Cancel Field Trip For Miserable New Kid?

[MCC]

I have a 2.5 yo here for the next 8 weeks. She is having a really tough first 2 weeks. She was sick Tu-Th last week, went home yesterday with a 100 degree fever. Shows up today and has snot running down her face, and immediately wants to take a nap.

I can send her home b/c of the snot, but I do feel bad that she's been sick most of her first two weeks. I'm sure the parents are frustrated that they're paying for care.

Anyway- We are supposed to go swimming today, and she is miserable. She is laying down in the crib room now, and I'm not sure we should go now.

Thoughts? Am I being ridiculous? Send her home? I really don't want a cranky kid at the pool with 3 other 2.5 yo to deal with.

[Heidi]

I'd send her home.

I know it's tough, and I would be very kind about it and empathize with the family, but she can't participate in normal activities.

[Unregistered]

You need to put a rule into place where children can not attend for 24hours after a fever.I wouldn't have accepted her back into care after she had a fever yesterday.
Also,if children can't participate(for any reason) in our daily activities I send them home.
You should call now so she can rest in her own home and you can go on your field trip.

[MCC]

You need to put a rule into place where children can not attend for 24hours after a fever.I wouldn't have accepted her back into care after she had a fever yesterday.
Also,if children can't participate(for any reason) in our daily activities I send them home.
You should call now so she can rest in her own home and you can go on your field trip.

I have the 24 hour fever rule, but it's for 101 or higher, and her temp was only 100, and mom says it never got higher yesterday.

[Unregistered]

Oh,I see! Well that stinks,maybe add in your handbook about not being able to participate.
Poor kid

[Blackcat31]

I have a 2.5 yo here for the next 8 weeks. She is having a really tough first 2 weeks. She was sick Tu-Th last week, went home yesterday with a 100 degree fever. Shows up today and has snot running down her face, and immediately wants to take a nap.

I can send her home b/c of the snot, but I do feel bad that she's been sick most of her first two weeks. I'm sure the parents are frustrated that they're paying for care.

Anyway- We are supposed to go swimming today, and she is miserable. She is laying down in the crib room now, and I'm not sure we should go now.

Thoughts? Am I being ridiculous? Send her home? I really don't want a cranky kid at the pool with 3 other 2.5 yo to deal with.

I'm sorry you are in this situation....it's hard. I know it's hard for the parents too considering their child has been sick for so long now but honestly, it's probably because she is new and is just now building up her immunities...

However, I would still send her home. She isn't going to get better if she is up and active. She needs to rest and it isn't fair that the other kids you have can't go to the pool because one child needs to rest.

I'd call mom/dad and like Heidi said....really emphasize how badly you feel but you do have obligations to the other kids enrolled and you don't think DCG is up to going to the pool so she will need to go home.

It IS hard having kids and even harder taking responsibility for them. I feel bad for the parents but I have a responsibility to ALL my clients.

((((HUGS)))) for dealing.

[Unregistered]

If she had a fever yesterday she shouldn't even be in day care today

[littlemissmuffet]

It's doubtful she won't develop a fever today (parents probably doped her) - continually check her temp - and send home once it spikes.

I do not cancel field trips for any reason. I would call for the child to be picked up.

[MamaBearCanada]

I would send home. I wouldn't feel it was fair to all the other children. Also, you risk other parents being upset that their child had to miss out on an activity because another child was sick. You don't want the - "but remember when Lucy was so sick all the kids had to miss swimming but you let her stay at daycare..." when they are trying to drop off their sick kid. KWIM?

[daycarediva]

I would send home. I wouldn't feel it was fair to all the other children. Also, you risk other parents being upset that their child had to miss out on an activity because another child was sick. You don't want the - "but remember when Lucy was so sick all the kids had to miss swimming but you let her stay at daycare..." when they are trying to drop off their sick kid. KWIM?

slippery slope, for sure!

Do you have it in policies that they have to be able to participate (I am seriously thinking about able and WILLING....) that would be my 'out'. I would call dcp's and ask for pick up. Of course I empathize, been there, done that, but if she is too sick to go, she can't stay.

[MCC]

Thanks ladies!

I feel bad that this is her first two weeks (my trial period) and it had worked out that she's only been here 2 days.

I don't think she got sick here since she was only here on Monday of last week, and woke up Tuesday with a head to toe rash and fever, none of the other children here have been sick, or have gotten the rash.

I left her here with my husband so we could get going, and had mom pick up.

I am definitely adding "too cranky to participate" to my policies.

[MCC]

If she had a fever yesterday she shouldn't even be in day care today

The temp was 100 yesterday, state regs say 101 needs to be excluded for 24 hours. So she was fine to come back.

[nannyde]

The temp was 100 yesterday, state regs say 101 needs to be excluded for 24 hours. So she was fine to come back.

What State please? I'm not familiar with states putting an actual temp as a regulation? Even if they do YOU can lower it. I do 100 not 101

She may have been doped. If she's at 100 after being doped you may have a really sick kid there.

[MCC]

What State please? I'm not familiar with states putting an actual temp as a regulation? Even if they do YOU can lower it. I do 100 not 101

She may have been doped. If she's at 100 after being doped you may have a really sick kid there.

Virginia, it says an oral temp or 101 or higher OR behavior change. I understand I can lower it, however, I have never had a parent bring a child that was sick before, so this is a first for me, and I will be rewording my policies a bit.

[craftymissbeth]

What State please? I'm not familiar with states putting an actual temp as a regulation? Even if they do YOU can lower it. I do 100 not 101

She may have been doped. If she's at 100 after being doped you may have a really sick kid there.

Kansas does, but I was encouraged by my licensor to be even stricter in my policies than what the state regs say.

Here is the link to Kansas's Guidelines for Exclusion

http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/application_packets_and_forms/child_care/CCL_037_Guidelines_for_Exclusion.pdf