Excessive Number of Closings?

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

Well honestly I say you should close when you feel you need to close for your family's sake..it's your business and it's how comfortable you feel with other kids being there with you or your children being sick. This is your business, if you don't want the daycare to be there when you or your kids are sick, rightfully so.

The only reason I don't close for minor things is because I can't afford to...and you do risk the chance of losing clients the more you close.

You shouldn't feel bad because some of us "tough it out" and stay open... believe me, sometimes I would LOVE to close just to have the day for myself or because I'm not feeling well..but money is tight right now and if I could afford it, I may have closed a couple of times.. but during the school year I don't have that many during the day..like 1 or 2 plus my own girl, the others are school age...so if I had more and I wasn't feeling well, I would probably close.

[melissa ann]

Do you have sick/pesonal days in your contract? I have 5 days vacation and up to 5 days personal/year. Normally, I don't use any or maybe 1 per year. Now, on the 28th I am taking a personal day because of a school event for my daughter. This is my 2nd sine last July when my "contract year" starts. My dc parents are not happy. Normally, I have my mom or mil fill in for me. But this will be like3-4 hrs. Last year, dh had a heart attact (at age 41) I did not close. I visited him in the evening at the hospital. Our kids were too young to visit and my mom stayed with our kids. Plus, I wanted to keep things as normal for our kids as possible.

[jen]

I am with the majority...I have closed twice in 8 years, both times because I was throwing up. The last time was 5 years ago...

I do let my clients know if someone in my house is sick, but I have never had anyone not come to daycare. I think it has alot to do with how you word it.

I say something like, "DD has a case of the stomach flu. I am keeping her upstairs--away from all the kids and toys. I'll be doing my best to keep it from spreading, but I do want to give you the heads up."

[originalkat]

I am with the majority...I have closed twice in 8 years, both times because I was throwing up. The last time was 5 years ago...

I do let my clients know if someone in my house is sick, but I have never had anyone not come to daycare. I think it has alot to do with how you word it.

I say something like, "DD has a case of the stomach flu. I am keeping her upstairs--away from all the kids and toys. I'll be doing my best to keep it from spreading, but I do want to give you the heads up."

I agree...EVERYTHING is in how you word it. If you act like it is a huge deal or you are overly concerned then a parent will probably respond equally. If you play it down then parents will usually go with the flow.

[professionalmom]

I do not close for minor things. I have worked 16 hour days for a week straight even though I was miserably sick. I never even closed due to severe morning sickness. If I'm puking but I am sure it's not contagious, I am open. I only close (or inform them so they can make a decision) IF it's something very contagious (usually the flu). I have never closed to "take care of the husband" and I did not say that I did, but some of you are making it sound like that's what I said. I told her, "he came home and has been throwing up so he's on his way to the doctor, but I thought I should let you know and give you the heads up".

To the ones that are supportive - thanks.

Here's what I tell them "so-and-so has the flu so there has been an exposure to the flu. I am doing everything I can as quickly as I can to ensure that no one else will catch it. I will be here, but it's your call." But I almost never get past the "so-and-so has the flu" before they chime in with "ok, I'll take him /her to ..."

Plus, my thoughts are if I expect them to keep their sick children home AND not send the sick child with Tylenol or Motrin to mask the fever, don't I owe them the same courtesy of informing them and giving them that choice? Sure I can just not tell them, but then I would be guilty of the same thing that the parents are guilty of when they give their sick child Tylenol or Motrin to mask their fever and bring them anyway. Plus, if I don't tell them and their child gets the flu a couple days later, they will be ticked because I had the power to protect their child(ren) and didn't.

Yes, I have a sick policy and I am not operating outside of that policy in any way. Even if I am still willing to have the children come and the parents choose not to due to my illness (or my husband's or daughter's), I don't charge them. And I usually call them at least 2 hours in advance to give them time to contact their alternate.

I can't afford an assistant. Maybe a sub, but I haven't found anyone who would be willing to take something on a sporadic schedule. And we only have 2 family members in the area - both have heart conditions (one is the brother-in-law who had the stroke).

[Daycare Mommy]

My response (and most of the responses here, I think) are directed at the first post where it sounded like you had completely closed down your daycare 5 times in 4 1/2 months and you asked what was normal. If you are giving parent's the option to come then that is not so bad. Since I had my own kids, I've had to do that sometimes many times a year depending on the amount of illness that comes through. You can only help that but so much by cleaning, handwashing, and excluding sick children.

