Need advice about sick policy

[Sladji]

Hello, I'm wondering how strict are other day home providers regarding kids coming in with a common cold. I have one girl that was brought in with runny nose (which is just common), but she's obviously with cold and everytime everyone else gets sick, including myself.
I usually allow kids in with a runny nose, since it's just normal during the season, but it's been 3 times in 2 months that she was brought in sick.
I'm not sure if I should be more strict or just stuck it up.

Any advice?
Thank you

[kindertime]

I am very strict for certain things. I send kids home for fever (within 24 hours), vomiting, diarrhea and if they are unable to follow the routine. Otherwise, they are allowed to come. Sometimes, parents will complain that their child gets sick because other parents send kids to daycare with colds. However, most parents do it, I don't like it, but if you have a child with 10 colds per year, it can be really hard to take that much time off work/school. So I understand from that perspective. If they can participate, they can come. I have had kids come and be active during the day but still are miserable, can't breathe for being stuffed up and coughing up a lung, but they still come. And I will make the report at the end of the day, "he was miserable because he can't breathe." We go through a lot of Kleenex. I have also arranged for the sick kids to be at the table most of the day, so they aren't playing with all the toys and climbing over the other kids. Playing with table top toys spreads less germs.

You, on the other hand, are free to be as strict as you want to be. My suggestion is to write down what you expect of parents and when they can come or not come. Give it out to everyone and then stick to it yourself. If you want to prevent kids from coming with a cold, be prepared for push-back from parents. And of course there is always the debate of whether its a cold or not. When a child is running around all day, their symptoms may be worse, so the cold seems worse to you but at home, if they are sitting, the symptoms may be better and so not seem like a cold at all to the parents. Colds are tricky. They say there is no cure for the common cold. But of course there is... stay away from other people! :)

[mickyc]

Colds are allowed providing there is no fever and they can actively participate in the day. Colds are just a hazard of the job and some kids take time to build up their immune system

[Van]

yes ....colds are just part of our jobs .....which is a pity but that is just life till their immune system can fight it better

[kindredspirit]

Nova Scotia has a provincial policy that daycares and registered dayhomes must follow-I just use that. It lists exclusion criteria (like fever, diarrhea, rash, etc) and how long they need to be out for. I allow kids to come with clear runny noses, and just follow them around all day with Kleenex and disinfecting wipes. It's a pain (esp in young ones that mouth toys), but they will get sick, and I just try to stop the spread (because then it's an endless cycle!).

[5 Little Monkeys]

I feel I have a pretty detailed sick policy but a common cold is just that, common. At least 1-2x a month I'd have kids home if I didn't allow them here. A runny, clear nose is annoying but allowed. If they can't participate in the day's activities though, I ask they stay home.

Increase the hand washing, disinfect weekly/bi-weekly and clean daily the toys that you see go in mouths. It will really help decrease the illnesses :) Also, wash bedding regularly as kids tend to drool and get snot everywhere when sleeping haha

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I not exclude for cold. Live in Canada which is cold climate and people get cold. I think it unreasonable to exclude. But if child have other symptoms like fever, that different maybe sign something else going on.

This just part of job.

I do have clause that child must be well enough for full participate so if child laying around and clearly fell unwell, then I can send home.

[hockey mom]

My policy stipulates that children with coughs and colds may attend provided that there is no fever, nasal secretions are clear, coughs are not persistent and they can participate cheerfully in normal daycare activities. If yellow or green goop is pouring out of their nose or they are constantly hacking, they should be at home recuperating for the child's comfort and the health of the group. I added this clause after I had one child that often got colds so bad, green snot would literally hang from his nose to the floor when he sneezed and the parents continued to bring him. Clearly the child felt quite crappy and miserable, but the parents didn't want to be inconvenienced. :no:

[Sladji]

What if the nose isn't clear, but running very thick yellow? Do you make the child stay home?

[mickyc]

No but I mention it to the parent. Keep an eye for a fever too

[Van]

What if the nose isn't clear, but running very thick yellow? Do you make the child stay home?

When the nose is running with thick yellow goop or even green it means it is getting better and the child is on the last few days of the flu and it will clear up any day now so thick is good even if it looks so bad LOL

[bright sparks]

When the nose is running with thick yellow goop or even green it means it is getting better and the child is on the last few days of the flu and it will clear up any day now so thick is good even if it looks so bad LOL

Just curious where you got this info from? Yellow or green represents the presence of infection and in no way indicates whether it is the last few days of infection or the first few. Also, runny nose is actually not a symptom of flu contrary to belief. In many cases a person has the flu with absolutely no cold symptoms and vice versa.

[mickyc]

I also am under the understanding yellow or green indicates infection. That being said the one girl I have right now only ever gets yellow/green snot every single time she has a cold. For her it has never been clear ever! It is the strangest thing. I just watch for fever but she never gets one, plays fine and is in a good mood. I have never sent her home

[lemondrop]

"You might have heard that yellow or green mucus is a clear sign that you have an infection, but despite that common misperception, the yellow or green hue isn't due to bacteria.
When you have a cold, your immune system sends white blood cells called neutrophils rushing to the area. These cells contain a greenish-colored enzyme, and in large numbers they can turn the mucus the same color."

From here: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/the-truth-about-mucus?page=2

[ebhappydc]

Oddly, I notice my guys get the green yellow at tail end of bad cold too without fever. Lots of wiping but fine to be here.

[bright sparks]

"You might have heard that yellow or green mucus is a clear sign that you have an infection, but despite that common misperception, the yellow or green hue isn't due to bacteria.
When you have a cold, your immune system sends white blood cells called neutrophils rushing to the area. These cells contain a greenish-colored enzyme, and in large numbers they can turn the mucus the same color."

From here: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/the-truth-about-mucus?page=2

Yes the yellow or green mucus is as a result of the enzyme not bacteria, but the high amount present is as a result of infection, bacterial or viral. So it is in fact still true that the presence of yellow or green mucus is a sign of infection because it is only when infection is present that the high levels of enzyme are present. No infection, low levels of enzyme = clear mucus.

[Sladji]

It's exactly what I'm experiencing now. The child came really sick and got me sick too. I don't want to offend the parents, but this is the first time in two years that I had to close (3 x in two months), because she got me sick too
I'm not sure how to tell the mom without offending her.

[33 Daiseys]

:yes::yes::yes:
Just curious where you got this info from? Yellow or green represents the presence of infection and in no way indicates whether it is the last few days of infection or the first few. Also, runny nose is actually not a symptom of flu contrary to belief. In many cases a person has the flu with absolutely no cold symptoms and vice versa.

[33 Daiseys]

Oddly, I notice my guys get the green yellow at tail end of bad cold too without fever. Lots of wiping but fine to be here.

It may be that as they are getting better the sinus arn't as congested, and hats ehy their noses are super runny.