3 New Families Started In The Last Week And Looks Like I'll Be Closing Tomorrow

[aDCProvider]

Had 2 new kids start last week, one new one yesterday, and one new one today. New one from today was just sent home with a fever (on his first day!) and now I have a fever (which never happens), and of course my son has a fever!

My illness policy states that I will follow the same exclusion policy (within reason) with my/my son's health. So, I'm excluded because I have a fever so will be closing tomorrow.

How bad does this look to the new families'????

[Blackcat31]

Spin it in a positive way....

Let them know that although it's hard to start off this way, you want to make sure they know that their child's health IS your priority so that is why you take your own illness policy so seriously.

Let them know that by being so diligent about exclusion, it WILL help eliminate the back and forth spreading of illnesses in child care which in turn WILL benefit them in the long run.

I hope you and your son feel better soon!

[Michelle]

in a way it's good that you are looking out for yourselves but kids get sick ALOT and they may want to know if you are going to close every time your kid gets a runny nose or cough or only if it's a high fever and something very contagious and serious.

I personally would not close for a cold.
I have a very large house and 2 assistants so I can keep my own kids separate
but even when I had a small daycare and doing this by myself , I didn't close for a cold or fever with my own kids. I just kept them separate from others.

[Crazy8]

in a way it's good that you are looking out for yourselves but kids get sick ALOT and they may want to know if you are going to close every time your kid gets a runny nose or cough or only if it's a high fever and something very contagious and serious.

I personally would not close for a cold.
I have a very large house and 2 assistants so I can keep my own kids separate
but even when I had a small daycare and doing this by myself , I didn't close for a cold or fever with my own kids. I just kept them separate from others.

Agree with this. I wouldn't close unless I was really sick, heck even then sometimes I've muddled thru with my DH's help. If I just had a fever I would take some tylenol and just keep going.
As a parent I would be concerned that you are going to close with every minor illness.

[Evansmom]

But OP has a fever herself. That warrants closing in my opinion. If it were me I would not work around small children with a fever and if I were a parent at the daycare I would be thankful that the provider closed. I would be angry if I dropped my child off at daycare to a sick provider and found out later the provider was working with a fever/illness.

OP I think you're doing the right thing, even though it's hard to do. I think BC's advice for spinning it positively to parents is a good way to explain it.

[Cradle2crayons]

But OP has a fever herself. That warrants closing in my opinion. If it were me I would not work around small children with a fever and if I were a parent at the daycare I would be thankful that the provider closed. I would be angry if I dropped my child off at daycare to a sick provider and found out later the provider was working with a fever/illness.

OP I think you're doing the right thing, even though it's hard to do. I think BC's advice for spinning it positively to parents is a good way to explain it.

I wouldn't close, however, I always give parents a heads up if I'm sick or my kids are sick. If I'm really sick, I will wear a mask during direct or close contact to prevent spread. I've actually NEVER closed for mine or my kids illness and nobody has ever caught what we have had.

However, I think it's fair to notify parents of illness and let hem decide. If they decide to bring hem, then they certainly can't get paid if it's transmitted.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I wouldn't close, however, I always give parents a heads up if I'm sick or my kids are sick. If I'm really sick, I will wear a mask during direct or close contact to prevent spread. I've actually NEVER closed for mine or my kids illness and nobody has ever caught what we have had.

However, I think it's fair to notify parents of illness and let hem decide. If they decide to bring hem, then they certainly can't get paid if it's transmitted.

Me, too.

[Scribbles]

I think if you choose to stay open even with fever you are part of the problem of repeat illness. If you have a fever you are sick. Why expose all your daycare kids to that? A cold or something not really excludable, i totally understand but a fever is excludable in most states so I would close for a fever. Plus you can rest and feel better faster if you don't open. If it was my kid, id probably stay open but keep him separated from the others.

If you do and they get sick and have to stay home will they still have to pay? If they do then as a parent I'd be mad. What is your policy for daycare kids absences? Whats your policy for days you are closed? Do families still pay anyways?

[Starburst]

I personally would not close for a cold.
I have a very large house and 2 assistants so I can keep my own kids separate
but even when I had a small daycare and doing this by myself , I didn't close for a cold or fever with my own kids. I just kept them separate from others.

I kind of agree. I totally understand the importance of your own health and making sure that you are well rested. But I wouldn't close either unless I was on heavy medication or so ill that it affected my ability to do regular activities, such as if I was constantly throwing up. If in the future I closed every time a family member had a fever (especially my mom) it would make more since financially to run an infirmary (or sick care center) instead of a daycare.

I went to an provider orientation last week and they did cover what should the state says should excluded (fever over 100, vomiting, etc.) but they said you didn't have to exclude for a common cold but anything beyond that you would. But of course, it might be different in other states.

