Please don't send your sick kid to daycare!!!

[JennJubie]

Twice in less than a two week period I've had two different families send their kid in with diarrhea. I spent 45 minutes cleaning poo out of one of my toy buckets a, (child climbed into it and then pooped), off my floor, and off my couch. Obviously the clothes were completely soiled! I'm sorry your kid is sick, but don't send them here with the runs!!!

It's my daughters birthday this weekend and I don't want us to be sick :(

[mickyc]

Oh I hear ya!! We had diarrhea here too!! I had kids away and sending others home. I am so glad it is over!! Luckily the diapers held up around here and the ones who don't wear diapers made it to the bathroom.

[Busy ECE mommy]

24 hr exclusion period for that here, and that's 24 hours symptom-free before returning. That's gross, unsanitary, and exposes everyone else to the virus too. How inconsiderate.

[JennJubie]

Yep. And when I talk to the parent about it I get "Well he's not contagious anymore." I wish more people had common sense. I don't care if telehealth told you he's not contagious anymore, feces is full of bacteria and it's not welcome all over my house.

[mattsmom]

Oh my, that is gross. And so what if they are told that the kid is not contagious anymore! Don't these parents have any common sense?
I also have a 24 hr exclusion period for these cases. I just love how parents get into such denial that their kid is sick...they try to convince us and themselves that their kid is fine for daycare.
I just love reminding them that if you send your kid here sick, then chances are that either I or my kid will get sick as well and that means I will take time off, hence you will have to find backup. That usually snaps them back to reality.

[Judy Trickett]

Yep. And when I talk to the parent about it I get "Well he's not contagious anymore." I wish more people had common sense. I don't care if telehealth told you he's not contagious anymore, feces is full of bacteria and it's not welcome all over my house.

This is why you need the one-liner in your contract that reads, "The Final decision as to care of a sick child will be made by the provider." This is the catch-all phrase that allows you to exclude anyone.

I also have a 24 hour exclusion policy for diarrhea. If you have it today, while in care, then you can't return until Thursday.

[JennJubie]

This is why you need the one-liner in your contract that reads, "The Final decision as to care of a sick child will be made by the provider." This is the catch-all phrase that allows you to exclude anyone.

I also have a 24 hour exclusion policy for diarrhea. If you have it today, while in care, then you can't return until Thursday.

I have a pretty good sick policy, and I also have the 24 hour exclusion policy but I like the one you posted. I'm going to be adding that.

I find it ridiculous that we have to parent these parents! I also don't understand how they can omit or lie - we're going to figure it out!

[Sassygirl]

Parents just amaze me!

I don't even charge for sick days (the majority of providers in my area from my research do not so I am stuck) so you would "think" that would be more incentive to stay home with your sick child. :no:

Colds/runny noses I can see because they can be iffy but a stomach bug? That is disgusting and unsanitary and so contagious!

I agree with the others, I would be telling these parents that you will NOT be accepting this child into your care again until they are 24 hours symptom free because you simply cannot afford to close down and inconvenience everyone else for their child.

[Sassygirl]

Judy I have missed you... We all have!

I haven't been on here for too long but have always enjoyed reading your posts and getting your opinion. Its nice to see you back :-)

[Busy ECE mommy]

I love the parents that say the diarrhea is due to teething LOL! I don't care why you have it, it's time to go home to err on the side of caution.

[Judy Trickett]

I love the parents that say the diarrhea is due to teething LOL! I don't care why you have it, it's time to go home to err on the side of caution.

Oh, come on! I know any time I personally have diarrhea I am sure to have a tooth come in. :p There must be a lot of people in the world with a whole load of extra teeth. ;)

[JennJubie]

Oh, come on! I know any time I personally have diarrhea I am sure to have a tooth come in. :p There must be a lot of people in the world with a whole load of extra teeth. ;)

I had three extra wisdom teeth, (7 in total). Never once did it give me diarrhea! :laugh:

[dodge__driver11]

LMAO Jenn :) :P

[5 Little Monkeys]

This sounds totally gross but I can sometimes tell if it's a teething poop....some kids when teething seem to have a "glossy" poop LOL....I swear it's because of all the extra saliva going on!!! haha :)

I hate when parents try to pass the fever off as teething....I find it rarely is because of teething and the fever spreads around like crazy!

[AmandaKDT]

This sounds totally gross but I can sometimes tell if it's a teething poop....some kids when teething seem to have a "glossy" poop LOL....I swear it's because of all the extra saliva going on!!! haha :)

I hate when parents try to pass the fever off as teething....I find it rarely is because of teething and the fever spreads around like crazy!

