Not this again!

[Msdunny]

I told one of my mom's yesterday that I didn't think her dd was feeling well. She just wasn't acting like herself. She says, "yeah, here sister is sick and it is so weird. She wakes up with no fever but then it goes up later"

Fast forward to this morning. Dcg gets dropped off, no word from mom. I ask, "how is everyone feeling?" We're good!

Dck just said, "know what? I'm sick! Me and my sister had medicine this morning." I took her temp., and sure enough, it is 99.5 (low since she's had medicine, I assume)

I had the same thing happen with this family last year. When I contact mom, she'll ask if she can just stay through naptime. And the bad thing is, right now her temperature isn't really high enough to call about....but I know she's had medicine! And if it is anything like last year, I'll get whatever fever she has by the weekend!

I like this family. I feel bad because I was closed for a week because of the bugs a couple weeks ago. But come on!

So, what would you do, oh purverors of wisdom?

[snbauser]

I would contact Mom and tell her that you noticed dcg had a low grade fever and that she also mentioned she had meds that morning. Ask mom what she gave her. If she says she didn't give her anything then tell her that this is a courtesy call to let her know that the child has a slight temp and if it continues to go up you will be contacting her to come pick up.

[snbauser]

"yeah, here sister is sick and it is so weird. She wakes up with no fever but then it goes up later"

And although it could be something different, I had a dcg who had this exact same thing about 2 weeks ago. Turned out to be mono.

[TheGoodLife]

My first thought is that she said it to cover her but- like if she gets a fever LATER it would be normal, not that she gave meds in the AM in order to dose and drop.

[JoseyJo]

Sure sounds like dose and drop to me.

I haven't yet, but I am going to reword my illness policy to be 48 hour exclusion if I send them home, 24 if they stay home on their own. So when she spikes this afternoon you could send her home and she would be out for 48. I have a feeling this would stop the dose and drop pretty quick!

[Msdunny]

My first thought is that she said it to cover her but- like if she gets a fever LATER it would be normal, not that she gave meds in the AM in order to dose and drop.

That's my first thought, but you hate to call someone out, ya' know? I just know we seem to have a history with this...I even updated my handbook stating it is terms for dismissal to 'fever cover'. I was sick too often last year, and it is not fair to the other kids in care. I will never understand why parents - even the really good ones - won't take responsibility for their sick children.

[TheGoodLife]

I agree! I wouldn't accuse anything, just call and state that Little Johnny mentioned he had meds this AM and inquire what it was. Then if he gets a fever during the day, call and give them X minutes to pickup and remind them that he is excluded until he is 24 hours fever free WITHOUT meds Whatever your contract states. I hope everything is OK and you don't get sick!!

[itlw8]

I got a call from school dgd had a low fever and her eyes were glassy. Dgd said she had meds that morning so they thought she should go home. I could not go because of the childcare. Ds was not answering because his phone was dead and no one was in the office at work because it was lunch time..... I said She takes Claritin every morning.... 30 minutes later she was fine and sent back to class.

Turned out fine this time and I had a few words with ds about his phone but I need to get his bosses cell phone. during busy times in food service no one is in the office.

[Willow]

If a child is old enough to tell me they had meds that morning I'd call mom out of that....phone call or text....when, for what, and if my policies require notification or children to attend fever free unmedicated I'd be demanding mom come pick her up immediately.

[caregiver]

I have had this situation happen for many years with parents. They bring their child in the morning saying so and so wasn't feeling good last night or didn't sleep good, but seem to be okay now, so give me a call at work if you think they are not feeling good. But you take one look at the child and I can tell they are not feeling good, you look at their eyes especially and you can see that they don't feel good or they are pale or after they are here for awhile, just sit or lay on the floor. Some will tell me to give them some Tylenol if I think they spike a fever, which I then say that I do not give Tylenol or meds of any kind unless it has been a Dr prescription.

I don't understand why parents can not tell or do not want to acknowledge when their child is sick. They don't want to take time off of work, or want to take the responsibility of staying home with a sick child. I know you can't always not take a child with a minor cold as that is so common and they get so many of them that parents can't take time off for every little cold their child gets, but when they have a fever that is high and the child is miserable you would think they would notice.

I have gotten sick many times from a child being here when they should have been at home and then I eventually have to take the day off, which make the parents have to either take a day off or find other care for that day, which really erks me that I got sick from their child.
I caught the flu from one DCB one year, got it really bad and had to take a whole week off and the parent of this boy didn't acknowledge that I caught it from their son, which he was sick for over a week, but they kept calling asking when I would open to take kids that week. I told them I would be closed all week and that being as sick as I was, that I wouldn't be able to take good care of the kids like they needed feeling like this.
It's like parents don't get it that when they bring a sick child to daycare and don't tell you that they are not feeling good or mask it with meds, that maybe someone else or the provider might catch it,they don't care.

Another pet peeve of mine is, when at pick up time you tell them that their child is not feeling good, or you noticed that their child is coughing a lot, they will say"Oh she seemed good this morning, or I haven't heard them cough at all", its like pay attention to your child please, and how can you not notice things, like a bad, continuous cough!