Some parents and childcare's are just...

[Visitor8]

On the brighter side, I saw a report somewhere on telly recently that although children do get sick in childcare, those that have been in cc tend to not get sick once they are at school because they have built their immunity up and that it is more benefical then as they aren;t missing school.

I can believe this. I've always exposed my kids to other kids who are sick (not through child care, but friends etc). Result, 2 kids in school who are almost never sick.

[Floweryfields]

Muffy, respectfully, I am talking thick green oozing infected snot, which doesn't stop, when you have to wipe every 2 minutes- when a child should be at home. How do you expect a carer to handle that? We may be child carers, and you might find that offensive, but we are all human and a line must be expected to be drawn somewhere - no different to having to deal with diharrea poo, or when a child vomits - it IS very unpleasant to deal with, that's a fact like it or not- it's not the child's fault it;s unpleasant, and the CHILD is not blamed for doing it or considered disgusting , but I'm sure a parent themselves would find it yuck to deal with too. Whether we are being paid to care for a child or not, there are lines that should not be crossed just because money is being paid and wages are being earned.

[shaza12345]

i agree ausgirl been a child care worker myself i understand where your coming from.

[feeb]

Tomorrow my boys are ment to be in CC for there 2nd day and I am starting uni but DS2 has temps which are not relieved with panadol, heat rash and is very clingy and sad, I have had to get my mum to come a day early from the country to watch him tomorrow as well as tues/wed which she was allready.

I must say I am ****ed that I need to pay even thought he wont be there and I do understand why parents would still send them as if they dont work dont get paid yet need to pay for CC but I could not do it.

[Floweryfields]

I think there is a problem that definitely could be resolved somehow around the area of having to pay for not attending - and of course I know why centres do still charge - they have to pay the rostered staff so they need the income - but there could be a better system from the Gov't to help out with that - don't ask me how though!!

[MummyNaomi]

I've sent DS with a runny nose - certainly not the green infectious type of goop, but a little bit of a clear runny nose isn't infectious - our GP said it was a waste of time keeping him home as he wasn't going to spread any infectious germs anyway. DS is a bit like me too and suffers a bit of hayfever - that certainly isn't infectious so I think sometimes other parents and CC workers need to consider what the actual issue is. DS has had the tail end of a cough for the better part of two weeks and when I went to our GP last week she told me it was not infectious in anyway so there was no need to exclude him - so just because a kid has a bit of a cough it doesn't equal an infectious bug either. I always talk to the carers and ask their advise anyway if I am unsure.

However, when they are clearly sick and infectious - definitely NOT, and beside, when they are sick they want Mummy anyhoo! I've picked up DS a few times when he has become sick during the day (or had a temp they couldn't bring down etc) and am lucky enough to work across the road so I get there within minutes. Although I think its not right to leave genuinely sick kids in care, I do feel for the parents that are trying to do the right thing by their workplaces etc (not that it makes it right) but sometimes I think they are just stuck between a rock and a hard place

[Ozziehoffy]

I actually disagree with this,

Yep fair enough keep your kids home if they are SERIOUSLY sick BUT kids get sick (colds etc) its a fact of life, and good to build up their immune system!!
As for the 'wiping snotty noses' comment - maybe you need to be in another job. I would make a serious complaint if i heard someone from the kids day care talking like that.

Yes it is a fact of life, but I also think that we can do what we can to help minimise the spread of things. So, the parent who sent their sick kid then infects another child, who then takes that home and infects his/her whole family resulting in OTHERS potentially having to take time off work or pay CC fees without the child being there because they are trying to be considerate of others.

Re: snotty nose comment... I'd not complain cos sure as hell no one likes to wipe snotty noses. They are in childcare, not nursing or something... that's my opinion anyway.

As for parents saying... oh he's just a little sick.... there is still an operative word there.... SICK!!!

[Nai]

Sneezing and coughing etc can be other things eg. hayfever related so in those instances I think it is perfectly fine to send a runny nosed or coughing kid to CC. If the child isn't sick but still has a runny nose then I don't see the problem but sure if they are sick then keep them at home - they probably don't want to be at CC either.

As for messy, I don't have an issue with that - my DD's always dressed themselves too Also they are more likely to let the carer brush their hair than me so if that makes things quicker and easier in the morning then I do whatever it takes. Sometimes it's them or me when getting ready for work and I make sure that look presentable in preference to the kids because I'm not going to come home covered in dirt and paint but they probably will!

[Cherished]

The sick factor is a big one for me too even though we don't have a child in daycare I can see how it's a worry for those that do. I feel sorry for the mums who have to send their kids to daycare sick I'm sure most of them don't even want their child in day care to begin with but have to send them there as they need to work. When their kids are sick I also presume that the mums would rather be home looking after their babies kwim. But then again I could be totally wrong. Maybe they are sending their kids off cause they don't want to deal with them

[Astrid]

Coming in from a different perspective. I have been fortunate enough to have my children with some very special carers. One lady who we were close to, explained that she is there to care for my children, in a way to be the "other parent", especially these days when there is often little or no close family support.

When DD2 had a UTI, is was hell on the whole family. She would not take any medication and we were all getting very little sleep. I spoke to her main carer about what to do. I had to work (no work = no pay) and also I needed a break from it all. Her carer chose to have at the centre. It was an absolute blessing. She took her medication and continued to do so after that. She had some distraction from the UTI and she had someone looking after her who was not stressed or sleep deprived. Over all it was a huge win.

I think it pays to have open communication with care providers to work out what is the best way to deal with a sick child.

[hj1981]

Ops i lost my reply!

Went something like this...

Im glad i am not the only one that feels like this!

