I'm not sure if this helps at all, with the problem of a child feeling crummy.....

I have right in my contract that if a child is feeling ill, has teething pain, what have you, I'll always try to contact a parent to discuss medicating. However, if I'm unable to reach anyone, I have the parent's automatic permission to use my own judgement and medicate should I deem it necessary to ease a child's discomfort until he/she can be picked up, be it early or at the end of the day. I always have baby and junior Advil and Tylenol, Tempra drops, children's Gravol and Benedryl. So far, I've not had an issue with anyone on this matter and they've all said they're happy with that scenario....seemed relieved actually as they wouldn't be called early from work so often. Typically, if a child's not quite right, the parents will mention it to me and verify they're ok with me administering whatever meds are necessary. I generally only make kids stay home for vomiting, diarrhea, fever of 101 and up, strep, pox, head lice, impatego (sp?) and those sorts of things. If I didn't let them in with colds and such, I might never see them all winter!

For the record, I think it's pretty crap that a parent would drop a medicated child without telling you. Not cool in my opinion. I've had parents do that too which was awful for me and the daycare kids. Not to mention that I took my kids to Spain the following week (a trip they knew of months in advance) during which we all got sick and passed it to my sister and her husband who went with us. Dad claimed to not realize it was contagious though his whole family got it. There were choice words

Sorry you had such a crummy day. Hope next week is better....and hope you don't get what he's got!