When A Child Becomes A Liability Due To Illness

[Unregistered]

Im a regular, but logged out.

Pretty much all of last week all of my DCKs were sick with colds. Or whatever flu virus is going around. Since I allow kids to attend with mild colds, just about all of my kids were in attendance.

Friday one of the kids was sent home about 3pm. Congestion was really bad, whinny, sight fever. I told DCM please get child rest over the weekend.

Well the kid was not rested over the weekend, they went to the movies to playdates and etc. I was like omg really. ok whatever.

yesterday DCK came and was even worse, symptoms did not increase until around 10am, at which time the child asked to lay down. I took all vitals, no fever, so said ok and put the child down to sleep. The child slept for almost 6.5 hours, with me constantly checking on. Kid wakes up right before mom is arriving to pick up and DCK face is swelled over. Looks like someone hit the DCK in the eyes or face. You almost cannot even tell who this child is.

I immediately assessed the child and made sure he was not having an allergic reaction to something. Nope, he was not, normal everything, behavior normal, breathing normal, lips are not blue and etc. I call mom and get her on the phone right away and tell her what is going on. She comes in and freaks out. I told her he needs to go to the doctors now.

DCM calls me a few hours later to tell me that the child's sinus infection has backed up into his eyes and he has a double ear infection. The doc gave meds, but said DCK can return to DC tomorrow. I did not get a chance to tell DCM that I wanted a note of diagnosis from the DOC so that child can return to DC. I did tell DCM that I felt that DCK needed to stay home and get the rest that DCK will need for Tuesday. DCM did not agree, but said I will access DCK in the morning and call you. I was in a rush to get off the phone, because my doctor was on the other line (I found out I have an ear infection) YEAH

So fast forward to today. I don't want DCK here because of all of the liability. The congestion is that bad that happened yesterday, what is going to happen today? I feel like I am going to be taking on way too much and today we have an outing planned, so DCK won't have the opportunity to sleep like they did yesterday. BUT what do I tell DCM when she calls me this morning? Tell her I can't take DCK because DCK is too much of a libality and too sick and I think DCK needs to stay home? NOt sure what words to use and I guess I am baffled that someone would want to send their child to DC in that state. Any ideas of what I should tell this dcm. Is saying that the child a liability a bad thing?

[SunshineMama]

I have told parents in the past (at pick up), "i am going to have to ask you to keep him home tomorrow, I can't expose the other children to illness."

If you let that child come, then you open the door for all the other parents to do the same, and that family to do it in the future.

I require 24 hours since the day antibiotics were given to return.

Doctor's sometimes are crazy. My dd was sick one time with a diaharrea virus, and, without even seeing my dd, my ped said that she would be fine to go back to daycare, just make sure the daycare provider washes their hands between diapers. I said I provide daycare and they were like, oh' she's fine.... Say whaaaaat? Um, no, my toy mouthing super sick little dd is NOT ok to attend daycare.

Many parents only care about sickness BEFORE their kids get sick After their kid is sick they dont care who they infect.

[countrymom]

I just can't turn people at the door, but I would let her know that if dcb cannot participate in the outing she is going to get a call to come and get him. If she refuses to get him, remind her that you will charge her as per contract (I have a clause) and that will issue a cps call for abandoment. Now, I have had children come the next day and they are a new child just with one dose of antibiotics, so its going to be hard to call the shot till you see the child.

[Blackcat31]

My handbook reads:

"There are times when a child may be excluded due to the required amount of care he/she needs when experiencing a common cold or illness. For example, a cough that is disruptive to normal daily activities, when a child is unable to cover his/her mouth while coughing or when the amount of nasal discharge or fluid becomes unmanageable for the provider to continue maintaining a sanitary environment. This will occur at my discretion and will be handled on an individual basis. "

I would use that. It clearly explains that it isn't always the contagious factor or illness itself that requires exclusion. Sometimes it is just more than one provider who is managing other children can dela with. period.

Mom needs to find alternate arrangements or stay home with the child until he is feeling well enough to participate as he NORMALLY would. Sleeping for 6.5 hours and requiring constant monitoring by you is not normal.

[Unregistered]

cat....so you think that saying that the child is a liability is ok? As well as what you have stated?

I know that I should have put my foot down yesterday and sent DCK home, but I didn't. I do have it in my policy something similar to yours. But you have it worded much more clearly.

Can i steal yours....

[Blackcat31]

cat....so you think that saying that the child is a liability is ok? As well as what you have stated?

I know that I should have put my foot down yesterday and sent DCK home, but I didn't. I do have it in my policy something similar to yours. But you have it worded much more clearly.

Can i steal yours....

Absolutely you can use it!

I never want to get into a discussion with parents about why I can or cannot care for their child if they are ill. Many people define illness or not feeling well in different ways so because of that, I simply choose to state that if a child is more work than I can reasonably manage, they cannot stay or be in attendance.

There are days where I let a kid feeling a bit under the weather but with no real symptoms (as your DCK was like) when I have a slower day but then there are days that I have mnay things planned and we are just too busy to accommodate a child who wants to do nithing but rest or lie down.

I am sure that is how mom is viewing it too. She thinks that her kid is sorta ok and not really sick (no real exclusionable symptoms) but what she isn't realizing is that he requires more care when he is like this. She isn't seeing how him resting all day is causing you problems.....(common for parents since many think we are just hanging around all day watching soaps...kwim?)

You simply have to explain to her that he must be able to actually physically do/participate in ALL activities as he normally does. If he whines, cries or simply doesn't want to do anything but lay down then that kind of behavior falls into the category of requiring more care than the provider is able to give.

So in response to your question about excluding ...absolutely! I would send him home. Mom can find a grandma, neighbor or family friend to watch him if she can't miss work. I would also tell mom that you will continue to send him home every single day that he is not feeling 100%.