Childcare - child with runny nose

[Frantelle]

Hi all quick question.

Because DH was a stay at home Dad whenever D so much as sneezed we kept him home.

This week D has had a clear runny nose and what I would describe as a head cold. Today he is a little pale and has a slight dry cough.

DH and I both have to work tomorrow would you send him to childcare. He has no temp and seems ok within himself. I just have to let work know.

Thanks

[chody47]

If its clear I'd say it was fine. It's when the runny nose is yellow they don't seem to like it (this is coming from someone who keeps their DD away if I suspect any slight sickness too).

[Doing my best]

Just the clear runny nose, I would say send him (only cause my kids suffer hay fever and that is their symptom of it).. Even the dry cough could be just an irritation, but being pale, to me would say something else might be up and I would be cautious of sending him..

[MummyNaomi]

Don't send him if he is unwell, you've just described three symptoms so something is obviously up health wise

[jellybean88]

What DOing my best said

[LizLemon]

I wouldn't send him. The clear vs green/yellow snot means nothing in terms of contagiousness, and if he's pale he's probably feeling under the weather.

I hope he gets better soon

[Jaycee]

If my child has a cold / runny nose but is otherwise fine and his normal little self I send him. If he looks / acts unwell I keep him home.

Even our child care workers have said if we were to keep our kids home every time they had a runny nose, there would be no one there, especially in winter!

[LizLemon]

Even our child care workers have said if we were to keep our kids home every time they had a runny nose, there would be no one there, especially in winter!

Yeah true that! I should have said if your day care centre is completely anal about any illness then don't send him but if colds don't seem to bother them then it will depend on whether your little one looks like he could cope with the day.

[Traveller]

I wouldn't worry abotu the runny nose and tickly throat, but if the paleness is accompanied by any lethargy I wouldn't send him unless the daycare are completely ok with it, happy to administer a dose of panadol, and happy to give him an extra nap if he needs it. My daycare was great and would accept the kids as you describe but if there was a temperature that wasn't brought down by panadol then they would need to stay home. This actually worked well and my kids rarely got sick at daycare despite an influx of tickly coughs and runny noses by all children.

[Frantelle]

Thanks all.


I am one of those over protective helicopter mothers - as my friends like to point out to me - which I have been told is not a good thing.

He was much better at lunch still had a runny nose but had more colour in his face and was running around like a mad man.

I will see how he is tomorrow morning, I start work at 6:00 in the morning and DH starts at 7:00 so I will leave both DH and daycare with strict instructions to call me if he is not well - that is if I decide that he is well enough to go.

Honestly, it was so much easier with DH home full time as I did not have as much of this mummy/work guilt.

I dont want to send him if he is miserable but I have a killer day tomorrow with meetings and am not likely to get home until late.

But D comes first and work is going to have to deal with it - right everyone else has no problems taking time off so why can't I.

GAHHHHHH!!!!!