Please don't send your sick kid to daycare!!!

[Judy Trickett]

Well, after my talk with his Mom yesterday, she is not happy about it, but she is following my rules. I like being to help people out if it's possible, but dealing with slimy explosive liquid poop is not one of those things I'm willing to be nice about.

I flat out told her that it's ALSO about the other kids in my care and my family. I told her that even if "he's not contagious" that poo still contains harmful bacteria. I told her I had to put the kids in their high chairs while I cleaned up the mess. I told her how long it took to clean the mess.... I think she got the point that I wasn't budging.

Kudos! Glad to hear it! That's using your backbone.

[Sassygirl]

Good for you JennJubie!

I don't like how these kind of parents think that they are smarter than us at times.

All of my dcp are first time parents. I am just about to have #5 and have worked with children for MANY years. Not that I know everything by any means BUT, I know quite a bit.

I had one kiddo who came awhile back with an obvious cold and mom tried to argue with me at drop off that it was "teething" well, he had green snot, was pale and threw up after he had his bottle because he was so congested then also had muscousy (sorry for TMI) watery poops. Sorry that is not "teething" related.

This is the same mom who I tried calling ALL morning on her day off to come pick up this little guy and finally got her at lunch.

Don't budge! This is your business... Your rules!

[JennJubie]

Usually this family is great... but she doesn't like missing work. Well, neither do I. Sorry.

[MonkeyPrincess]

I understand that some parents may not know their kid is getting sick, especially if the kid starts feeling 'off' during daycare. I will send the kid home immediately if they throw up/diarrhea, fever, etc But I hate parents who will send a semi-sick child to daycare, (stuffy, runny nose) then balk when they hear of other kids being sick and say it was that kid that infected their kid! UH NO! I have a parent who is notorious for that. Her kid gets sick all the time, like once a month, and sometimes develops ear infections, bronchitis, etc. Last time her kid was sick, she contacted me on the weekend me to 'inform' me that her kid was sick with the flu. I picked up what she was implying and immediately said 'oh, she probably got it from her dad, remember he was sick with it last week? No one is sick here!.' Quieted her down. Then when the kid came back to daycare, mom asked me to let her know if anyone has much has a runny nose, because she was going to keep her kid home so she didn't get sick again. It irritated me because her kid is the one who infects the other kids first,

[JennJubie]

I hate the blamers. People get sick. End of story. It's no one's fault, (unless they send their kid in KNOWING they're sick), it's just something that happens when you are around other people. I don't begrudge anyone who sends their kid in NOT knowing they are getting sick. It happens. But I agree, if your kid has iffy coloured mucous, diarrhea, vomitting, rashes, etc... for the love of Peter - DON'T SEND THEM TO DAYCARE!

I'm sure my kids have gotten the daycare kids sick on occasion, too. But if my own are sick enough, I will close. Back in October, my daughter threw up all over my living room. Projectile. Yuck. I phoned parents to let them know I'd be closed the next day. It took me until 9:30 p.m. to clean my living room. Come to think of it.... I got attitude about closing, too

[5 Little Monkeys]

Exactly Jen, kids get sick. It's not the end of the world but there are precautions that parents can take to help stop the spread. I had one mom who was a blamer too and funny enough it usually was her child that seemed to have the symptoms first. Oh well, what can ya do...

I sent a picture of the sick child yesterday to mom so she could see for herself. I'm glad I did because when mom got here to pick up, of course she was fine and made me look like a liar haha. She kept her home today though so she obviously is not well.

[madmom]

Yeah and what do you do with the parents that are all " Oh little (dck) was fine all night long, I can't believe he still has diarrhea! all wide eyed and innocent sounding. I have sent little ones home then told the symptoms were over just to have them re-occur that afternoon. So hard to argue with parents

[Sassygirl]

I have learned many things in this business the past year and it is - If you let something go once they will keep trying it again and again. Speak up after the first time.

[kimg]

I'm tired of the teething excuse as well. I've been sick with one thing or another since the beginning of January. All because of "teething" kids, although I haven't grown a new tooth yet.

[mickyc]

Yeah and what do you do with the parents that are all " Oh little (dck) was fine all night long, I can't believe he still has diarrhea! all wide eyed and innocent sounding. I have sent little ones home then told the symptoms were over just to have them re-occur that afternoon. So hard to argue with parents

I just had a little one in my care who always had very loose stool and very frequent (talked to mom about possibly an allergy to dairy but she just brushed it off). It was always hard to tell when it was just a regular bowel movement or if it was indeed the beginning of diarrhea. What I started doing was texting mom after the 2nd watery poop to give her a heads up. After No. 3 she would get a call/text to pick up. If the child was totally fine otherwise then I would allow her to come back the next day (mom always would drop off and say she was fine and had no more poops! YA RIGHT!!). The deal was the next day after the first watery poop she would need to get picked up ASAP. Mom finally started keeping her home. She ended up being the one who just gave notice and found another daycare. Not sure if that was why but I know I certainly do not miss all the poopy diapers all day everyday!