My Son Is Sick.....Did I Do The Right Thing??!

[Play Care]

I used to send out these types of messages all the time when I first started.I thought it was polite to warn the parents that my little ones were sick so they can choose if they kept their kiddos home or not. I also thought maybe they would feel bad for my little ones and assume they needed their whole Mommy but no one cared. Noone ever did. It surprised me that everyone still came. Sad.

I stopped sending the messages eventually.

My issue was that I had clients become upset with me because they felt I was putting the decision off on them - and that I would think poorly of them if they sent their kids. And I don't necessarily think that notifying families is the "right" thing to do. Per my contract my policy is this "At times a family member may be home with an illness even though I am open. In this case the family member will be kept separated from the group. Should any family member contract a highly contagious or potentially dangerous illness (strep, flu,etc) then I will be closed." I do not notify the families.

[AnneCordelia]

I only talk about my own health with the daycare families. My husband and children are not enrolled in my daycare and, therefore, arent subject to the illness policy. I found that when I used to notify parents of illness in my own family they would want to keep their kids home and not pay. Or they would be upset that their child got to be in the same home as my sick kids but I wouldnt care for their child.once they contracted the same illness.

I will discuss my health generally with clients. I will mention if "the children were exposed to a stomach bug/hfmd/strep etc. I never give names. I dont like playing the illness blame game at all.

[Rachel]

If my 15 month old has something I would exclude anyone else for I will either get my sub to help take care of him or the group (first choice), or close and pay out for the kids to go to backup (second choice, more expensive).

If my 5 year old was sick, I would judge on how sick he was (just fever sitting and watching movies okay, really throwing up and needing lots of care, not okay).

If my girls are sick (8, 9.5, 9.5), I would run as usual because they are old enough to take care of themselves and stay away from the daycare.

[momofboys]

I used to tell parents when my kids were younger. Now my kids are old enough to stay in their rooms or the living room and watch movies while I work. I just keep them away from the dc kids.

This! My kids are all school-age (12, 10 & 6) so old enough to stay in their rooms. I used to tell parents about illnesses but not anymore. I find it doesn't matter to them & they will 99% of the time send anyway.

[Play Care]

I only talk about my own health with the daycare families. My husband and children are not enrolled in my daycare and, therefore, arent subject to the illness policy. I found that when I used to notify parents of illness in my own family they would want to keep their kids home and not pay. Or they would be upset that their child got to be in the same home as my sick kids but I wouldnt care for their child.once they contracted the same illness.

I will discuss my health generally with clients. I will mention if "the children were exposed to a stomach bug/hfmd/strep etc. I never give names. I dont like playing the illness blame game at all.

[Familycare71]

I only talk about my own health with the daycare families. My husband and children are not enrolled in my daycare and, therefore, arent subject to the illness policy. I found that when I used to notify parents of illness in my own family they would want to keep their kids home and not pay. Or they would be upset that their child got to be in the same home as my sick kids but I wouldnt care for their child.once they contracted the same illness.

I will discuss my health generally with clients. I will mention if "the children were exposed to a stomach bug/hfmd/strep etc. I never give names. I dont like playing the illness blame game at all.

In my state my kids are part of my care until school age- so I felt it was fair to let them know and make the choice-

[dingledine]

My son was sick Monday, I told one of the parents, not the other. He stayed in his room all day... he is eight. My husband thinks I should have given them the option not to bring their children... after I mentioned to him that I had considered texting them all at 5:30am to let them know. When I give them the option to stay home, I let them know that I won't bill them for that day, if they stay home... or that is... I will issue them a credit.

If it were my four year old, I may or may not let them know. It depends on if she is throwing up or pooping all over or not. If she did that, I would probably have to close, and give them a credit. IF it were me like that, I would definitely closed. Other times she has been sick, without throwing up, etc, and I have stayed open, but told her to lay in her room, or down out of the daycare.

[grateday]

I am going through this right now. It is so frustrating because no one knows when it is going to happen but when it does happen it is too late because they have all been in contact with one another. I mean we wash and wash and become sippy cup police but then you have that one that oh I think it would be a wonderful idea to lick or stick my hand in your mouth. Kids are too young to know about germs even though I am constantly teaching them about it. Keeping toys, hands out of mouth, and covering coughs, and hand washing and not sharing drinks. It is a sweet gesture that they are willing to share but also dangerous for my son who has a lot of febrile seizures.

I would hope that parents are not blaming others. Illness happens to everyone no matter how diligent. I don't blame them, but it is hard when I come down with the flu as a provider and don't know until I have already had kids around. I mean the flu is so much like a cold and when you are so busy you cant go to the doc then it hits all of a sudden. If I was active febrile or another child was I would then at that point say they cannot bring there kids here for there own safety. Or if I knew someone had a fever then they would have to go home or if my own was febrile, I would send the kiddos home.

UGHHHHH I had parents with a stomach bug type thing and then an upper respiratory so I don't know.