My niece and nephew both got teething diarrhea and diaper rashes, only happened when their teeth were coming in (it was very obviously related). It is a real thing, though definitely isn't always the case and doesn't happen to all babies. All that extra drool can be hard on the stomach.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree Amanda :) I have had a few children who get the teething poops and yes, it usually results in a rash :(

[nschildcare]

I am tired of the sick kids coming, too. I've changed my policies to say that I exclude for symptoms. I have explained it to parents this way: I don't think that they are qualified to say with 100% certainty that their child's symptoms are due to teething (or whatever else they are blaming) and neither am I. Therefore, I will always exclude for symptoms, whatever the actual cause may be.

Maybe teething fevers are real: I don't know. But I do know that I don't want to catch 'teething'. I just got over getting my 40 yo molars.

And yes I've not ended up with clients due to my policy. It does not bother me. I tell them to look for someone who has lax sickness policies. I don't want parents that are willing to send their sick child to daycare. I really emphasize this point during interviews. I am WELL care. Parents need to have back up or be prepared to miss time from work.

And I, too, have the disclaimer that I make the final call whether or not a child is well enough for daycare. I've used it twice. Parents will "get it" when you enforce it.

[Judy Trickett]

And yes I've not ended up with clients due to my policy. It does not bother me. I tell them to look for someone who has lax sickness policies. I don't want parents that are willing to send their sick child to daycare. I really emphasize this point during interviews. I am WELL care. Parents need to have back up or be prepared to miss time from work.

And I, too, have the disclaimer that I make the final call whether or not a child is well enough for daycare. I've used it twice. Parents will "get it" when you enforce it.

I couldn't agree more! Right on! I, too, am willing to lose clients rather than put up with crap that is clearly outlined in the contract. And, the funny thing is, once you put your foot down and really ARE willing to lose clients you actually attract and keep better clients.

[5 Little Monkeys]

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20000410/babies-teething-illness

I do believe that SOME children get runny poops during teething (some drs say yes, some say no) but severe diarhhea and high temps are not caused from teething.

Here are some teething symptoms

http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/teething/teething-symptoms.aspx

If a parent questions my advice/suggestions/thoughts than I like to send them a link to show them WHY I have the view I do on their child's illness. Thankfully I have never really had a parent tell me that they wouldn't be picking up their child. Just yesterday I had a child not herself and was obviously not feeling well. I am sure she had a fever by the way she felt but my thermometer was broken and not reading correctly (I tested it on all the kids and it was reading the exact same temp). I didn't have any specific reason to send her home other than she was not participating in our activities. I told mom that I thought she had a fever but wasn't sure so it would be up to her to decide if she wanted to come get her or not and thankfully mom picked her up right away.

I feel the way we talk to parents is a direct result in how they are with us. I am firm but not mean/demanding and I make sure the parent knows that my concern is for their child. (even though my concern is for them, the other children and myself) Only once have I had to talk to a parent and explain that her child's illness was affecting the other children. She was a great parent and a great dc parent but when it came to her child's illnesses she was usually in denial and blamed it on teething or because he was a preemie when born. I understand though, I have worked at places that were not the easiest to leave but unfortunately, that isn't my problem. If your child is sick they need/should be at home. I make it clear during interviews that back up's are a must, especially if they work somewhere that is hard to leave during their shift.

[JennJubie]

Well, after my talk with his Mom yesterday, she is not happy about it, but she is following my rules. I like being to help people out if it's possible, but dealing with slimy explosive liquid poop is not one of those things I'm willing to be nice about.

I flat out told her that it's ALSO about the other kids in my care and my family. I told her that even if "he's not contagious" that poo still contains harmful bacteria. I told her I had to put the kids in their high chairs while I cleaned up the mess. I told her how long it took to clean the mess.... I think she got the point that I wasn't budging.

[Judy Trickett]

Well, after my talk with his Mom yesterday, she is not happy about it, but she is following my rules. I like being to help people out if it's possible, but dealing with slimy explosive liquid poop is not one of those things I'm willing to be nice about.

I flat out told her that it's ALSO about the other kids in my care and my family. I told her that even if "he's not contagious" that poo still contains harmful bacteria. I told her I had to put the kids in their high chairs while I cleaned up the mess. I told her how long it took to clean the mess.... I think she got the point that I wasn't budging.

Kudos! Glad to hear it! That's using your backbone. :thumbsup:

[Sassygirl]

Good for you JennJubie!

I don't like how these kind of parents think that they are smarter than us at times.

All of my dcp are first time parents. I am just about to have #5 and have worked with children for MANY years. Not that I know everything by any means BUT, I know quite a bit.

