How sick is too sick for daycare??

[Feijoa Mum]

Scout is sick AGAIN!
It just really pees me off that I get him well, try my best to keep him that way ie vitamins,echineaca(sp) but it seems every week he has a cough or snotty nose again.
He loves daycare so much and has lots of little friends and is a real pleasure in the class (teachers words) and of course I enjoy the two days he goes but lately it seems he is home sick more than he is there.

So to me theres the obvious ones, diarrhoea or vommiting, green nose, temperatures, constant coughing, they are the stay at home sick.

But I also keep him home if he has constant clear runny nose. I get sick of wiping it so I wouldnt expect his teachers too.
If he is generally miserable. You know the clingy, grizzly cant get happy kid, the one where you know something must be coming. Why should his teachers have to deal with him like that?

Is my conscious to big? I have a friend that works in daycare and she said they have some parents that get called to pick up their sick child and will try to drop them back a few hours later with antibiotics from the DR. Your kid is sick take them home and get them well.

I guess because I am a SAHM it is easier for me as I dont have a boss to deal with but my kids and their health is my priority.

[BrightSparkles]

I'm the same as with with Miss J. It's hard with Daycare cause some parents aren't as vigilant with sending/not sending sick kids.
Hope he gets better soon. xx

[black_rose]

I generally send my girls if the nose is just runny but clear and if they are happy, they stay at home if they get a fever, green snotty noses and are misrable. When they get bronchiolitis I check with my gp that they are no longer infectious and then they go with the cough. You can always check with the staff, I hated sending them with runny noses but they said it was fine.

[Epacris]

The sick child policy at both my DD’s FDC and DS’s Kindergarten allow children with a clear runny nose if they have no other symptoms. Most kids just have that clear runny nose as a permanent fixture every winter until they are about 5.

DS’s Kindergarten also aren’t too fussed about DS’s cough. He gets a barking cough through winter, he’s had it ever since he was born. He’s been checked out by two paediatricians and they are sure it’s just that his airways are a bit immature and they react to the cold air. Apparently he will grow out of it.

Definitely not if:
- they are miserable or just generally “unwell”
- they have a temperature
- there is yellow or green snot
- conjunctivitis
- vomiting / diarrhoea

[*Beema*]

DD has been home most of this week from Daycare as she has had a bad hit with her asthma, where I wanted to keep a close eye on her and we have made changes to her medications and best to make sure we are happy it is under control properly before sending her back. But she had been very miserable, not eating and only small amounts of milk, so definitely not up for daycare.

If we didn't send her when she had a cough or clear runny nose she would never go, she has a Chronic cough due to the asthma and I think they runny nose is just one of those things.

But we don't send her if....

She can't get through without Panadol
She has a green snotty nose
Is generally miserable, extra cuddly or not herself
Asthma is bad and not controlled
Has a temperature
Conjunctivits, Croup, Bronchiolitis, but she can return after the infectious period is over, but she generally doesn't go back until the next week.
Vomiting or Diahorea

She missed a lot of daycare last year, and it feels sucky as it is just money down the drain, but I am lucky that my job is flexible that I can work at home, but if there is something I have to be at the office or onsite DH looks after her, he stayed home with her and I a week or so ago when we were both sick and this week I have stayed at home with her, did take her with me to the office yesterday morning and it tuckered her out so much she slept for 5 hours in the middle of the day

I hope your DS is feeling much better very soon, it is horrible seeing our littlies sick

[Floweryfields]

From a directors pov, we definitely appreciate parents who are considerate to others when their child is sick - but some parents don't seem to care how ill their child is and some can be offended when asked to take them home.
You've basically hit the nail on the head when considering when to send your child, the obvious ones you mention are what I also say, vomiting, diharea, bad coughs, green noses, skin infections like school sores or ring worms- as well as considering how your child will manage the day - have they slept well the night before, will they be tired, clingy, wanting you. Can they manage themselves - are they able to wipe their own noses, as to be honest, workers don't enjoy having to deal with endless streams of snot or gross green thick snot.
Clear runny noses are fine, as they are deemed contageous.
I also suggest that if your child needs medication to get them through the day, they are best off at home until they are recovered.