Sickness and Siblings

[DaycareMom]

I was wondering what your policy is regarding siblings when one of them is sick. Do you exclude both of them? Do you allow them to bring or let the well child stay?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

No, I never excluded both. It was really rare that the sibling contracted the illness their sick sister/brother had.

[MarinaVanessa]

No, I never excluded both. It was really rare that the sibling contracted the illness their sick sister/brother had.

[lflick]

I have only done it once, this week actually, two sibs... one had the nasty stomach flu that was hitting hard and fast (likely got it from step sibling who attends another daycare fulltime).... our home had it two weeks ago and it was like dominos and very sudden.... luckily it only lasted hours BUT it was BAD! Due to this, I made a judgement call that both would need to be excluded until all symptoms are gone. I did this because all it takes is one to infect everyone and I cannot afford to have another week like that!

[Blackcat31]

The ONLY time I required siblings to be excluded was when a family had a case of the actual H1N1 flu a few years ago.

TOO risky in that scenario.

Otherwise, I never exclude siblings...my own two kids were as different as night and day when it came to being sick so I don't think it's fair to exclude both when only one is sick.

[Leigh]

When the illness is influenza, strep throat, pink eye, or something else easily contracted, the sibling is excluded. I make it clear to parents, though, that if they are home with one, they should be home with both. It is hard on kids to go to daycare knowing that mom or dad is home with a sibling,

[nannyde]

One way to avoid this is to build it into their fee.

I charge 150 a week. Second kid comes in at 145 with the understanding that whenever one is gone they are both gone. The sibling discount IS given ONLY for this. If the parent wants to bring the other child when one is out then they have to pay the 150 a week every week.

They sign a separate "sibling discount" contract that states they agree to ALWAYS keep both home when one is out for ANY reason.

Some version of this.

I think Cathearder came up with that one.

[Rachel]

Nope, but I've never had siblings in daycare (I have had kids who have siblings, just the way the system works here I haven't had actual siblings). Keeping out well kids would never fly here.