Why Oh Why Did I Do This To Myself??

[Ariana]

I'm pretty fortunate to have parents who respect my policies for the most part. They know I'm not kidding around!! I had one parent push the issue by dropping off a sick kid but when they got the call at work to come pick up they realized I take my illness policy VERY seriously. Now whenever she gets sick they phone me to check to see if she's ok to come. I often don't realize a kid is sick until the parent leaves. I'm usually chatting with the parent and the kids come right in to play. I've never turned a kid away but I most certainly would if it was obvious.

I'd also like to say that it's very comforting to hear there are other providers with strict illness policies

[Unregistered]

I would suggest letting the parents know what you consider mild illness (sneezing, slight runny nose, mild cough...) and then telling them that it is unfair to the other children to have to care for an ill child. It takes up a lot of your time and also puts the health and welfare of the other children in your care into jeopardy. I would just let them know that you didn't consider those things when you initially told them it was okay to send their sick children to you. If a parent does choose to medicate a child and send them to you anyway I would call them at work and ask them to pick their child up as soon as the meds wear off and the fever or symptoms comes back. If a child is too ill to participate in your regular daily activities they should be at home with their parents which is where most children would rather be when they are sick anyway.
My take on parents and sick kids is - Didn't momma tell you there would be days like this before you had kids and decided to continue working?
Don't let them guilt you into caring for their sick kids. I have learned in my 9 years of childcare experience that when it comes to working parents...give them an inch and they will take a mile. If you tell them you'll take a mildly sick child they will send you an extremely ill child and tell you that they didn't seem that bad this morning...ya right!
Be firm and let them know that you have changed your policy. Be very specific as to what you will and will not tolerate.
Good luck. I know how hard it is to try and make changes but sometimes you try things and it just doesn't work out like you anticipated.
PS - Even if they do follow your new guidelines remember that childcare is messy business and most childcare providers will end up being ill a good part of the time. I don't take any sick children at all here and I make sure everyone washes their hands as soon as they arrive from school but so far we've still had the stomach bug, 2 colds, a throat infection and I am currently battling pink eye (Gross!). Most of the time kids are contagious even before they begin to show symptoms so often they've managed to contaminate everyone before mom and dad even realize they are sick.

[SilverSabre25]

PS - Even if they do follow your new guidelines remember that childcare is messy business and most childcare providers will end up being ill a good part of the time. I don't take any sick children at all here and I make sure everyone washes their hands as soon as they arrive from school but so far we've still had the stomach bug, 2 colds, a throat infection and I am currently battling pink eye (Gross!). Most of the time kids are contagious even before they begin to show symptoms so often they've managed to contaminate everyone before mom and dad even realize they are sick.

I don't agree with your assertion that most child care providers are ill most of the time. If that's the case for you, you might want to consider boosting your immune system because it sounds like it needs it.

[Country Kids]

I don't agree with your assertion that most child care providers are ill most of the time. If that's the case for you, you might want to consider boosting your immune system because it sounds like it needs it.

Actually my family and I haven't been sick for almost 4 years when I went to doing parttime childcare (preschool only). Then within the last year of being fulltime, I have been sick (going to the hospital once)3 times, my hubby has missed two weeks of work, one of my children has been sick twice (we missed vacation because of him being sick) and then another child missed a day of school because of being sick (first one this year).

So even though we aren't sick constantly, we are sick enough that its getting to be noticable. None of my dck's are here when they are sick-my parents always text to let me know they are staying home with them. The thing though is we have already been exposed to whatever they had! Also, are eating is much better than before, hands always washed, everything wiped down and discenfected, toys washed, etc. It seems the more/better I do the more we get sick!

[Mary Poppins]

So I did it, and everyone seemed to take it really well. happyface

It felt really, really good to put my foot down and say enough is enough. When I told them my own family has spent over $100 on medicine this month alone and that just wasn't going to work for us, I think they really got it.

Now just hoping they actually respect my new and improved policy.