I had one kiddo who came awhile back with an obvious cold and mom tried to argue with me at drop off that it was "teething" well, he had green snot, was pale and threw up after he had his bottle because he was so congested then also had muscousy (sorry for TMI) watery poops. Sorry that is not "teething" related.

This is the same mom who I tried calling ALL morning on her day off to come pick up this little guy and finally got her at lunch.

Don't budge! This is your business... Your rules!

[JennJubie]

Usually this family is great... but she doesn't like missing work. Well, neither do I. Sorry.

[MonkeyPrincess]

I understand that some parents may not know their kid is getting sick, especially if the kid starts feeling 'off' during daycare. I will send the kid home immediately if they throw up/diarrhea, fever, etc But I hate parents who will send a semi-sick child to daycare, (stuffy, runny nose) then balk when they hear of other kids being sick and say it was that kid that infected their kid! UH NO! I have a parent who is notorious for that. Her kid gets sick all the time, like once a month, and sometimes develops ear infections, bronchitis, etc. Last time her kid was sick, she contacted me on the weekend me to 'inform' me that her kid was sick with the flu. I picked up what she was implying and immediately said 'oh, she probably got it from her dad, remember he was sick with it last week? No one is sick here!.' Quieted her down. Then when the kid came back to daycare, mom asked me to let her know if anyone has much has a runny nose, because she was going to keep her kid home so she didn't get sick again. It irritated me because her kid is the one who infects the other kids first, :mad:

[JennJubie]

I hate the blamers. People get sick. End of story. It's no one's fault, (unless they send their kid in KNOWING they're sick), it's just something that happens when you are around other people. I don't begrudge anyone who sends their kid in NOT knowing they are getting sick. It happens. But I agree, if your kid has iffy coloured mucous, diarrhea, vomitting, rashes, etc... for the love of Peter - DON'T SEND THEM TO DAYCARE!

I'm sure my kids have gotten the daycare kids sick on occasion, too. But if my own are sick enough, I will close. Back in October, my daughter threw up all over my living room. Projectile. Yuck. I phoned parents to let them know I'd be closed the next day. It took me until 9:30 p.m. to clean my living room. Come to think of it.... I got attitude about closing, too :(

[5 Little Monkeys]

Exactly Jen, kids get sick. It's not the end of the world but there are precautions that parents can take to help stop the spread. I had one mom who was a blamer too and funny enough it usually was her child that seemed to have the symptoms first. Oh well, what can ya do...

I sent a picture of the sick child yesterday to mom so she could see for herself. I'm glad I did because when mom got here to pick up, of course she was fine and made me look like a liar haha. She kept her home today though so she obviously is not well.

[madmom]

Yeah and what do you do with the parents that are all " Oh little (dck) was fine all night long, I can't believe he still has diarrhea! all wide eyed and innocent sounding. I have sent little ones home then told the symptoms were over just to have them re-occur that afternoon. So hard to argue with parents :(

[Sassygirl]

I have learned many things in this business the past year and it is - If you let something go once they will keep trying it again and again. Speak up after the first time.

[kimg]

I'm tired of the teething excuse as well. I've been sick with one thing or another since the beginning of January. All because of "teething" kids, although I haven't grown a new tooth yet. :p

[mickyc]

Yeah and what do you do with the parents that are all " Oh little (dck) was fine all night long, I can't believe he still has diarrhea! all wide eyed and innocent sounding. I have sent little ones home then told the symptoms were over just to have them re-occur that afternoon. So hard to argue with parents :(

I just had a little one in my care who always had very loose stool and very frequent (talked to mom about possibly an allergy to dairy but she just brushed it off). It was always hard to tell when it was just a regular bowel movement or if it was indeed the beginning of diarrhea. What I started doing was texting mom after the 2nd watery poop to give her a heads up. After No. 3 she would get a call/text to pick up. If the child was totally fine otherwise then I would allow her to come back the next day (mom always would drop off and say she was fine and had no more poops! YA RIGHT!!). The deal was the next day after the first watery poop she would need to get picked up ASAP. Mom finally started keeping her home. She ended up being the one who just gave notice and found another daycare. Not sure if that was why but I know I certainly do not miss all the poopy diapers all day everyday!

[Lou]

What boggles my mind and always will, is WHY would you want anyone else to take care of your sick children??? YOUR babies are ill! Don't you want to be the one on top of it and helping them feel better? And why on earth would you think that it is a daycare provider's job to take care of sick children??? People confuse me.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Lou, I agree with you. If it were me, I would want to look after my sick child myself.

