Rules on siblings and illness

[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.