And as for my "untidy" comment, i was trying to look for a nicer word to what i actually was trying to say!
I am all for kids dressing themselves, i think that is really cute! i was more trying to get at the ummm "unkept" ones, the ones that look like their parents just don't care, it makes me sad! maybe there is a reason for it, maybe there isn't, either way its sad to see.

And i agree totally with "OZZIEHOFFY" Childcare workers are childcare workers not nurses!
and wiping someone elses childs nose is not very pleasent! i use to hate having to do that!

and yes being sick may be good for their immunity, but at this young age it is not easy on them, nor is it easy for a parent seeing their child so sick and distressed! if it happens it happens and i will deal with it, i just don't like the fact that it has happened due to some irresponsible parents, regardless of whether they can afford to take the day off or not! Like a few have also said it's not fair on that poor bubba! i know with Miss B being sick all she has wanted to do is cry, sleep, and have mummy and daddy cuddles! i would not even think of leaving her in childcare. Regardless of how good her teacher are, they can not give her the one on one attention she needs right now!

[mollycat]

I'm a family day carer and as we don't get paid if we don't work, I am very fussy with the sickness that comes into my care. I had a parent phone me last week, her 2yo was diagnosed with croup, the doctor said she "probably" wasn't infectious, the mother wanted to know how I felt. We decided that she would stay at home, I am thankful that the mother agreed with me. I hate sending the children home, but in saying that I hate the fact that I have to take time off and inconvenience two or three other families




This is from another carer:
Mary had a little cold, DIDN'T STAY HOME everywhere Mary went the cold was sure to roam It wandered into Molly's eyes filling them with tears Jumped to Bobby's nose then to Jimmy's ears painting Annie's throat bright red, swelling poor Johnnie's head, Dora had a fever a cough put Jack to bed The Moral of this little tale is very quickly said

Mary could have saved a lot of pain with just a day in bed

[loulabelle]

Dd has allergies and is always at childcare with a runny noes.

If my kids just have a runny noes but are happy, I'll send them. Clearly most parents do as well be because I'm constantly seeing snotty nosed kids running around.

Clearly I must be an uncaring, lazy parent too. My kids are often untidy. For a few reasons, they recommend old clothes because of all the dirty fun they get up to and the other big reason is that my ds tends to hightail outside to dig in dirt the second he's dressed in the morning. By the time I've got dd ready to go, he's often dirty. Why should I change him? Just to get another pair of clothes dirty? Oh, because I'll look like an 'just don't care' parent if I don't!Come on!

Sorry if that makes you sad, hj1981.

[Astrid]

I have been thanked before for sending the kids in older clothes. The carers at the time admitted they stressed everytime a parent sent a child dressed in new Pumpkin Patch.

I am thinking this thread shows a huge lack of communication between carers and parents. Parents need to be open with carers about illnesses and work commitments. Carers need to make it clearer what does or does not constitutes a reason to stay home (seems we all have differing ideas on snotty noses). Newsletters should have clear guidelines on clothing. I know mine have always said about old/play clothes due to them getting dirty, paint on them etc.

[hj1981]

loulabelle - i corrected my self and tried to explain what i meant without starting another BB war! i don't have a problem with "play clothes", or kids that like to play in dirt or get paint on them! they are kids! But i understand how things can be taken the wrong way on a forum!

[hj1981]

This is from another carer:
Mary had a little cold, DIDN'T STAY HOME everywhere Mary went the cold was sure to roam It wandered into Molly's eyes filling them with tears Jumped to Bobby's nose then to Jimmy's ears painting Annie's throat bright red, swelling poor Johnnie's head, Dora had a fever a cough put Jack to bed The Moral of this little tale is very quickly said

Mary could have saved a lot of pain with just a day in bed

I really like that!

[Ozziehoffy]

Muffy, respectfully, I am talking thick green oozing infected snot, which doesn't stop, when you have to wipe every 2 minutes- when a child should be at home. How do you expect a carer to handle that? We may be child carers, and you might find that offensive, but we are all human and a line must be expected to be drawn somewhere - no different to having to deal with diharrea poo, or when a child vomits - it IS very unpleasant to deal with, that's a fact like it or not- it's not the child's fault it;s unpleasant, and the CHILD is not blamed for doing it or considered disgusting , but I'm sure a parent themselves would find it yuck to deal with too. Whether we are being paid to care for a child or not, there are lines that should not be crossed just because money is being paid and wages are being earned.

Totally agree.

Re: the untidy... the OP wasn't suggesting that kids rock up in Sunday best... it was more directed to ummmm how to put this... derelict, just completely filth ridden .... eeek don't attack me... but that's probably better words for it? Oskar's kindy clothes (he has just for kindy) have paint on the shirt but it's washed and clean not filthy and could walk off on it's own... I think that's where the comment is coming from more.

MummyNaomi... see that's where it's all twisted and wrong... parents doing the "right thing by their workplaces"... what about all the OTHER parents who may now be finding themselves in the EXACT same position all because the first parent decided that doing right by their workplace was more important than doing right by their child and EVERYONE elses kids as well as the carers. Before shooting me down.. I completely understand that a lot of workplaces most certainly do NOT make it easy on parents and in fact, can make things so hard that they are afraid to stand up... BUT we need to, we need to for our kids and for others kids also.

Re: snotty noses... I think we all understand that a runny nose can be different things... we're talking grotty snotty green/yellow though, not just runny. I know my nose gets runny from running around too much or if it's chilly.

[Floweryfields]

Coming in from a different perspective. I have been fortunate enough to have my children with some very special carers.

So if you require a sick child to stay at home, you aren't a very special carer? I take offense to that I'm sorry.