What if YOUR child is sick?

This morning I got a text from one of the daycare Moms to say her dd wasn't coming as she was sick in the night (flu)...and she was here yesterday so I was wondering if it would be going around! Then BOTH my kiddies puked this morning as another daycare Mom was dropping off...that Mom said she would just keep her son home but I called my other parent and they said "oh well she was already sick with that on the weekend so she probably wont get it again, and if she does, oh well" and sent her anyways.
This is the first time that my kids have actually been sick, and it was already later in the morning....so what would you do? Call all the parents to come pick up if YOUR kids were sick or ride out the day letting your kids watch tv on the couch?

Good question. I would be in a tight spot as I don't have anyone to really come and watch my girls if they are sick. My husband might have to stay home with them or I would tell parents once I knew so they could make a decision to send their kids or not. I don't know if they would still pay though if they decide to stay home because even though I am still open, it is really just to help the families that need it.

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Originally Posted by DaycareLady

This morning I got a text from one of the daycare Moms to say her dd wasn't coming as she was sick in the night (flu)...and she was here yesterday so I was wondering if it would be going around! Then BOTH my kiddies puked this morning as another daycare Mom was dropping off...that Mom said she would just keep her son home but I called my other parent and they said "oh well she was already sick with that on the weekend so she probably wont get it again, and if she does, oh well" and sent her anyways.
This is the first time that my kids have actually been sick, and it was already later in the morning....so what would you do? Call all the parents to come pick up if YOUR kids were sick or ride out the day letting your kids watch tv on the couch?

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I think if they are puking, you should probably close...jmo. It's happened here before and next thing you know so and so is stepping in it, and you are going crazy trying to clean things up and disinfect etc...just too stressful and not very sanitary. I'm sure parents will understand.

The daycare Mom that was standing there was like "ohh...what are you going to do if your kids are sick"?? Lol I just started and her and I are friends and I just said "I have no idea!!!" I guess giving the parents the choice to come or not?! I mean if a daycare child was sick half way through the day of course I would call the parents but by the time they actually got here, etc the bug would already be floating around! I don't know! I am pretty relaxed with most things, and I am feeling fine and able to just let my kids chill in their pj's while I continue programming for the others! The one family who sent their child has NO ONE else to watch her...I said it was fine as long and they knew she could pick something up!

I would close the daycare if my kids were throwing up. I have some paid personal days in my contract and would use one for that...if I had none left, I would not charge for the day. If it was something more mild, then I would let the parents know and give them the decision.

I don't have paid days off, so I let parents know if someone in my house is ill. However, I am open and the choice is theirs whether or not to bring their kids. I still get paid. I've always done that, even when my kids were small.

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Originally Posted by sunnydays

I would close the daycare if my kids were throwing up. I have some paid personal days in my contract and would use one for that...if I had none left, I would not charge for the day. If it was something more mild, then I would let the parents know and give them the decision.

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Agree with sunnydays. Puking is a no brainer for me....anything else, like a fever, or anything moderate, the parents get an email and they get the choice to come as usual, or keep their child home and not pay. But puking or severe diarrhea...I am CLOSED! Lol

I also don't have paid days off and have many times had to push through my day after being up all night with my own kids, Im the same as cfred the choice is theirs most parents drop their kids off anyways cause they have probably been exposed to it anyways.....one of the perks of doing dc is you get to be home with your kids while they are sick and still get paid but that being said one of the down falls is your probably gonna have a rough day.........

Rarely is it my child that starts it in the sense that at least one other daycare child has had the symptoms already. But even if a child started getting sick at care as someone mentioned it has spread around by the time mom picks up. For me it isn't so much about spreading the germs that I don't want the daycare kids here is the cleaning up after them. I don't have a choice doing it for my own child. I normally just change the course of the day staying upstairs where there are less toys to wash and closer to water/toilet etc. My child is kept as far from the others as possible and certain toys are off limits to all. Generally if mine is sick they just want to lay on the couch anyways not get down in the midst of the gang and play so it then just becomes my job to keep the other kids away from bothering my child.

Most parents do not like taking time off when they don't have to so rarely have I had a parent want to keep their child home as they would prefer to save their days for when/if their child gets it. All of my families know that the germs are out there in the community and coming or not coming is no guarantee their child hasn't been exposed to something from somewhere already too.

At the end of the day I would tell all parents what happened and let them decide about coming the next day. I am open but they have the choice not to bring their child.

My 2 kids had the flu last week. I contacted both DCM and told them that I wouldn't be open that day. Later that night they both texed me (they are friends with each other) and told me I should be closed the next day too and that they should receive days in lieu because my kids got the flu. I don't have anything in my contract about MY kids getting sick....this will soon change. I'm going to add that I am alowed a certain number of paid sick days per year. I should have told them I would stay open and it was up to them if they wanted to bring their kids. No fun.

any puking or gastro-related illness (stomach flu) I'm closed. Way too contagious and way too difficult to properly care for a puking child and dcks. Other illnesses I give the parents the choice. If they choose to keep their kids home, it is the only time that I don't charge, even if it is their choice, as it is not their fault that they made this choice (and it's a little reward if you want, for making the right choice! Not the time to look out for myself)