daycare illness policies?

[lucid501]

I work FT, and DH is a grad student. He stays home with our 9 month old son 2 days per week, and the other 2-3 days per week our son goes to a friends house. He is the only child she watches, other than her 3 girls.

We have recently been through a very trying 2 weeks of illnesses. First my son had the stomach flu, then me. Then, he had been better (no fever, no vomiting) for 48 hours, so my provider said he could come back. The next day, everyone in her family started getting sick.

Now, a week and a half later, we are all better, but my husband seems to be getting a cold or something. He had a high fever last night, but it was back to normal by this morning. My provider doesn't want to keep my son until our whole family is symptom-free.

I have never heard of a daycare/school requiring that all family/household members must be well in order for the well child to attend. Does anyone go to a school/daycare that has a policy like that? Is this reasonable, or overly cautious? I understand not wanting your kids to get sick, but it seems like keeping my son out because my husband may or may not be sick is like keeping him out because we spent 3 hours in a movie theater or a mall with potentially sick people.

Thoughts?

(BTW, she and I are now working on a set of guidelines so that in the future I can just say, "he has a fever of 100 (for example), so I will keep him out of daycare today. If anyone has guidelines from a home daycare setting in particular that you could share, I would greatly appreciate it).

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They are probably still traumatized over catching a stomach virus.

It's unfortunate, and it's hard to predict when a child is sick, or is contagious. So, I usually go on a case by case basis in my daycare.

My only hard and fast rules are......

NO vomiting or diarrhea at all. For any reason. That is NEVER part of my job. Even if it's completely explainable. "He's allergic to yogurt and we gave him yogurt last night".

The child must be able to get through a normal day without me having to hold them or do anything extra for them (within reason) So, if a baby is going to cry the whole day, rub snot all over the front of my shirt and need to be rocked and carried all day, they can't come over. But, if they are just in need of motrin and a breathing treatment, but can play the rest of the day, I'd love to have them.

Nothing that they know is contagious, like strep, or flu, or RSV. There's no reason to purposely spread it around and some kids are more fragile than others.

If one family member has been diagnosed with the actual flu, then, I'd rather not have them. I'll still take them, but I don't want them. It's only a matter of time before that child comes down with it too. But, realistically, I don't have much control over that. We just hope for the best.

In your case, I'd probably take your son, and I doubt I would have even given it much thought. That is the type of thing that is up to the parents.

[One_Girl]

Daycares typically send home for 100 degree fever or more, 2 vomit episodes, or 2 diarrhea episodes. She isn't a daycare though, she is more like a babysitter. When you get a babysitter you pretty much have to go by their decisions regarding when they will or will not watch your child. If she is willing to do a sickness policy than that is awesome, if not you may have better luck with a daycare center or an in-home daycare that is licensed by the city or state.

[just_lily]

My policy is out for 24 hours after an instance of vomitting, diarreah or fever. You need that buffer to make sure the bug is really gone... some times they come and go before they finally go for good.

Other than that, it is really case by case. I usually tell parents that I can deal with runny noses as long as a child is able to play, go outside, and do all of our usual activities. If they only want to lay on the couch all day they need to be at home with mum (or dad).

I would never consider excluding a child due to a family member's illness. I provide care for a couple of single moms so it is not unusual for them to drop off their kids when they are feeling very poorly so that they can go home and rest. What else are they going to do? I have been so ill before that I had to send DD to my MIL's, so I know what it is like.

[lucid501]

Thanks for all the input! We finally hashed out a policy of sorts that seems to be close to a daycare policy: no fever 100 or over, not more than 1 diarrhea or vomiting episode. Must be 24 hours since last fever/diarrhea vomit or cannot come. Same applies to her kids as well.

She did end up saying that if we weren't coming off 2 weeks of illness, then DH being sick might not have been an issue. Hopefully that is the end of it for a few months....we've all had enough illness recently to last us til flu season (or beyond!)

[claras_mom]

Originally Posted by lucid501

Now, a week and a half later, we are all better, but my husband seems to be getting a cold or something. He had a high fever last night, but it was back to normal by this morning. My provider doesn't want to keep my son until our whole family is symptom-free.

I have never heard of a daycare/school requiring that all family/household members must be well in order for the well child to attend. Does anyone go to a school/daycare that has a policy like that?

I see that you worked something out, but FWIW, I saw what you describe as a possibility during last year's H1N1 scare. If things got bad enough, local health departments had the option of requiring that kids not attend daycare/school if parents were sick. Don't think it was put into effect here, but the possibility was out there.

[rhiOrion]

I see you've figured it out, but in case anyone else has this question, here are the rules at dd's daycare:

Please keep sick children with diarrhea, vomiting, or a temperature of 101 degrees or more at home for at least 24 hours. If your child becomes ill at school, we will notify you, or the emergency contact person listed on your child’s application, to come pick him/her up as soon as possible, but within 1 hour. If you would like us to administer medication to your child during the day, you will need to fill out a medical form before you leave. No medication will be given without written permission. All medications must have the original labeling from the pharmacy. All staff is CPR and first aid certified. In case of an emergency, a trained staff member will provide first aid until professional medical care arrives. Staff is also trained to handle other emergencies such as fires, bad weather, or personal injuries.

Listed below are some common illnesses that occur in childcare settings and the recommended amount of recovery time before returning to school, notes will be required for any child returning prior to the specified time frames below. Please note that adults may not enter the facility when showing signs of illness including but not limited to the flu.

Flu like symptoms: if your child is showing any flu like symptoms they will not be allowed at the center; fever, cough, body aches, etc.

PINK EYE / out of care during, and for 24 hours after, medication

DIARRHEA / out of care for 24 hours after last diarrhea episode

HEAD LICE / out of care until morning after treatment

IMPETIGO / out of care 24 hours after treatment begins

MOUTH SORES OR HAND, FOOT, MOUTH DISEASE /out of care until sores form a scab

RASH / out of care if child has fever or until doctor determines not contagious

STREP THROAT / out of care 24 hours after treatment and there has been no fever for 24 hours

VOMITING /out of care for 24 hours after last vomiting episode

COLD / no need to miss if child appears fine

CHICKEN POX /out until all sores are completely scabbed over, maybe as much as a week

EAR INFECTIONS / if suspected, we recommend seeing doctor; medications are normally prescribed, children may return to school while we continue administering medications