Accused Of 'Restraining' Child

[cheerfuldom]

Definitely remind parents about what you can and cannot provide. Put the ball in their court? Will they trust you to care for their child appropriately or do they need to look for other childcare?

Also, you need a limit where a child must be picked up within X amount of time if they are ill. Leaving a sick child in your care should not be an option.

$20 says they doped her up and dropped her off. They knew she was sick and were in no hurry to pickup, expecting you to provide nanny-style care till they showed up.

[slpender]

I'm glad it went well with licensing. I do the same thing at my house all sick children have to isolcated from the group and a high chair or a pack n play is the only option for a child that age.

I would turn it around and ask the parents how they would feel if their child were well and you had a child with a fever running around the room spreading germ or sitting at the table next to their child eating. I'm sure you will be getting a different response from them.


Good luck

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm glad you called licensing to report it and I'm glad that she was supportive. I just can't wrap my mind around how DCM sent her child SICK to daycare where the other children could be exposed and she had the NERVE to accuse you of doing something fishy . Hello kettle, meet pot .

[Evansmom]

Personally though,I would consider terming her. No way would I be accused of something like this and then try to move on from that with that family. Who knows what they will accuse you of next.

I second this too. I'm not quick to term but after recently working with then having to term a family who didn't trust me I have come to the conclusion that it is very dangerous to our businesses to continue to work with families that have no trust for what you do.

Sorry you went thru this happy that you got good support on here!

[Starburst]

I sent a child home with a fever which I discovered while changing her diaper after naptime.
This has been an ongoing problem with this particiular child. I called the parents, and one came to pick her up about 1/2 hour earlier than what their normal pickup time usually was.

She was sitting in her high chair finishing her snack at the time and I was saying goodbye to another family.

I received an email from the parent that picked up saying that they did not like me isolating and 'restraining' their child while I was waiting for her to be picked up. They are worried that this 18 month old will feel she is being 'punished' by having her sit in her high chair. I am completely baffled by this.

I could not believe they were saying this, she was in her highchair for goodness sakes!
I was in the same room with her and she was eating her afternoon snack. I did copy a link to our state's daycare rules regarding keeping sick kids away from other children and email it to the parents, explaining that it was a required procedure and that I did not like being accused of 'restraining' her. It would be a normal and comfortable place for a child to be while sick and waiting to be picked up.

They are usually nice people, but kind of awkward in how they treat their child. They treat her like a little infant, still feeding her pureed foods while at home and lugging her around in an infant seat with her legs sticking out about 8 inches on the bottom (recently switched to a normal sized car seat).

Should I do any more than this? Call my licensor?

Ok those parents are nuts- I bet this is their first child. I am sure they would be singing a different tune if there was another daycare child that was ill and if you let that child play with their child. Also at a home daycare I worked at; at first we didn't really strap them into their high chairs (it was one of those ones that connect to the edge of a table and the table was low to the ground and had a normal kidsized under it) but then she told us we had to because it was a licensing regulation to prevent injury- just like when you strap a child in to a car seat when they are in the car - for SAFETY (do they think that "restraining" a child?).

[Unregistered]

***Major update***

I have made the decision to term this family they are scaring the heck out of me. I was sent a text message demanding a meeting and that they would not be sending their child to my home until we meet and discuss all of their concerns. I didn't know there was a list of concerns!

I have decided I am not comfortable having the child and the parents in my home. I don't think I can meet their unrealistic needs.

The problem is my contract requires a two week notice by either party. However, I do have a clause in my contract that states 'As your provider, I am not required to give advance notice of termination under the following circumstances: non-payment of fees, non-compliance with policies, failure to meet immunization requirements and unsafe behavior by your child that is physically unsafe for other children in my care, myself or my home environment.'

The situation with them would be 'non-compliance with policies'. They are disputing whether I can temporarily put a child in a high chair or pack n play if the child is ill and waiting to be picked up. I am backed up my our state 'rules' governing daycare on this issue. They also did not pay me on time last week, which would be a non-compliance with policy issue.

Does this seem right to you? Like I said before I did talk with my Licensor and she actually suggested I term the family. Do you think this is grounds for immediate termination. I am actually afraid they are going to try to sue me or something (slipping on the ice etc.). They are really scaring me....

They are paid through this Friday, by the way.

[Kaddidle Care]

They are questioning your practices yet still bringing their child to you?

Term them tomorrow and be done with them.

Our contract clearly states that a sick child will be isolated until pick up in order to protect the other children. Giving a child a snack in a booster seat is perfect. An 18 month old is not too big for a High Chair either IMHO.

You said: "I sent a child home with a fever which I discovered while changing her diaper after naptime.
This has been an ongoing problem with this particiular child."

You mean this child has had fever over and over.. and her parents have been continuing to bring her to Daycare and not a Dr.? It sounds like they've been medicating at home for fever and the fever reducer is worn off by the time it's nap time.

I would document this as well. Cut your losses - don't take her back after tomorrow.