Does Anyone Have Experience With A Dck Who May Have Seizures? Questions/Rant..

[Cradle2crayons]

I don't necessarily have an issue caring for a child with a seizure disorder.

However, i would NOT allow him to return to care until he SEES a neurologist and you have a plan of action from the NEUROLOGIST (not just from mom).

I would also have mom sign a release with the neurologist and for me saying I can call the dr and ask questions if I need to. I would need to know what daily meds are prescribed for prevention. I would also need to be sure mom understands that most of those meds require sometimes twice weekly, weekly, then monthly blood work to determine their levels. If she can't seem to get off of work to take the child to a neurologist then how do I know she is going to take the child for the blood work every week?

I sure hope they educated mom to NOT give that rectal medication unless he has a grand mal lasting more than 3 minutes (some docs say 5 minutes). That medication is a LAST RESORT.

The seizures you are describing are NOT grand mal seizures.

So, to answer your question. I WOULD watch and have watched a child with a seizure disorder. But a lot of things come into play. As in the type, frequency, parent follow up etc before I would even THINK about accepting the child.

If I could NOT (whether that's due to ratio and my inability to watch the child closely enough, maybe I can't allow a child to sleep as much as they want, maybe the child simply requires more care than I can give) continue or agree to watch the child, as long as it's not JUST because of the medical condition... it's NOT DISCRIMINATION.

If I couldn't continue care I would give notice describing that I am unable to adequately provide the care the child needs while STILL providing care to the others in my home. End of Story.

[NightOwl]

I feel sorry for them too. What's she going to do if no provider will care for him and they just got this very scary news... I'm sure their lives were just turned upside down.

[cheerfuldom]

I dont keep children that have severe health needs as I cant manage their needs with a group of others in care.

[TwinKristi]

How awful! Trust your instincts and if you don't feel you can provide the medical care he needs then by all means, term. Like BC said, not due to the medical condition, but because you don't have the means to provide special needs care in the event he has a seizure.
My mom has epilepsy and I had a medical situation where I had seizures myself and lemme tell ya... It's not "no big deal" to me! Anti seizure meds are NOT a guarantee that he's going to be seizure free. Especially in a growing child who is not only changing size rapidly (so changing doses frequently) and building a resistance to the med. Plus there are a TON of awful side-effects from these meds and it may take 2-3-4 meds til they find the right one, precautions for the med (problems regulating heat and cold, food interactions, etc.) Especially without an actual diagnosis as to why! He needs to see a Ped-Nuero ASAP. Diastat is basically Valium gel and the equivalent of what they do in the ER when someone is seizing. I would NOT feel comfortable having that as my solution. You would need to call 911, send child off alone in an ambulance to care for the other kids in your care, traumatic to you, traumatic to the other kids, traumatic to the child & parents... Report to licensing and have more possible drop-in visits.

[Ariana]

I have cared for children with seizure disorders both at my home and in a centre. With the proper training it really is "no big deal". Get a written procedure plan from a DR, then get permission to call an ambulance if you feel you need to. Come up with a plan that feels comfortable for you. If you fon't feel comfortable administering the meds, tell mom she will need to come and do it or you will call an ambulance.

[NightOwl]

I have cared for children with seizure disorders both at my home and in a centre. With the proper training it really is "no big deal". Get a written procedure plan from a DR, then get permission to call an ambulance if you feel you need to. Come up with a plan that feels comfortable for you. If you fon't feel comfortable administering the meds, tell mom she will need to come and do it or you will call an ambulance.

I think if you're properly trained, it's totally manageable and it isn't nearly as scary as everyone thinks. Yes, they can be serious, but that normally only happens when the person is not medicated to control them. And it sounds like this mom is on top of it.

[NeedaVaca]

I think if you're properly trained, it's totally manageable and it isn't nearly as scary as everyone thinks. Yes, they can be serious, but that normally only happens when the person is not medicated to control them. And it sounds like this mom is on top of it.

Where do you get mom is on top of it? Sounds to me like she isn't sure how to fit in a neurologist appointment and her work. She called to discuss this with the provider and barely gave her 5 minutes, was rushed, her attention was divided and she was very concerned about her dog...If this were my child that is not how I would have approached this important conversation.

[craftymissbeth]

I feel sorry for them too. What's she going to do if no provider will care for him and they just got this very scary news... I'm sure their lives were just turned upside down.

A nanny.

Also, my CPR instructor told us that when a person has a seizure (I'm not sure if it's ANY type of seizure... maybe just grand mal?) they do not breathe for the entire seizure. A seizure lasting several minutes could be devastating.

[Blackcat31]

Where do you get mom is on top of it? Sounds to me like she isn't sure how to fit in a neurologist appointment and her work. She called to discuss this with the provider and barely gave her 5 minutes, was rushed, her attention was divided and she was very concerned about her dog...If this were my child that is not how I would have approached this important conversation.

I agree!! That was the deciding factor for me.

If I have ALL the info about a situation and feel as though the parent is taking the reins for THEIR child's situation, then I would more than likely be willing to try working with them but the second I read OP stating mom was talking to someone in the background WHILE discussing this issue and she makes an important call from a strangers house?

Also when OP said "I asked her a question and she frantically answered and then let me go. Apparently she couldn't take 5 more minutes to talk about her child's health!" that sealed the deal for me.


Mom's attitude about the whole thing and glossing over it, I would be out.

[TheGoodLife]

And it sounds like this mom is on top of it.

