Is this usual??

[CountryMommy]

I have only started my dayhome four months ago and am generally really enjoying it, but it seems like sickness has been in my home non-stop since then. My children used to get sick very, very rarely. But ever since I started my dayhome, my children have had everything from the croup, to diarrea, to vomiting, to fevers, to the common cold. And it's been pretty much non-stop, one after another.

The children that are in my dayhome always have a runny nose. And I mean always. Sometimes worse than at other times, but it's always there.

Is this normal? Something I should expect at this job? Because, frankly, I am getting fed up with having to close or having the children get sick at my house.

I would like to not have no clean up vomit and diarrea every few weeks. And I would like to not have to wipe noses every 5 minutes...

[DaycareMom]

I would say that it's pretty normal (at least during cold and flu season). How many children do u care for?

My children were never sick until I started daycare. I would say it kinda comes with the territory.

[CountryMommy]

I only have two children enrolled right now. They are siblings.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

Yep pretty normal. And I run a "well dayhome"

[godiva83]

Sadly it can be the norm ecspecially during this season.
Disinfect, wash hands, air purifier, and try to limit processes foods- I know sounds strange, but a healthy diet full of natural foods with out chemicals and preservatives helps keep one healthy.

I consider my daycare a 'well child' facility but parents still bring sick kids constantly and it drives me insane

[SimpleMom]

Normal to get ill the first few months of opening. Normal to see colds and coughs, runny noses for sure.

I agree with the preventative measures above and would also add getting plenty of water and rest as well helps keep colds at bay.

[jessrlee]

Yup. The first year was the worst for me, but every 3-5 years when I have a big change in kids it hits again. I am on that year. I have 6 in pre-k and 4 in gradeschool. Try Emergen-C

[CountryMommy]

Ok, if it's normal I will learn to deal with it. I've been disinfecting everything with a bleach solution constantly. Everything that was mouthed or touched with dirty hands gets cleaned that day. Every surface and toy gets disinfected weekly. I give them home-made wholesome foods from scratch. I am doing everything I can to stop the spread of these sicknesses, but they still show up.

I wouldn't mind so much if my children were older and didn't have to be in the dayhome with the other children constantly. Mostly, I don't like when they get sick because then I have to close and I feel bad for closing even though it's not my fault. For example, this week a child in my care got sick and stayed home until she had been symtom free for 24 hours. Well, she would have showed up today but during the night my child got sick so I have to close until he has been symtom free for 24 hours. I doubt I'll work at all yet this week. In a way, I don't mind the break but licensing was supposed to come this week and hasn't been able to because I'm closed and I just want to get the visit over with.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent.

[Ariana]

Yeah pretty normal! I've worked at daycare centres before homecare and I was sick CONSTANTLY!!! I thought I had an immune deficiency. Now I rarely get sick **knock on wood**

[SandeeAR]

I would like to not have no clean up vomit and diarrea every few weeks. And I would like to not have to wipe noses every 5 minutes...

Honey, your in the wrong job......

[CountryMommy]

Honey, your in the wrong job......

:: But I love everything else about this job! I think I was just not prepared for this part of the job; our family very rarely gets sick but since opening my dayhome I am dealing with some illness or other at any time. It hasn't really bugged me this much until this week.

I think it's because licensing has been waiting for over a week to come to my house but hasn't been able to because of sicknesses. It'll be my first licensing visit and I'm nervous. I'm just waiting for them to be able to come and get it over with.

[Christian Mother]

Def. normal. I know it feel awful to always have sickness around you when you've just opened.

In some ways it's good to have the family exposed to illnesses early on so they can build up their immunities. That goes for the daycare kids as well.

By the time their in school they are less likely to be out sick. I find that when I first opened i didn't have much illnesses bc i had 1 infant. But about 12months that's when I found that he was catching colds quite often...my kids are older so they had already been exposed and not sick as often. My youngest is just now getting sick often but I think it is bc of her diet. We are having a diff. time getting her to eat healthy...she's my picky eater. I find that start of Oct through Feb. the kids are always in and out of daycare due to sickness. Have stricked rules for the parents about your illness policy. Stick to it. When interviewing discuss with the families about sick policy and how you enforce it. I have a 3 page outline of my sickness policy for the parents in the hand book. It covers every thing. That way the parents understand what is exspected and if their unsure to call before they drop off. In my home I only offer a Wellness In Home daycare. I will not watch children that are sick unless I only have that child in my care that day and it does not interfere with my other daycare kids. I've only done this a few times if I know I will not have anyone in care.

[mismatchedsocks]

I would have to say, how strict you are with your sickness policy can play a part in it as well. The first year I did it, we were sick alot. I cleaned ALL THE TIME, bleach etc.

Now 11 years into it, have to say, my sickness policy, the warnings of sending your child medicated and not telling me then having it wear off is grounds for termination, as well as not OVER bleaching and cleaning. If a child is "sick" I will bleach and sanitize their items and things they touch often. Otherwise I try to stop the mouthing after a year of age, and if they are babies, they get their own "batch" of toys to germ up.

I also get the flu shot, drink lots of oj, take vitamins and get my rest, especially at this time of year. Good luck!

[CountryMommy]

Thanks for the encouragement.

The parents have been awesome with following my policies and respecting me as their provider. They have kept their children at home when they had anything more than a common cold. And when they have gotten sick at my home, they have been quick to pick them up and have been great at not dropping them off until they have been well for 24 hours.

Just wanted to know if this is normal or if I might be doing something wrong. Sounds like it's pretty normal.

[Christian Mother]

I think half the battle sometimes is our own kids... The other is the parents kids...!! Sounds like you have wonderful parents in that they follower your policies. Parents like those are wonderful!! Home things get better for you and the sickness subsides!