DCK With Open Wound - WWYD?

[countrymom]

first you did great!

second, why is it the minute we need the parents to do something, they throw the "i'm going to to lose my job" card. drives me nuts.

I would require the wound to be dressed during daycare hours, at home if mom wants to keep it open then she can on her own time.

[Stepping]

first you did great!

second, why is it the minute we need the parents to do something, they throw the "i'm going to to lose my job" card. drives me nuts.

I would require the wound to be dressed during daycare hours, at home if mom wants to keep it open then she can on her own time.

[JoseyJo]

If its meant to be exposed will it do him harm to have it completely covered?

This is a question they need to ask the dr- BEFORE he comes back. If the dr says it needs to be loosely covered then the child needs to be excluded from daycare until the wound is either not open/seeping OR until it can be securely covered.

Just keep in your mind that this child's wellbeing should be his parent's primary concern (yes, above their jobs and anything else). Act as if it is. Don't allow the parent's to force you to do something that is against the child's best interests (ie securely wrap a wound that should be left unwrapped, have a child in daycare that should be home, etc). If they want to go against his best interests that's on them and their Karma, don't let them put in on yours. (Just my 2 cents!)

[Blackcat31]

dck had to be admitted to hospital this week to have it surgically removed. He missed another two days while in hospital and then was back in dc the day after being discharged. They have a drs note saying he is well enough to return.

Just because the doctor says the child is well enough to return to care does NOT mean you HAVE to accept him back...especially if there are special circumstances such as the child not leaving the wound alone and the fact that you may not be equipped to care for him (NOT saying you aren't) I am saying YOU should have the right to not accept him if you do not feel comfortable dealing with the situation.

So, I called dad and asked that he be taken home as he seemed uncomfortable and is walking round with a seeping, open wound. Mom came to pick him up over 3 hours after I called and was visibly mad at me.

Wow! I would have been livid!! I require parents to come for their child within 30 minutes after I call. I would have termed a parent who didn't show up for 3 hours. That is rude and disrespectful.

She said she is in danger of losing her job if she takes more time off and that its unreasonable to send a child home just because he is tugging on his bandage. I stood my ground and said he has also been unable to sleep or eat (very unlike dck) and that I wasn't comfortable having a non verbal child walking around with an open wound. She took him home but was clearly not happy to do so.

She is a parent FIRST and if she is in danger of losing her job, it has NOTHING to do with you but has to do with the fact that she ahs a child who NEEDS her (or dad). YOU have no bearing on her job retention or loss.

I am so tired of parents who try using that excuse. The child is the family's responsibility in this situation NOT yours.

OP~ I hope things work out for you in this situation but honestly unless these parents start respecting your position in this situation and stop pushing this off on you, I don't see this situation working out well.

[Starburst]

Would you have done the same thing? Are there any rules about open wounds in daycare situations? I hate conflict and always come out thinking I did the wrong thing

I never thought about putting that as an exclusion rule, but now I will!

If it's an open wound (especially if caused by an abscess) its susceptible to infection, which means a liability. I would at least require that it be bandaged (if possible) and that not only have a doctors note but a list of care instructions to avoid infection before considering letting him back in; I would continue with exclude if the care instructions affect his ability to participate in regular daycare activities (which is in most dc/school exclusion policies) or if it affects your ability to care for the other DCKs.

[Stepping]

Thank you every one so much for your support and advice. I'm so glad I found this forum!

I plan to call DcFS tomorrow to double check the open wound situation and will readmit him as long as his wound is either securely covered or no longer oozing and as long as the little guy seems well enough to participate.

I find most parents just don't get the idea that a child has to be well enough to participate in group care!

I've been open a year on Wednesday so I'm planning on rewriting my policies to include something about this. Does anyone have an example statement for how to word this?

[Starburst]

Thank you every one so much for your support and advice. I'm so glad I found this forum!

I plan to call DcFS tomorrow to double check the open wound situation and will readmit him as long as his wound is either securely covered or no longer oozing and as long as the little guy seems well enough to participate.

I find most parents just don't get the idea that a child has to be well enough to participate in group care!

I've been open a year on Wednesday so I'm planning on rewriting my policies to include something about this. Does anyone have an example statement for how to word this?

"Children with open wounds that are not treated or under doctors care will not be eligible to attend the child care program until the child has seen a doctor or said wound has healed on its own. I may decide to allow a child with an open wound to attend regular care if wound is being treated, bandaged (if possible), and if there is a doctor's note stating that the child's wound will not affect the child's participation in regular daycare activities. While I will ask for a doctors note in such a case, as with all health/safety conditions, I will always have the final say if the child will be readmitted into my child care home.

In all health and safety issues, regardless of a doctor's note, if I have reason to believe

• the child will not be able to fully participate in regular daycare activities

• the condition affects the health/safety of that child/other children/other daycare families/myself/my family/my assistants/my pets

• or that the child's condition will affect my ability to care for the other children in care

I will not allow said child to attend until further notice."

[jenn]

You were right for sending home.
I would not wrap, rewrap, or apply any meds of any kind to the wound.
Just because the Dr. feels comfortable allowing him back to daycare, does not mean you feel comfortable with having him back. You control your daycare, not their Dr.

[Memc2001]

Their child's injury is NOT your problem. Shame on her for making you feel guilty. This is THEIR child and it is their responsibility to take care of them when they are ill.