And I'm not sure how you do it, but I don't call anyone but the sick child's parent if someone gets sick during daycare hours unless it's my own children that are sick AND I can't keep them separated or it's something bad like a stomach flu. I immediately separate the sick child, clean and sanitize everything he's played with or been around (while the others are doing an activity away from that area) They've already been exposed by playing with him all morning. You've sanitized the house, the sick one gets picked up asap (or if it's mine moved to the back of the house which is nowhere near the daycare area), so the danger is gone. The damage, if any, is done and there's nothing else to be lost by keeping the others once he's gone. I do tell the parents at pick up time though so they can watch for any symptoms should their child come down with it. Honestly I'd go broke if every time I, my kids, husband, and any of the daycare kids were sick families pulled their kid and went elsewhere without paying me. If it's me or my kids that are ill, I give them that option, but I just couldn't stay in business not getting paid for everyone's illnesses. It's daycare. Kids get sick. We shouldn't have to take the hit every time.

[professionalmom]

My sick policy is that if the daycare child is sick, according to the policy standards, they do not come and the parent (but usually DHS since most have DHS) still pays for that day. If it's my family that is contagious, I take the hit and don't get paid. Which is why I hate to make that call to say, "hey, we have the flu". But I think that it's better to either close completely (when I'm the one with the flu) or give them that option (when it's my husband or daughter). It the best way to protect them.

Our home has an open floor plan and even with gates, I do not have the ability to keep a sick person "quarantined". Even with my own family. My husband or daughter can stay upstairs, but we don't have a bathroom upstairs and with the flu (vomiting and diarrhea) they need to keep coming down to the main flood (daycare area) to get to the bathroom.

The things that confused me was:
The comments about minor illnesses, when I posted that 3 of those were the flu, 1 was highly contagious (per the doctor) but not the flu, and 1 was a family emergency (and possible death). I said nothing about minor things like the common cold or the sniffles.

And for some reason people assumed that I closed to "take care of hubby". I had said that I gave the parent a choice, so I was willing to stay open. I have never "taken care of him". He's perfectly capable to taking care of himself! I was only concerned about exposing a child that had the weekend off and hadn't been here in 3 days. My concern was for the daycare child, not my husband.

[originalkat]

My sick policy is that if the daycare child is sick, according to the policy standards, they do not come and the parent (but usually DHS since most have DHS) still pays for that day. If it's my family that is contagious, I take the hit and don't get paid. Which is why I hate to make that call to say, "hey, we have the flu". But I think that it's better to either close completely (when I'm the one with the flu) or give them that option (when it's my husband or daughter). It the best way to protect them.

Our home has an open floor plan and even with gates, I do not have the ability to keep a sick person "quarantined". Even with my own family. My husband or daughter can stay upstairs, but we don't have a bathroom upstairs and with the flu (vomiting and diarrhea) they need to keep coming down to the main flood (daycare area) to get to the bathroom.

The things that confused me was:
The comments about minor illnesses, when I posted that 3 of those were the flu, 1 was highly contagious (per the doctor) but not the flu, and 1 was a family emergency (and possible death). I said nothing about minor things like the common cold or the sniffles.

And for some reason people assumed that I closed to "take care of hubby". I had said that I gave the parent a choice, so I was willing to stay open. I have never "taken care of him". He's perfectly capable to taking care of himself! I was only concerned about exposing a child that had the weekend off and hadn't been here in 3 days. My concern was for the daycare child, not my husband.

Please remember, that on this forum we are all here to give advice and our personal experience and opinions. If you post a question then you need to expect to get a variety of answers. Of course no one knows all the details of your circumstances and I dont think anyone was trying to make you feel like you made the wrong choices when closing. But in the original post you asked us if we thought (based on your description) that 5 times in 5 months seemed excessive. So that is what people answered. There is no need to get defensive or think that others who gave their advice were not being supportive. Us providers need to stick together.

[melskids]

i agree with originalkat.... we ALL have VERY different opinions on almost everything.....it doesnt mean we think youre wrong....we're just stating our opinions and sharing our experiences.

[QualiTcare]

i think that's a lot. i hated it when daycare was closed with advance notice for staff training or other things just because it's hard to find someone to keep your kid - which is why they go to daycare in the first place. i understood days like that though - and knew 2 weeks in advance usually.

there's no way i'd have been able to stick it out through that many unplanned closings. i would have had to call into work and it wouldn't have been okay.

before i started keeping kids, i made sure i had someone that would be able to either come over and help if i was sick, or take my own child who was sick to their house. i let the parents know that if i was sick or my kids were sick i would have someone fill in and made sure they were okay with that. if i didn't have someone to fill in, i really don't think i would've started keeping kids. it's inevitable that you or your own kids will be sick or have emergencies and just closing the door isn't an option.

