What Is Your Criteria for Keeping a Sick Kid Home from Preschool?

I think the criteria for keeping home from school probably are different depending on whether you work or not, since for me, keeping my son at home means a lost day of work. (ie I'm more likely to send him slightly ill than a SAHM, perhaps. Not the way it should be, but this is reality).

For me, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, feeling visibly crappy+ some mild symptoms, fever + cough or any flu-like symptoms are a stay home. Runny nose and sneezing alone is not an automatic stay home - depends on how much sneezing, how much snot etc. Also would depend on his overall feeling (is he lethargic, or acting normal). Kids will chronically have a runny nose over the winter. It's just "daycare snot". Get used to it. I always call to let his preschool know that he will not be in that day.

I really appreciate the concern you show for the other children. Remember, it is preschool. If your child isn't feeling well what will they really get out of being at school if sick. We have a policy of no fever or fever free for 24 hours. Also, if they have a runny nose and can use a tissue by themselves that's great. If they can't use a tissue and use whatever is nearby, the other children will be coming in contact with that. We really appreciate when parents call their children in sick especially when the child has something contagious, that way we can keep other parents in the classroom of the possible exposure. Good luck on your decision and remember just use your good judegement.

I keep my preschooler home whenever she has a cold. If her nose is runny or she is sneezy, I do keep her home since she is not really able to wipe her own nose. I also feel is she is not feeling 100% (even without a fever), she stays home. First, she will be crabby. Second, if she is not feeling good most likely she will not be having a good time. So what is the sense of going. I even keep her home if I think she may be getting sick.

Thank goodness for parents like you who actually care enough about all the kids' health! There is nothing more annoying or frustrating than parents who take their sick kids to daycare/preschool. They wind up infecting EVERYONE, then all the families suffer.

Yes, call if your kid will not be there. It's a nice common courtesy to let them know what's going on.

Runny nose - if it is clear, he should be fine. If the nasal drip is yellowish or greenish, then keep him out. Don't worry about the sneezing unless the discharge is green/yellow.

Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever - wait 24 hours from the last episode of vomiting, diarrhea and be fever-free for 24 hours before sending the kid back to preschool.

I would keep him home. My daughter has been sick for TWO weeks (yes, TWO WEEKS) with mono. Apparently, it is going around and if I were you I would err on the side of caution and keep him home. This has been a miserable two weeks for all of us. I hope he feels better soon.

I have a small daycare and that includes my one daughter. My policy for daycare if fever, vomiting, diarrhea the child needs to stay home until 24 hours free of these things. If the child just has a runny nose/cough I would treat it case by case. If the kid is acting very sick/lethargic and having terrible coughing fits, then they belong at home in bed. If they just have the clear runny nose, then I break out the kleenex and plan on spending most of my day wiping noses. I also make sure to be extra vigilant about wiping down the toys and reminding them to cough/sneeze into their elbows. I do adhere to my sick policy strictly and that cuts down on the amount of time the kids are sick, but it doersn't eliminate it. Its winter, kids get sick, and I can't expect parent's to miss weeks of work for a runny nose...its just reality. I follow the same guidelines for my own daughter. I have a little more wiggle room with her though, since I am at home. I think if you are a SAHM then you can err on the side of caution and keep him home, but if you are a working mom you don't always have the luxury. I understand keeping your days off from work for when he's really sick with more than a sniffle. I think sometimes people are over paranoid about kids being sick. No one likes to see their little one feeling like crud, but coughs/colds/flus are part of life, and not really life-threatening in most cases...they have to build up immunity some how =) Hope your little one feels better soon!

You definitely want to let the preschool know your child won't be at school otherwise they will be wondering if he's late.

When my daughter was in preschool the general rule was the same as it is for her elementary school: 24-hour fever-free, no vomit or diarrhea. BUT, it is just preschool and if you feel like keeping your son home for his comfort and your peace of mind, then do it. There are no truancy laws in IL until 1st grade - that's right, not even kindergarten. Kids are not required to attend K in IL.

Good luck and I hope he feels better soon! :)