Told Mom She Couldn't Leave Sick Infant

[blandino]

Yesterday, an 8 mo DCG threw up in her play pen (no other symptoms, except for a very bad persistent cold). So we called mom to come get her. When mom gets here she says "oh, yeah she does that all the time when she is congested" (keep in mind the vomiting was not induced by coughing). DCG started to vomit again as mom was holding her. This morning she shows up to drop the baby off. We told her that she couldn't stay, because she hadn't been vomit free for 24 hours. Mom was very angry, and upset. She said "what am I supposed to do ?". She left with the baby, and I assume is still irate.

My thoughts are, we don't know the cause of the vomiting - it could be linked to a stomach bug, and if she is THAT congested, she shouldn't be at daycare.

I guess I just want some validation. I mean I know children who vomit have to stay home for 24 hours, but I have never had a parent try and bring them back - so I've never had to inforce the policy.

[SunshineMama]

You did the right thing. Stock to your policy.

If the parents dont like it they can go somewhere else. I have had to let a kid go bc I had that same situation with diarrhea. The parents will make every excuse in the book, but in the end, it is our job to protect our health and the other kids. That's why almost every daycare has a 24 hour rule. You are not in the wrong.

[Unregistered]

I do not at all understand parents who do that.

Evidence of you telling the truth and she still is trying to lie to you!?

Even when I had my children in childcare, brielfy, they always stayed home when they were sick. So annoying!

Yesterday, an 8 mo DCG threw up in her play pen (no other symptoms, except for a very bad persistent cold). So we called mom to come get her. When mom gets here she says "oh, yeah she does that all the time when she is congested" (keep in mind the vomiting was not induced by coughing). DCG started to vomit again as mom was holding her. This morning she shows up to drop the baby off. We told her that she couldn't stay, because she hadn't been vomit free for 24 hours. Mom was very angry, and upset. She said "what am I supposed to do ?". She left with the baby, and I assume is still irate.

My thoughts are, we don't know the cause of the vomiting - it could be linked to a stomach bug, and if she is THAT congested, she shouldn't be at daycare.

I guess I just want some validation. I mean I know children who vomit have to stay home for 24 hours, but I have never had a parent try and bring them back - so I've never had to inforce the policy.

[cheerfuldom]

you did the right thing. mom signed your illness policy, it should be no surprise when you enforce it. even IF the vomiting is coughing induced...she still should go home. it is unsanitary for you and the other kids to be around a child that could vomit at any moment.

i sent home a kid last week that vomited out of the blue with no other symptoms. dad picked her up but I know he didnt believe me. I didnt let her come back either. then her whole family gets the same thing over the weekend and I have to say, I felt a little smug when dad told me that part, LOL. I hate when parents act like I have nothing better to do than make up illnesses that their child doesnt really have.

[DaisyMamma]

You did the right thing. Even if dcg didn't vomit since she left yesterday that is still not 24 hours! My policies state that if a child goes home sick that they automatically can't come back the next day. Sometimes you have to spell it out.
WTH do people think we want to take care of vomiting kids? Gross!

[Springdaze]

Do parents ever question it in school? I doubt it! why do they question us?

[littlemissmuffet]

:: I love how parents always act so shocked and then angry when we enforce our policies.

And these bratty parents wonder why their kids end up being brats - learned behaviour!

[MyAngels]

I always say as they are walking out the door, "Lucky you, you get an extra day off to stay home with dck tomorrow. See you on _____________."

That seems to stop them from trying to come back too early.

[littlemissmuffet]

I always say as they are walking out the door, "Lucky you, you get an extra day off to stay home with dck tomorrow. See you on _____________."

That seems to stop them from trying to come back too early.

I do this too, just say "Ok, well we'll see you ________ (24 hours later)."

But the point is, why do parents even try?

One time I sent a child home that had puked 2 times and had a fever. Mom picked up, super angry at me because I'd been telling her all week that her child was sick and she kept telling me no, that she would know if her own child wasn't feeling good (same mom who spent maybe 2 hours a day with this child) She HATED that I always called it like it was.
Anyways, I sent home @ 1pm and called her @ 5pm when I closed the daycare just to see how the little guy was doing. She said he was totally fine. I told her I found it strange that every time DCB was sick for me, he went home and was totally healthy again :: She said "Whatever. See you tomorrow"

Um, no. I said "No, honey, I'll see you Monday. I sent him home at 1pm today (THURSDAY), so technically he can't come back until 1pm tomorrow - which is right when naptime begins, so that's not happening." She huffed and hung up on me!

That was the beginning of the end. I sent out a modified illness policy specifically for this family because they were so bad with constantly bringing me this little guy when sick. I required that each family sign and agree to the new policies. Everyone signed... but them. Instead they brought back the notice with a ton of circled poilicies TELLING me I should do this this way or that way instead and included suggestions!!!!!!! :: Don't come in my HOME, my BUSINESS and tell me what to do. Needless to say that was the end of our relationship

[Soccermom]

I think it would have been wise to tell DCM that DCK could not come the next day yesterday when she picked up .
Had she been given the notice yesterday she could have probably made arrangements the night before with her work or with a relative.
I agree with your policy to not take her if she is that ill, I would not have taken her either but I would have given her some notice the night before even though DCM has probably read your policy book but she probably didn't take it seriously and could have used a *friendly* reminder in order to avoid the stress on you this morning.
BUT all that aside - WTH is wrong with DCPS...your baby is sick, stay home with her!! She needs her Mommy!!
I'm sure she will get over it in a day or so and will have enjoyed her day off with her baby. All will be fine by Monday.

[ritah]

I agree with your policy to not take her if she is that ill, I would not have taken her either but I would have given her some notice the night before even though DCM has probably read your policy book but she probably didn't take it seriously and could have used a *friendly* reminder in order to avoid the stress on you this morning.

[daycare]

one thing that BC (black cat) got me to really emphasize to the parents is NOT to try and find reasons or excuses of why the child is ill or to allow them to try find a reason why their child has (fever, vomit, cough etc). You need to express to the parents that you care about the symptoms and the need to exclude them.

Yes you are right, we are not doctors, we don't know what it could be and the only thing that we can do is exclude for the symptoms that were written to protect all of the children in care, including the one you are excluding. We have no clue what is wrong with the children and it is important that they stay home with the parents if there is something wrong. Why take a chance possibly getting everyone else sick or letting the sick child get sicker....

You did the right thing and don't feel bad about it for one second. How dare she try to make her sick child your problem.

[e.j.]

I would have done the same thing you did - send her home. As they're heading out the door, I also remind parents of my sick policy stressing it's 24 hours after the last time she vomits or has symptoms without meds and add, "if you have any questions about whether she's well enough to return, just give me a call and we'll talk it over." That tends to remind them that if they vomit or have a fever at my house on Tuesday at 9:00am but vomitted again at 6:00 pm at home, they can't bring them back first thing Wednesday morning just because they haven't vomitted or had a fever since 6:00pm.