by a doctor or proof that it is not contagious. Unfortunately, children have runny noses, sneezing and coughs sometimes due to allergies and they can be constant. If that is the case the mother with the 3 children should bring in proof of allergies, etc. I require a health form from the pediatrician that they are free of any communicable diseases, but that also has an area for any allergies. Please talk to your babysitter. Good Luck.

Hi A....I really dont have any suggestions on the parent thing ..sorry...But I keep 2 little girls a couple hours a week and there parents usually keep them if they are sick. If you are interrested in another place to take your little one I would be happy to meet with you. Feel free to call anytime. ###-###-####
Thanks and good luck...
K.

Hi, A..

I have a 2 1/2 year old son who goes to daycare twice a week because I work full-time. (My mom watches him the other 3 days) I, too, have the frustration of seeing many of the kids at the daycare with green runny noses, coughs and red-rimmed eyes. Some days that I pick up my son he's even got the little crusty nose if they've been outside and no one has cleaned him up. VERY FRUSTRATING!! My son stays home when he's sick but I also have the option of keeping him home due to a very understanding boss and the help of my mother. Some employers aren't as understanding when parents have sick children - so the parents are almost FORCED to take their sick kids to daycare/school for fear of the boss' reprimand or even losing their jobs.

I believe cleanliness on the part of your daycare provider may be part of the issue and is SO important. Children will wipe their noses with their hands, cough without covering their mouths and put their hands and other toys into their mouths. ANY environment with children will be this way. Some illnesses will spread with such close contact and is almost unavoidable, even in the cleanest of environments.

I had an in-home daycare a few years back and was pretty successful keeping illnesses from spreading with EVERDAY cleaning and disinfecting of all the areas the children were in, cleaning and disinfecting ALL of the toys, using all white linens, blankets, (each child having their own diaper changing linens etc.) for easy bleaching and handwashing VERY frequently using disposable towels. AND, keeping runny noses wiped so the children didn't wipe with their hands and spread germs. It's ALOT of work and I fear some providers aren't as diligent as others in keeping up with the cleaning throughout the day and after the children go home.

Illnesses are part of life and do build immunity but that doesn't negate the importance of trying to prevent these illnesses in our precious little ones. You may want to sit at daycare with her for awhile one day and see how she handles cleanliness issues. That may help with your decision.

Sorry this is so long. Hope it helps a little. Good luck!

J.

I would say something to the sitter. You don't want your kid to get sick, but it's her place to say something to the other mother because it's her home. If the other ladie's kids were in a regular day care, they would not be permitted to come to day care if they were sick...

A.-

I would just say your point of view. If their is a problem with it then they do not need your business. Take your money somewhere else. The lady should not have her child(ren) there when they are sick. That is against health codes. I would look for another daycare or try to get a sick policy implemented. There should have already had one before you started. It is hard finding a good daycare. Your son does not need to get sick every time these other kids are. He does not need to be around children, who are sick. When my son was in daycare, I remember picking him up and I could tell and still can tell when he is burning up. I stated something to the daycare lady and she acted like he just started feeling like that. They acted like he must just be just temp. hot. I kinda felt, have you touched him lately! I went home and checked him and I was right!! It just made me feel they were just too darn lazy to check. Mom always knows best. To me it does not seem to make that big of a deal to them. They are not their kids. You just are at a daycare that is not working for you. I would ask other friends where they take their kids or people you work with and start looking quick! This does sound like the best solution for your little one! Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best. Take care and god bless!

C.