Daycare Issues

[Bridgetns]

Okay, so I work at a large daycare facility, it isn't a home based one.

There are so many issues with this place it's not even funny.

I, for one, care A LOT about my kids. Their health and well being is my number one priority.

Now, as most know, state has certain rules about sick kids going home, they differ on the state, but most are the usual - 2 vomits, 2 diarrheas, fever over 100, unexplained rash, etc.

To me- these are only guidelines. If something is wrong with a child- I know. I am with them a lot more than a director or parent.

The problem I have is this: we have the ear thermometers, or we have the forehead scanning thermometer. Both get different readings. I HATE the forehead thermometer, as I do not think it is accurate at all. There are too many factors that have to be in place for it to even get a correct reading.
I am a user of the one you place in the ear. It has always worked for me, and is right on the money when I choose to use another method ( the normal thermometer under the arm)

However, the director seems to think that the forehead one is better, because it always gives out a lower temp than the ear ones.

Onto the story-

One day ( and this has happened a multitude of time) I had an infant that was burning up with fever. I would be sweating like crazy just holding her in my lap. When I took her temp- it was 103. That seemed pretty accurate due to her lethargy and just by how on fire she felt.

Well, when I take their temp- it really doesn't matter. The director has to take it in order for them to be sent home.

When she took it ( using the forehead thermometer- wrong might I add) her temp was only 99.8.

Idgaf what her thermometer says- this child needs to go home NOW.

However, due to the fact that these parents hate having to get off work and come pick up their kid, they are afriad of losing the kid, and the daycare is already in the hole.

They refuse to call the parent, until MY readings get up to almost 104, and her reading are literally at 100.1.


This happens alot. They just don't call parents. Not even to let them know. Anytime one of my kids are sick, I feel like I'm having to argue and yell at them constantly to call the freakin parents.

I KNOW when they are teething, I know when it's just a mild cold or allergies or sinuses. I am not trying to get rid of these kids, but I know when they need to go see a dr.

Did I mention this is a family business? The director is my mother-in-law. Which makes it SO much worse.

I just wanted to vent after having a kid sick yesterday and them doing the exact same thing. It is just so damn aggravating. Ill post more later. Sorry for the long story!!!

[lynne]

that sounds like the center I worked at before quiting and opening my own. The owner always let her friends kids come sick so everyone got sick, The place was dirty, I tried cleaning up to my standards but no one else bothered. there were times when parents should have been called because of kids falling or runny poop but she never did. and she got mad when I asked her if she had called the parents...Sorry you are dealing with this... But I know how you feel.

[NightOwl]

Sounds like all they see are dollar signs. I once had a chronically ill child when I owned a center, whose parents were a fire fighter and a city bus driver. So they would definitely need a back up plan considering they couldn't leave a fire or jump off a bus full of people to come pick up. But did they? No. They bitched and groaned every time we called and took hours to show up. So I'm thinking your mil is trying to avoid making the parents unhappy for fear of them withdrawing. But I'd be more concerned about all the other parents withdrawing when they find out she's allowing sick children to stay.

[Leigh]

I did a LOT of research on thermometers. The Exergen brand forehead thermometer is one of the most accurate ones out there in the under $50 range. The ear thermometers are not very accurate. I'm with you that when there is something wrong with a kid, it's time to act. However, I'm with your director on the thermometer thing-I haven't seen an accurate ear thermometer yet.

[Cradle2crayons]

I did a LOT of research on thermometers. The Exergen brand forehead thermometer is one of the most accurate ones out there in the under $50 range. The ear thermometers are not very accurate. I'm with you that when there is something wrong with a kid, it's time to act. However, I'm with your director on the thermometer thing-I haven't seen an accurate ear thermometer yet.

same here. But the director should have enough sense if there is a questionable temp, then use a regular thermometer and test under he arm and add a degree. If the temp is okay but they have other symptoms like lethargy that should be reason for exclusion also.

Op :hug: I know yu are frustrated though.

I also wanted to add... If I were a parent who had a child in that daycare, especially an infant, and they had a temp that high with lethargy and I wasn't called, I'd throw the biggest fit and report them to licensing!! She's going to be lazy with the wrong parent one day!

[sahm1225]

I wanted to chime in about the thermometers - I have an ear one, regular one & a forehead one. I actually always get a higher reading on the forehead one.

[midaycare]

I have a forehead and it's always low. It reads my normal temp at 96.2. So anytime I use it, I add a few degrees.

[Unregistered]

Sounds like all they see are dollar signs. I once had a chronically ill child when I owned a center, whose parents were a fire fighter and a city bus driver. So they would definitely need a back up plan considering they couldn't leave a fire or jump off a bus full of people to come pick up. But did they? No. They bitched and groaned every time we called and took hours to show up. So I'm thinking your mil is trying to avoid making the parents unhappy for fear of them withdrawing. But I'd be more concerned about all the other parents withdrawing when they find out she's allowing sick children to stay.

She has told me that the reason she doesn't call os because they are afriad of them dropping. It is so aggravating. I know that if I had a child and I wasn't called for ANYTHING out of the ordinary- even just to let me know- I would immediately find another caregiver.

[Unregistered]

I have a forehead and it's always low. It reads my normal temp at 96.2. So anytime I use it, I add a few degrees.

This is how ours is. It reads temps lower than normal. I'm pretty sure I'm not 96.0 on a normal day. My temp is always around 99. That's normal for me. But it reads mine at around 95-96. Yet the ear thermometers have it right on the money. I've tested them against the oral thermometers and they are always right.

I'm not sure which forehead thermometer we have, but I know it isn't accurate, and it has a lot more factors in using it correctly as well, there can be no sweat, oil, hair, or movement. That's a lot of factors when using it on infants and 1 year olds.

[cheerfuldom]

Well you already know that your MIL values enrollment above safety. The real question is why are willing to work with someone like that?

[Unregistered]

Well you already know that your MIL values enrollment above safety. The real question is why are willing to work with someone like that?

I've asked myself the same thing. But when the parents rely on me to provide them information- I've taken care of these kids for almost 2 years- I've grown attached. But I also feel like I'm the only one that cares- and I want to protect them. But I can't do tht if I don't work there. Most of the kids in my room I've been with since they were 6 weeks old- and most of them are 2 now. If I were to leave now I would feel really guilty- since I am their mom-away-from-mom.