Sick from child care centre...

[Madissun]

I was fortunate enough to be able to take my son to work with me from when he was 2 months old (i only work 2 days a week). But by the age of 5 months he was getting too bored being there so he started going to a childcare centre, 2 days a week, 6 weeks ago.
In the past 4 weeks he has had gastro, an ear infection, an upper respiratory infection and 2 lots of anti-biotics. He now has tonsilitis, bronchulitis and a middle ear infection and is on his third lot of anti-biotics.
I keep being told that he simply needs to build up his immune system and that this is what happens when they start going to child care.
I need some advice on what to do! I really, really want to pull him out of the centre cause it's getting out of control. I dont have any family of riends available to look after him the days that i work. I was considering changing to family day care as perhaps there would be less chance of him getting sick?
I could stop working altogether and be a SAHM but money would be quite tight as im a single mum.
I just dont know what to do??
I keep him home when he is sick but i cant keep having days off work as its not fair to my employer. When he seems to be better, he goes back, then the next day comes down with something else! Everytime im there, i see kids so sick that their noses are running into their mouths and they are crying so hard they're almost choking.
Im sure lots of mums have gone through this with their bubs and i'd love to hear from anyone who can help!

[Nadine216]

Look around for another care centre or find a day-mother. That is the best advice I can give you. I have great respect and admiration for the ladies in care centres, BUT if they can't even wipe a childs nose ... not up to my standard, sorry.

[Ellibam]

i work in CC and i would say look for another centre! yes kids get sick in CC BUT it doesnt have to be all the time...

[Isadora]

Oh Tobyturtle I so hear you. Its terrible how often they get sick when they are in day care. My little one is in care two days a week as well, and she has had a couple of colds and I suspect conjunctivitis coming on atm. Maybe you could try another center, like the others suggested. Unfortunately, some children are just more prone to illness and catch everything under the sun. I hope you can find a solution.

[widdly]

i would check out Family Day care, there are only a few children there so the liklihood of him getting sick is a lot less, big hugs, it must be very stressful for you

[Kitt3n]

First 12 months of day care = sick bubba. I agree with trying FDC - i really wish we supported FDC much much more as a community.

[mrsr]

I agree with those who suggest finding another centre.

[MantaRay]

The thing is that he is getting sick from exposure to "new" bugs. If you move him, he will have to start all over with the different bugs at the new care place. I know it is awful to have a sick child (not to mention inconvenient), but it is actually good for their immune systems to be exposed to things early. There have been studies showing lower rates of leukemia and things in children who were exposed to other kids under age 3 as opposed to school age. And the good news, is that he is building up immunity, so he should start to get sick less often once that immunity has built up. It won't be this way forever. And it sounds like you must be pretty close to coming through the other side of it.

If he enjoys where he is, I wouldn't rush to remove him. Stick it out for another month or two and see what happens. I have heard that kids who don't go to day care tend to be sick a lot during the first few months of kindy or school instead, so hopefully you won't have to worry about that in a few years!

[mollycat]

Some children are prone to getting sick, but this seems really excessive. this centre doesn't seem too good on hygiene with runny noses everywhere. I would either try another centre or try FDC. With FDC they are with a smaller group and generally the same group on each day. The regulations are the same as a centre, but often policies are stricter.

[Tobily]

I agree with MR for the most part, it is true that all kids will go through this when they start daycare. Only you can decide if it's excessive though. I remember DD's first winter in childcare was horrendous - she came down with something or other every second week from 8-18 months. She is now as healthy as a horse though and rarely gets sick
My youngest is in FDC and though they do catch the odd thing there too, it's been much less with him because he only sees the same 3 children and the same carer every week.

Hang in there, it does pass but it just depends how long you can juggle things for :hugs:

[titti]

talk to the manager of your cc. I certainly wouldn't like to leave my baba with someone that doesn't have time to clean the nose (or let her cry forever!).
My daughter goes to childcare 3 times a week and every second week she has either fever, cough, cold or a combination of all... I've taken her to the pediatrician, done tests, results? childcare... and again "her immuno system is building up"... guess what? she is on her 4th cycle of antibiotics and I am not happy about it. But she loves the childcare, the carers are great (they clean her nose, not let her cry and call me when she is really distressed) so I will stick on it.
Remember it will get better eventually. (my only concern in your case is the lack of attention for the kids... I would sort that out with the cc)
good luck

[dd311]

I agree with the majority find another centre.

I have my two in day care and can't stand it when I see another child's nose running as it used to happen all the time but they received a number of complaints about it from parents and this has changed and made a huge difference.

Kids do go through the process of getting everything when they interact with other kids it's an unfortunate part of reality but I think what you have mentioned sounds quite excessive for such a short space of time.

On the Family Day Care - I know this will not sit well with alot of FDC people but I going to say it anyway as my SIL used to do FDC and I would quite often visit her during the day and sometimes she would go to the bathroom and get me to watch the kids for her. I got to know these children well for months before I ever met any of their parents. To me this was just wrong, maybe (hopefully!) the system has changed but I'm not comfortable with leaving my children with someone that is free to have people come and go from their house without my knowledge whilst they are solely responsible for childs wellbeing. No matter how many processes of checkings there are I believe they will never be able to stop that from happening.

I wish you well and hope you little one gets well soon.
xxdd

[Nai]

I have my DD in a Community Cooperative Childcare Centre- which is a parent run centre. I know many people who have moved thier children to this centre from "commercial" childcare centres and say the difference is amazing. One difference is the number of illnesses the kids have picked up - or more to the point HAVEN'T picked up. If you are looking at alternatives, check out a Community Coop centre as well as FDC. I also sit on the Board of the centre so so get to have a say in how it is run and understand what really goes on. It is very enlightening to say the least

[Madissun]

I haven't heard of that before Nai, how do i find out more and if there is one in or near my area?
Thank you everyone for your replies. The reasons i didnt want my son in family day care are now cropping up again, eg. not being able to control visitors to the carers house etc. Its so hard trying to make a decision!

[Nai]

In Melbourne they are usually called Community Childcare Cooperatives but some are known as other names. If you look up on the website for your city council they are often listed there. Where in Melbourne are you? I might know of some in your area.

[Pretty Butterfly]

I have worked in both CC centres and FDC, and would definatly choose FDC. Most FDC mums will not keep a bub there while they are sick. I agree that building up immunity is good, but for a young bub to need that much antbiotics, in my opinoin, is much worse. It seems way to excesive.

That centre needs a huge overhaul, and if any of the kids have green runny noses, or persistant coughs, they are not permitted to be in the centre. It seems badly run to me hon. JMO, but i'd take my bubba outta there....

[Bathsheba]

I've worked in ChildCare (Early Learning centre for 0 - 4yos) and whilst it is true that they are often a little sicker in their first few months it is up to the centre to be right onto infection control. It sounds to me that the staff are not being strict enough. It is quite hard to tell a parent who has rocked up to the centre with a sick child (this happens all the time) and tell them to take the child home. Many parents just don't have any back up or are casual workers and will tell you "if I don't go to work today i won't get sick leave or I might lose my job". A good director will stand firm though to protect the other children and the staff. I once got chicken pox from a child that was brought in at 7.30am with spots all over her!!!! I had to tend to her... so i caught the bloody pox! It took the parent half an hour to return to the centre to collect her child! Poor kid, I could tell she was sick... but often parents will outright lie and say: "She was upset in the car, that's why her eyes are all red" or "she had a late night, that's why she's grizzly".

I have been on the other side of the fence and had a sick child which meant I had to stay home. But that's what you have to do. That was 10 years ago for me and employment wasn't as easy to find as it is these days... these days, honestly, parents need to try a bit harder to obtain backup care. The consequences are bigger than they imagine. If the bug hits the staff in a big way it means discontinuity for all the children of the centre as relief agency staff are brought in.

I would change centres. it doesn't have to be that way.

Regarding FDC. It is a hard job. Because you don't have a co-worker it means that going to the toilet is very hard (basically have to wait until all the kids are asleep, or pop them all in cots... I haven't done it myself but I have used 2 FDC women and they were the bee's knees. They had teenage daughter to help after school at least... I felt very comfortable leaving my DD with them. Trust your intuition when choosing any care option.

[Isadora]

Oh my goodness Bathsheba, I cant believe parents leave their kids at daycare when they are that sick. Thats sad. However I guess at the same time I can understand that the parent wont get paid/may lose their job etc etc. I think its about time the government stepped up and made a few changes to childcare!