HOWEVER, I have worked at places that made it difficult to just leave when needed so I do understand it from a parent's view as well. Both my fields, healthcare and childcare, were at places that had ratio's to follow. So leaving when your child was sick was not easy. You either had to wait until a replacement could come in or be pulled from a different area or you had to call your back up to pick up your child. The thing that always made me laugh was my dc centre coworkers would complain about a parent not coming quick enough or not being able to come at all when their child needed to be picked up but than if the school phoned and needed them to pickup their own child up they couldn't leave work either!! They just didn't understand the irony lol.

Having children in dc and/or school and working at a job that isn't easily flexible must be very tough on parents!!

[Lou]

And so drop off your already sick child??? Nope. I worked in childcare centres for years and if my daughter woke up ill or was sick in the night I would call in early to say I would not be there. I don't care. My child comes FIRST, they can figure it out. I would never ever even consider dropping my sick child off at daycare.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I meant when the child becomes sick during the day :)

[Lou]

I get that to a certain extent, but I also think there should be back up arranged to come and pick up the child if sick. I don't see any reason why it should take hours for a throwing up child to be picked up, you know? Under no circumstance do I see that as excusable.
The OP was talking about children being dropped off ill, so that's where my original rant came from :D

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree!! Back ups are a must for me!

Knowingly dropping off ill is just plain inconsiderate!!

[Judy Trickett]

I get that to a certain extent, but I also think there should be back up arranged to come and pick up the child if sick. I don't see any reason why it should take hours for a throwing up child to be picked up, you know? Under no circumstance do I see that as excusable.
The OP was talking about children being dropped off ill, so that's where my original rant came from :D

I agree. This is your CHILD. You should be willing to move mountains to rush to come and get them and take them to the comforts of their home and momma. If a parent were suddenly puking at work I KNOW they would be exiting that building within 5 minutes and high-tailing it home. They should offer their child the same consideration.

[mamaof4]

that said. with jobs like my husband (a firefighter) its not easy to get a hold of them and even harder for them to leave. So I can see both sides, and I agree the importance of back ups

[mom-in-alberta]

My parents are pretty good for picking up when I ask them to. And rarely do they drop-off a kid that I look at and go "Really? You thought they were ok to come to daycare??"
Having said that, I think you can tell the difference between a poop that is teething related (looser, but only because of the extra drool, etc) and actual diarreah (everything is off- color, texture, and of course FOUL odor).
I will call after the first actual diarreah. I am confident that I know when a child can stay and when they MUST go home.
And I agree. Although I understand that it is difficult to leave/miss work, I need to work with families that will make EVERY effort to come get a sick child. It is important to me, because that is a core value (ie; kids are the most important thing of all).

[hannahjo]

I second that! It is sooo difficult to protect other kids from getting infected. Dear parents please do not send your kids unless and until you are sure that they are absolutely alright. Kids in the day care center (http://weewatch.com/making-a-quality-child-care-choice/qualified-child-care-providers/) are vulnerable and are likely to get affected by the same! We would be held accountable before other parents for their kids being sick!

[bright sparks]

that said. with jobs like my husband (a firefighter) its not easy to get a hold of them and even harder for them to leave. So I can see both sides, and I agree the importance of back ups

I agree mamaof4....my husband can be at the side of a road with a coach in bits and 50 passengers. Can he just drop things and go in this situation, absolutely not! If he was throwing up at the side of the road could he leave, no chance. If I was a parent with a child in daycare though I would make it quite clear to the provider that if after 2 attempts to contact him they got no response and for some reason I was unavailable, then it is on to the emergency contacts list without question. It's sad and unfortunate that the parents who are in these kinds of positions are lumped together with the parents who are just inconsiderate and selfish. It doesn't mean they don't care, just in a tricky spot. Kind of like how everyone paints dcproviders with the same brush based on those who break the law and are neglectful wouldn't you say ?!? That is why during my interview process I have a frank conversation about there ability to pick up in an emergency and who their back up childcare providers are. If there is any hint that they won't be able to pick up within an hour, then I make it clear that I am not the best provider for them and if they continue to um and ah, then I let them know that if these rules get broken even once, then they will be terminated immediately. On more than a few occasions I have told families I can not accept them because I know the sickness policy will be broken. I do not waste my time with these families who need a more lax or flexible sickness policy depending on how you look at things.

[MonkeyPrincess]

Gotta love the Lysol generation, dontcha? They over clean and sterilize their homes to the point that there is no GOOD bacteria around to deal with the bad bacteria then blame everyone else for their overuse of chemicals which studies have shown is the cause for the proliferation of harmful household bacteria.

i kinda like you luppernoodle ;) ...you have outright said (more than once) what i have thought before!