Where does it some like the DCM is on top of things? She rushed through an explanation, was distracted and hurried, and stated she was supposed to see a neurologist but doesn't know how to fit it in her work schedule! I don't see any priority taken for this poor child and I would not feel comfortable. Calling an ambulance is not a fool-proof plan, and if something were to happen, the devastation would last forever, even if the provider is not "at-fault".

I'm sure the DCM is a good mom, but her nonchalance of the matter would make me hard-pressed to keep the child in my group care.

[melilley]

I agree!! That was the deciding factor for me.

If I have ALL the info about a situation and feel as though the parent is taking the reins for THEIR child's situation, then I would more than likely be willing to try working with them but the second I read OP stating mom was talking to someone in the background WHILE discussing this issue and she makes an important call from a strangers house?

Also when OP said "I asked her a question and she frantically answered and then let me go. Apparently she couldn't take 5 more minutes to talk about her child's health!" that sealed the deal for me.


Mom's attitude about the whole thing and glossing over it, I would be out.

These are my thoughts exactly BC and TheGoodLife.
Yesterday I gave a lot of thought about this. I texted mom as it's hard to talk here unless it's nap time and mom knows this so I sent her a text in the am asking her to call me either call me during her break ( she works at a preschool so she has break times around our nap time) or to come and talk and she did neither! I talked to dcd at p/u and told him my concerns and he said that he doesn't have any experience with it either and I have to talk to mom. I told him that I sent mom a text and he said that reception is not good where she works and maybe she didn't get it that's the excuse every time. Mom has not contacted me at all. Dcd also should have told her my concerns. I didn't have time to talk to him at drop off because everyone was arriving. It just really irks me that they don't seem to care. This is the same family that i have posted about with the child that comes in dirty, when mom picks up (which Is rare), she is on the phone most times, and
A few other things.

[Blackcat31]

These are my thoughts exactly BC and TheGoodLife.
Yesterday I gave a lot of thought about this. I texted mom as it's hard to talk here unless it's nap time and mom knows this so I sent her a text in the am asking her to call me either call me during her break ( she works at a preschool so she has break times around our nap time) or to come and talk and she did neither! I talked to dcd at p/u and told him my concerns and he said that he doesn't have any experience with it either and I have to talk to mom. I told him that I sent mom a text and he said that reception is not good where she works and maybe she didn't get it that's the excuse every time. Mom has not contacted me at all. Dcd also should have told her my concerns. I didn't have time to talk to him at drop off because everyone was arriving. It just really irks me that they don't seem to care. This is the same family that i have posted about with the child that comes in dirty, when mom picks up (which Is rare), she is on the phone most times, and
A few other things.

Add that to the list too and there is NO way!

If mom cant be reached reliably then who is suppose to be called in case of emergency?!

Dad not relaying info to mom either.... no way.

I think you are smart to bow out now.

[NightOwl]

The thing is, and I've seen it preached over and over on this forum, we don't know what the other conversation was about. It could've been very important. We don't know, not even op, the extent this mom is going to. We can assume, but that doesn't make it true. I'm sure she isn't giving op a play by play of every Dr visit, every phone discussion with Dr's, every Google search she does for more info.

I see complaints about the inadequacies of parents on the forum all the time, some of them from me. But I think this mom IS on top of it. She's still learning the ropes of what it means to have an epileptic child. She's going through some life altering changes right now and it is to be expected that she's overwhelmed. That's exactly what it sounds like to me, an overwhelmed mom.

The aspects that she doesn't have together? She'll get it together. She just needs some time to settle into this new reality. I do not believe this parent deserves a bashing because she's overwhelmed. She needs some sympathy, a kind ear, a shoulder. And a chance to gather herself and her thoughts.

I am in the extreme minority on this, which is odd to me because I have extensive experience with epilepsy and can offer tons of advice. But I guess the fear of the unknown trumps that (not directed at you op). I just hate to see these people termed over something they cannot help and are in the process of figuring out.

Yes, it's a challenge. Yes, it's new and unknown territory. But how else will we grow as providers if we don't challenge ourselves? If we don't move out of our comfort zones? We can't all have a perfectly healthy, well behaved group of little angels. That's desirable of course, but it's not reality. And aren't we supposed to be in a partnership with these parents? A partnership to raise happy, healthy, smart children? I find it very disheartening that so many posters would instantly jump ship over this. The meds can be negotiated. There was one bad phone call where mom was distracted. That deserves a termination??

Everyone is saying it is for the safety of the other children, but those children would not be in any danger. There is some thrashing about that occurs with grand mals, but if you quickly move the children out of the way, there's no danger. When it's over, simply call mom for pick up. But once the child is established on meds, it isn't likely he will seize at daycare.

For the ones who said what happens when you're out for a walk or at the store, etc. What do you think mom will do in those situations? She's not going to segregate her child from society because he MIGHT have a seizure. That would be ridiculous. Life goes on. You have to roll with the punches. So yes, for me, a person who did lots of research and made sure I was educated on the type of seizures and how to handle them if/when they come, it IS no big deal.

[NightOwl]

So this termination ISN'T just about the seizures? You've had problems with this family in the past?

[Laurel]

I feel sorry for them too. What's she going to do if no provider will care for him and they just got this very scary news... I'm sure their lives were just turned upside down.

She could hire a nanny. If I were a nanny I would do it. It isn't that I wouldn't do it but just not with other children to watch as well.

Laurel