Do You Accept 'Clear' Runny Noses?

[lovemykidstoo]

clear runny nose as apposed to? yellow gunky? Actually the yellow gunky means that the child is actually at the end of the cold. Had a doc tell that to me and one of my parents was told the same thing the other night. He thought he was worse because the discharge was now greenish and took him. Doc said oh no he is getting better!
My policy is no vommiting, diarrhea, or temp over 100 OR they are not able to participate and be comfortable.

"Many people think that a green or yellow nasal discharge means a bacterial infection, which requires antibiotics. This is NOT true. Colds will often begin with a clear nasal discharge, but after several days it usually turns creamy yellow or green. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics will not help. A green or yellow nasal discharge is not a sign that you need antibiotics."
http://www.mylittletonhospital.org/b...tid=adam2004_1

This is so true and so many people aren't aware of it. My doctor told me that the color of the mucous had to do with the thickness of it, not if it's an infection or not.

[lovemykidstoo]

My handbook says:

"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 said it like that because every child is different. I have an 18 month old who uses a tissue properly and is no trouble when having a runny nose but on the other hand I have 3 year old who will wipe themselves on the back of my pant leg if given the chance, will wipe snot on the carpet, rug or anything they get their hands on and of course NOT tell me and since that is really gross and unsanitary...they get "excluded" from care when their nose is running badly.

That's what mind says too. It has to be "excessive" for me to have the child stay home. A regular runny nose is no big deal and can be there for weeks.

[MaritimeMummy]

"Many people think that a green or yellow nasal discharge means a bacterial infection, which requires antibiotics. This is NOT true. Colds will often begin with a clear nasal discharge, but after several days it usually turns creamy yellow or green. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics will not help. A green or yellow nasal discharge is not a sign that you need antibiotics."
http://www.mylittletonhospital.org/b...tid=adam2004_1

[busymomof2]

My sickness policy states that I will not accept children with fever of 100 or greater, diaherra or vomiting. However, I'm no fool, I know some parents give their kids medication before they come to daycare then play stupid when I tell them that their child is sick. Just the other day a dck woke up from nap with 101 fever. I texted dc mom and she texted back that "S...has a fever still". She meant the text to go to her husband and apologized to me with "oops meant that for hubby...I will go get her". That's why we get sick most of the time because parents lie and don't keep their kids home when they should. I'm sick every season several times and parents act inconvenienced when I have to close, go to the dr or take my kids to dr. Just comes with the territory.

[littlemissmuffet]

My sickness policy states that I will not accept children with fever of 100 or greater, diaherra or vomiting. However, I'm no fool, I know some parents give their kids medication before they come to daycare then play stupid when I tell them that their child is sick. Just the other day a dck woke up from nap with 101 fever. I texted dc mom and she texted back that "S...has a fever still". She meant the text to go to her husband and apologized to me with "oops meant that for hubby...I will go get her". That's why we get sick most of the time because parents lie and don't keep their kids home when they should. I'm sick every season several times and parents act inconvenienced when I have to close, go to the dr or take my kids to dr. Just comes with the territory.

Wow. I would have terminated when the child was picked up. Lying to me is one thing, lying to me about a sick kid... I will NEVER tolerate that.

[Mom&Provider]

"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."


Black Cat has the best one I have seen, it really does cover the provider for anything WE consider too much. In fact I am considering updating again this year with something similar.

I had a child in my care who came sick multiple time in one winter, always dropped off with it but I couldn't turn them away since it was clear and no fever. The issue wasn't that the child had it here, it was the child could not cover his mouth, stop putting things in his mouth and would wipe it all over his face and his surrondings seconds after I saw it and started my run over to him to wipe it. It became too much for me, since I couldn't change another childs diaper or prepare anything for more then 2 minutes without having to look around for the sick child knowing he was likely wiping it all over! It did come to a point one day where I called and just said I can't contain it anymore, please come...they were NOT happy about the call!

[Cat Herder]

I do not turn away the common cold anymore. I have the ability to separate kids, so am able to do "mildly ill" care.

It is now being posted on our State listing as to whether or not we will. It can now cost you potential clients if you are unwilling.

It is the newest trend and is being pushed here to keep people at work. The new goal seems to be to protect jobs, not the other kids. I do understand, to some degree, but it goes against the old Infectious Disease Control training that has been drilled into my head for years.

Each provider will have to assess their own program to decide whether or not they will be able to meet this new "need". It would be difficult to compete here without it.

[SunshineMama]

Ugh- the dreaded clear runny nose. If I could exclude I would, but I would have no business. It is frustrating because then all of the other kids get it, and it is very frustrating to run after everyone, wiping noses, getting mucus off of couchs, etc. Unfortunately it is one of those things that you have to deal with.

I have everyone wash hands upon arrival, and I teach them to sneeze on the inside of their elbows, then wash wands. Theres really not much you can do in my opinoin to keep it from spreading. I have aired out the house, bleached toys, separated kids, etc, and the germs still spread if they are contageous enough. I suppose all it takes is one microscopic little germ.