What would you do?

[kudos]

The mom comes to my house so sick with Strep Throat to drop off her child. Now I can tell the child has a cold, which common colds are fine for them to still come. However I was a little uncomfortable after she drop her child off, as I was afraid that her child was exposed to it and not to mention the mom coming in. Ended up that it was such a bad case that mom ended up going to the hospital. I decided it was in the best interest of my children and the other children in my care for her not to bring her child the next day. My thinking was if I or my children become this sick it would be a nightmare for us not to mention all the time I would loose and I just didn't think it was worth the risk. Now the mom wasn't going to work as she was too sick.

[Momof4]

I had that happen a few months ago. The Dad kept dropping the child off at daycare and telling me the Mom was home sick with the worst cold. The child never got the cold. Do I wish the Mom had kept the child home with her, yes, but could I send the child home just in case he might catch it, no sorry.

Now if the child starts to present with symptoms of strept throat and spikes a fever, then yes I'd send him home immediately. Would you all be exposed already and have a chance of it running through the entire daycare, probably. It's a great business we're in, isn't it?

[sunnydays]

Yeah, I have had many many parents send kids to me when they are staying home sick. Just because the mom has it does not necessarily mean the child will get it. I also understand from the parent's point of view...they are paying for care so they want to be able to get some rest while their child is being well cared for. I never turn a child away because a parent is sick. Most of the time I have found that the child does not get it and we don't get it (with the exception of stomach bugs which are very very contagious). It's just a downside ot the job I'm afraid. Like Mom of 4 said, if the child started showing any symptoms, I would send them home immediately.

[kudos]

I wouldn't care if mom was home with a cold, but this was a bad case of Strep Throat, which included vomiting and having to have some procedure done in order to reduce the swelling. Since her child already had a cold it would be harder to tell if the child was showing symptoms. This child is sick a lot too, so I feel is highly susceptible to getting it. Also the sick mom is still the one dropping the child off.

[Momof4]

I can certainly see why you are concerned kudos, but what we are saying is that we have sick policies in our contracts and we have to abide by them. It has to be fair to the parents. Now if this woman has taken several sick days from work because she's so ill and then her child gets sick and she has to take more sick days her employer is going to be so angry with her, but that's life.

If the child gets the fever and contagious bacterial infection of strept throat then the Mom will have to take care of her child. I really hope they aren't spreading germs through your daycare already. I'm just telling you what I would have to do, abide by my fever policy and if there is a lot of green mucous I suggest a doctor's visit to the parents in case of throat/ear/chest infection that can't be diagnosed by anybody but a medical professional, not by a parent or caregiver. Good luck!

[mom-in-alberta]

Unfortunately, I am not sure that it is fair to ask her to keep her child home unless THE CHILD is the one with all the symptoms. Booo. :(
I have had parents drop off when they are staying home sick. And as much as I sort of shuddered, I understood. Perhaps if they are not at home with sickie mommy, they are less likely to catch it. And usually mom/dad picks up a little earlier that day, at least.
It would be nice to be able to take my kids someplace when I am sick..... :sleep:

[playfelt]

Having the child in care and not home with the sick parent actually limits the spread of the germs in the sense that just because a parent has brought an illness home from work it doesn't necessarily mean it will spread to the rest of the family. You are really doing your daycare a favour by keeping the child at care while the mom is home sick. Assumption is that they will take as many precautions as they can limiting hugs and kisses, sharing of utensils, etc. and the other parent doing as much close contact care as they can rather than the sicky parent.

Where some caregivers have issues is with sick siblings in the sense of once an illness has passed to one child the chances are greater the other sibling will also catch it but again there are no guarantees.

This is also a place where we have to be careful not to punish our parents for honesty. Parent could have said not feeling well so staying home and left it at that. The fact she was honest and told you what illness she was dealing with so you could take informed action for the day should be rewarded not punished. By knowing you are dealing with strep throat you can watch closer for signs of illness, decide that blowing bubbles or feathers is no longer on the plan for the day to limit the germs that might be passed into the air etc.