[jen]

I guess the reality of the situation is if your parents feel like it's too much, then you risk losing a family or two as well as the reference that goes along with them regardless of whether or not the closings were justified.

I tell my husband all the time, it isn't if we are right or wrong, it's the parents perception of the situation that counts...at least as long as I want to keep them here.

[momofboys]

I was certainly not meaning to be critical of you, only saying why/when I closed. No doubt you have to do what you feel is best for your family. Please don't take anyone's coments to heart. I believe they were all simply telling you their policy for closings. Particularly if you are giving the parents the option to not come then I think that is the right thing to do. It stinks when they don't come though & you lose $$$. I've been down that road before too although most of the time they will still bring their kiddos.

[professionalmom]

I guess I was anticipating responses like, "that does seem like a lot, but when it comes to the flu, you do have an obligation to protect everyone from further exposure." Then I was hoping for advice on how to minimize a possible flu outbreak, especially during flu season. Instead, some people seemed to think I was closing for minor things and to "take care of my husband" and I never said anything about either of those.
Plus, this is not the norm for my daycare. We have just had a really horrible flu season this past winter, especially Jan - March.
Also, I never said that I "lost clients" due to closures.
If I got a little defensive, I am sorry. First, I am pregnant and may be a little more sensitive and I will admit it. Second, words were being put in my mouth that I never said, so it was a little annoying that some people made it sound like I was closing for any teeny, tiny reason, when I clearly stated FLU for most of it.

[originalkat]

I guess I was anticipating responses like, "that does seem like a lot, but when it comes to the flu, you do have an obligation to protect everyone from further exposure." Then I was hoping for advice on how to minimize a possible flu outbreak, especially during flu season. Instead, some people seemed to think I was closing for minor things and to "take care of my husband" and I never said anything about either of those.
Plus, this is not the norm for my daycare. We have just had a really horrible flu season this past winter, especially Jan - March.
Also, I never said that I "lost clients" due to closures.
If I got a little defensive, I am sorry. First, I am pregnant and may be a little more sensitive and I will admit it. Second, words were being put in my mouth that I never said, so it was a little annoying that some people made it sound like I was closing for any teeny, tiny reason, when I clearly stated FLU for most of it.

Don't Worry about it Professional Mom! You closed when you had to and now you can just move on from it and hopefully you are out of the woods with all that yucky sick stuff!

[JJPlaycare]

Hahaha I think I am part of the minority I close when I need too!! Bottom line MY FAMILY comes first!! I get that money is an issue alot of the time for everyone and it isn't like I am rich and can afford to close unpaid all of the time and don't think I do, but I do close when I need to! I feel like when I stay open and keep the germs spreading I loose more money than taking a day or two off here and there and ending the spread!! When I interview with my parents I make this a BIG DEAL!! I have 2 small children and I am due in December and when they get sick I close, the same rules apply for my children as they would for the daycare kids being sick!! I have unlimited unpaid sick days listed in my contract, I also explain that they NEED backup daycare!! Daycare brings in ALOT of germs and my kids take the brunt of it!! I don't get how you can stay open while spreading your germs or your families germs, when I see so many posts on this site complaining about the parents bringing their sick kids to daycare- I don't get where the difference is!! How can you properly care for children when you are puking and feeling under the weather, I guess if I was a parent I wouldn't want my child with you!! Or better yet how do you keep up and properly care for the children when YOUR young child is puking everywhere, but where they are suppose too and keeping everything sanitary! Yuck!! I have stated in my contract that I close when my children are sick to give them the added love and attention that they need as you would do for your children!! Like I said, I make this a big deal right from the get go and I have never had anyone leave or complain!!! It isn't like I close all the time, but each of my girls each had a bad winter living in a daycare and now I see that their immunities have grown and gotten stronger and we hardly get sick, but if my child has a rash, a fever, puking or diarrhea I CLOSE and why in GODS name would any mother want to keep their child at daycare when this is going on!! : ) I don't think you have been excessive, but I wouldn't have closed when my husband was sick due to the fact that he is old enough and smart enough to isolate himself and when my children get older and are able to do this as well I am sure I won't have as many sick days!! Maybe just make it a little more clear to parents from the get go to avoid any issues!! : )