Rules on siblings and illness

[Shannie]

I have siblings in my care. The DCG was sick with diarrhea yesterday ( I found out that they had they flu on the weekend) and the DCB wasn't feeling the best, I sent them both home. Today Mom kept the DCG home but sent DCB. He cries at the littlest things but does seem much better than yesterday. Anyways, what are your policies on sick siblings? If one is sick, shouldn't they both stay home? I just really don't want my other little ones to get this. Thank you!

[Momof4]

A really considerate parent would keep both children home since they are staying home from work for one anyway. I suppose a lazy or disrespectful parent might not care that they are spreading germs through your entire home and daycare. I wish you the best of luck!

This is the type of event that makes you go back and look at your contract and make changes for the next renewal or the next new client. As you learn you make your contract stricter.

[Other Mummy]

Momof4 hit the nail on the head. This is EXACTLY why I had to revise my contract when I had a pair of siblings last year. Mother was super lazy. Would bring one child, when the other was sick. Well, it always resulted in the other sibling getting sick a day or so later and spreading their germs. I put my foot down. My policy now states that if a sibling is absent due to illness, than both children need to stay home. If mom or dad is staying home anyway to care for a sick child than bringing the other sibling to daycare is being lazy and disrespectful.

[sunnydays]

LOL...I guess Torontokids and I had the same thought at the same moment

[torontokids]

We were typing at the same time Sunnydays!

[torontokids]

heh heh...and again

[torontokids]

I think if the child is fine to participate I would let them come. The siblings I had, often one would be sick and the other fine. Same with my daughters where one won't get it.

I don't know if I like the comment about parents being lazy. Having the other child away is nice for the sick child as they get more 1:1 time when they need it most and the well child gets a break from the TV as mom/dad may be busy with the sick kid.

[sunnydays]

While I am not thrilled when one sibling is sick, but the other comes to me, I don't know that I would go as far as actually forcing both to stay home if one is healthy. I don't see it necessarily as the parents being lazy...it could be that they want to be able to care for the sick child better and/or take him/her to the doctor without having to drag the other child along. A sick child sometimes requires a lot of TLC and maybe the mom or dad at home just wants to be able to provide that without having to keep the other child entertained as well. If I have one sibling sick, I just watch the other like a hawk for signs of illness and hope for the best. If a parent is sick, I don't expect them to keep the kids home in case they are carrying germs. If one of my kids is sick, I don't keep my other healthy child away from the daycare kids. I just think there is only so much you can do.

[sunnydays]

LOL Great minds think alike!

[bright sparks]

I appreciate that the risks are higher in that the sibling is more likely to get ill or at least carry the illness into the daycare making it more likely for other children in care to catch something, but that's it. Its just a higher risk, not a certainty. How many kids go to a play centre and mingle with other children in close contact and could spread illness around unknowingly. Okay, so that's something that can't be controlled and is not to anyone' s knowledge, but you can't penalize the sibling who has zero symptoms and keep them at home. It would actually be in that child's best interest to be kept away from their sick sibling. The parent's are not being lazy IMO at all. The sick child needs 1 on 1 and the well child will be neglected as a result. Is there nothing that people won't complain about anymore. The parent pays for the spot of a perfectly healthy child to the best of their knowledge. To still have them attend daycare is their right as a paying parent and it's unfortunately just one of the risks that comes with running a daycare where illness can be spread very quickly. Next we are going to need additional policies stating that if they have been in close proximity to anyone with illness they need to stay away. How ridiculous is that!?!For that sibling to stay home for 24 hours while the other child gets over the illness and becomes symptom free, could result in the well child's increased chance of carrying something into daycare the next day due to extended exposure to the illness.

It sucks when people bring illness into daycare, but it is what it is and there has to be a line drawn before things get ridiculous.