Sent Kid Home

[daycare]

Hey guys, I have not posted here in some time, but am in need of some advice.

I have a dcg that I sent home today with slight fever and constant coughing to the point that she was having what sounded like a cough attack. She was on the verge of vomiting a few times.

DCD took her to the doc straight from DC. Doc said nothing wrong, only common cold. No fever, nothing, just a cough

I had already told DCD at pick up that DCG can't come back. Well now that the doc said nothing is wrong, they are asking if she can come back tomorrow.

My first reaction is NO, usually you are contagious in the first few days of your illness, regardless how high or low the fever is. But since the doc said nothing was wrong, the parents want to bring the girl back.

would you let the girl come back?

[mema]

I would stick to the no you told them. If she is coughing that much, she should be home. The dr isn't there dealing with it plus the other kids.

[nanglgrl]

Tell them she is welcome to come back tomorrow but you will need a note from their doctor stating that she only has a common cold and not another contagious ailment. The majority of doctors won't write such a note because of liability.

[EchoMom]

IMO I would allow her to come back. It sounds like they made a good faith effort to respect your policies and do the right thing to take the kiddo to the Dr. Any germs you're worried about you're already exposed to anyway. I think the only thing you have to gain by excluding the child tomorrow is to alienate the parents and make them angry, beginning a hostile relationship. JMO.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I just know from my own experience how quickly parents can turn on you and suddenly things deteriorate. This doesn't sound like you have enough to gain to make it worth how angry they'll be. I think this is an area you could choose to be flexible and accommodating in, considering the Dr. said she doesn't have anything for him to treat.

You can just have the girl rest at your house, she doesn't have to participate in everything if her cough is bad. You could ask the parents to send a cough suppressant for her.

[Crystal]

NO! This is something I just added to my policies. Excessive, uncontrollable coughing is reason to exclude from care. It is INEVITABLE that EVERY.SINGLE.CHILD will catch it.

It would not matter to me if it upset the parent. The child is unable to participate in regular, normal activity and prevention for the other children is non-negotiable.

I would kindly let the parents know that, regardless of what the doctor says, I reserve the right to exclude at my discretion and she cannot return until the coughing has subsided enough that she is not having coughing fits that MIGHT cause her to vomit.

[nanglgrl]

How do you know they even took her to the doctor? I've had parents tell me in the past that they took their child in only to say something contradictory at a later time.
I assume the child is younger than 4 since she is at daycare and as far as I know the CDC recommends that children younger than 4 should not use cough/cold medicine. Even if the child was older than 4 I would not let her come to daycare if her parents gave her medicine before hand, if she's not well enough to attend daycare or if her cough is disruptive she needs to stay home. For liability reasons I don't dispense any medicine.

[LoraJenkins]

Tell them she is welcome to come back tomorrow but you will need a note from their doctor stating that she only has a common cold and not another contagious ailment. The majority of doctors won't write such a note because of liability.

This!

[TheGoodLife]

How do you know they even took her to the doctor? I've had parents tell me in the past that they took their child in only to say something contradictory at a later time.
I assume the child is younger than 4 since she is at daycare and as far as I know the CDC recommends that children younger than 4 should not use cough/cold medicine. Even if the child was older than 4 I would not let her come to daycare if her parents gave her medicine before hand, if she's not well enough to attend daycare or if her cough is disruptive she needs to stay home. For liability reasons I don't dispense any medicine.

I was wondering the same thing- did they tell you they took her to the doctor, or did they have a note? The doctor might say it's a common cold, but I would follow your policy. What was the fever while she was there?

[daycare]

thanks for all of your input. They only told me they took her to the doctor, no note or anything to that degree.

I am feeling much like what crystal had to say. I am so tired of all of the illness right now. My own kids and I have been getting virus after virus. Or as the doc told to me, you are piggy backing one cold virus to the next. We have been sick since feb 2... I have never had an illness experience like this is my life.

There is nothing worse than having to see a well child sitting in circle time/lunch time, free-play and etc, getting coughed on repeatedly by a child that can't stop coughing and cover their face with their cough pocket.

Yes everyone will get it. I will be sure to tell the parents that despite what the doctor stated, that she needs to stay home.

Thanks for all of the advice. I think most of the time I already know what I need to do, but just need that additional support to help me make the right decision.

[Mom&Provider]

I think it's up to you and you have every right to ask the child be kept home if DCG is causing a big disturbance in your daily routine due to her cough.

I have in my contract that I can ask a child be kept home for overactive cough and/or persistant runny nose etc - I use this especially for those who aren't old enough to cover their own mouths and make everyone around them sick because of it!

Dont feel badly, it is what it is. If this child has such an active cough, I'd imagine a slow day at home doing nothing would be best for her anyway. Once the child comes into care and starts running and playing her cough will be right back and thus her coughing fits that lead to her almost being sick!