For me the whole point of exclusion is to make sure that the other children are not exposed to it. As my teacher/ CD center director (who used to have a home daycare) would say: if two kids have it, it's an epidemic and you have to put up a notice either way. If they and your son are the only children in your care, and they are already sick then I wouldn't bother closing because they already have it and you can't catch it. If you do have other kids, I would consider wearing one of those surgical masks around. One of the assistants at the daycare I used to work at did that when she couldn't afford to take anymore sick days after 2 weeks but was still feeling sick.

Either way, I would let parents know that both I and a family member are sick and that if I did choose to stay open it is there choice to attend or not, the procedures I would take to prevent further spreading of the illness, and whether or not I would still charge if they kept their children home.

But overall, if it is in your policies (and especially if they are new clients) then it's best to stick with what is in your policies to show them that you take your policies seriously.

[aDCProvider]

In response, I would never close for just a cold. The reason I'm considering closing is that a few of my family members, who had been in my home recently, were diagnosed with strep over the last couple days. I thought my son and I got away clean, but it seems not. Also, in my state, as per regulations, I must exclude (why would the provider be any different) for a fever and my son is 5 months old so how do I exclude him? It's not like I can send him to him room to keep him away from the other kids.

[TwinKristi]

I would need to look back to where I found it, but if you only have a fever, that alone isn't enough to exclude according to the CDC. If you have a fever AND other symptoms, then you exclude/close. Someone in a local FB group was just looking for a way to show parents in our licensing regs that we have to exclude for a fever over 100.5* and I found "signs of illness" requires separation but even the CDC said a fever without other symptoms doesn't automatically mean the child should be excluded. Same with the common cold.
Found it! http://cfoc.nrckids.org/StandardView/3.6.1.1

Fever without any signs or symptoms of illness in children who are older than six months regardless of whether acetaminophen or ibuprofen was given. Fever (temperature above 101°F [38.3°C] orally, above 102°F [38.9°C] rectally, or 100°F [37.8°C] or higher taken axillary [armpit] or measured by an equivalent method) is an indication of the body’s response to something, but is neither a disease nor a serious problem by itself. Body temperature can be elevated by overheating caused by overdressing or a hot environment, reactions to medications, and response to infection. If the child is behaving normally but has a fever of below 102ºF per rectum or the equivalent, the child should be monitored, but does not need to be excluded for fever alone;

[TwinKristi]

Every individual has to decide for them self on this policy, but perhaps you can stay open and have baby in a carrier, up in a high chair, in a gated area away from the others. And if you don't have a sore throat yet, I would wait it out if you feel ok otherwise. The blurb I quoted just supports the idea that fever ALONE may not have to be excluded for yourself as well.

[Cradle2crayons]

In response, I would never close for just a cold. The reason I'm considering closing is that a few of my family members, who had been in my home recently, were diagnosed with strep over the last couple days. I thought my son and I got away clean, but it seems not. Also, in my state, as per regulations, I must exclude (why would the provider be any different) for a fever and my son is 5 months old so how do I exclude him? It's not like I can send him to him room to keep him away from the other kids.

For the same reason school systems don't let teachers stay home for he same excludable symptoms...

If he's five months old it would be easier to separate him than if he were say two or three.

My point of exclusion is because children ages one to four, especially, are not good at not spreading their snot everywhere.. As well as coughing and sneezing germs everywhere. As an adult, I'm more Than capable of containing my own germs.

However, OP, it's your house, your program, and you have to do what's best for you. However, I'd be prepared for backlash from the families over not wanting to pay every time you close for illness.

[daycare]

it sounds like everyone was already exposed anyways. I would let the parents know that YOU are not feeling well, have been running a fever. they can bring their child if they would like. If they don't bring them that is on them and you will not credit them for that day.

I would not close either. I would stay open and just have a free play movie day with zero activities. If I could, I would have someone come help you if you can find someone.

Speaking for myself, I have ran daycare with fevers up to 104.1. I just take Tylenol and we don't do anything difficult that day. As an adult, I can control my germs.

[Cradle2crayons]

I would need to look back to where I found it, but if you only have a fever, that alone isn't enough to exclude according to the CDC. If you have a fever AND other symptoms, then you exclude/close. Someone in a local FB group was just looking for a way to show parents in our licensing regs that we have to exclude for a fever over 100.5* and I found "signs of illness" requires separation but even the CDC said a fever without other symptoms doesn't automatically mean the child should be excluded. Same with the common cold.
Found it! http://cfoc.nrckids.org/StandardView/3.6.1.1

That website also says don't exclude (until the end of the day) for lice, rashes, ringworm.. Etc...

Ok I'm not delaying exclusion for lice, rashes, or active ringworm.

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww