How Sick do YOU Have to Be & How Much Info do You Disclose to Parents?

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • momofboys
    Advanced Daycare Member
    • Dec 2009
    • 2560

    How Sick do YOU Have to Be & How Much Info do You Disclose to Parents?

    Okay, I have never really been ill enough to close DC for the family I care for. However, this week a couple of things have been going on with me that make me not 100%. My husband took most of yesterday off so I could rest but I didn't tell my DC family. Was that a big NO NO? Husband cared for the kids 75% of the time & by the time I got up from my nap I was feeling much better. I did have a slight fever Wed evening (100.3 -that is why hubby stayed home) but no other major symptoms. I am always very up front about my kids' symptoms or illnesses to DC family but for some reason my thought it if I feel okay enough even if not 100% I can still do my job. Of course I wouldn't want anyone to get sick b/c of me but my guess is DC family would still bring their kids. So what does everyone else do?
  • SilverSabre25
    Senior Member
    • Aug 2010
    • 7585

    #2
    I've never closed daycare for my own illness--although I have contemplated it once or twice in the past couple weeks when that stomach virus was running through my family/daycare. I would have to be pretty sick, and DH would have to be unable to take off work for some reason or sick himself, for me to close daycare for my own illness. I tend to believe that grown-ups are inherently better at keeping their germs to themselves, .
    Hee hee! Look, I have a signature!

    Comment

    • momofboys
      Advanced Daycare Member
      • Dec 2009
      • 2560

      #3
      Originally posted by SilverSabre25
      I've never closed daycare for my own illness--although I have contemplated it once or twice in the past couple weeks when that stomach virus was running through my family/daycare. I would have to be pretty sick, and DH would have to be unable to take off work for some reason or sick himself, for me to close daycare for my own illness. I tend to believe that grown-ups are inherently better at keeping their germs to themselves, .
      I think you are right about keeping germs to ourselves. I am meticulous about washing my hands, changing hand towels, disinfecting.

      Comment

      • SilverSabre25
        Senior Member
        • Aug 2010
        • 7585

        #4
        Originally posted by janarae
        I think you are right about keeping germs to ourselves. I am meticulous about washing my hands, changing hand towels, disinfecting.
        And not breathing on people, coughing on people, wiping snot everywhere...::

        Oh, and to answer the disclosure question, I rarely disclose much about my own illnesses to parents. Pregnancy, yes, but that's not contagious, ! I actually rarely disclose about my DD's, either, but she is so rarely sick that it just hasn't come up much--she usually gets a MUCH milder version of what someone else brings in and passes around.
        Hee hee! Look, I have a signature!

        Comment

        • Danielle
          Daycare.com Member
          • Jan 2011
          • 241

          #5
          I only close if I have a high fever or vomiting. If I just have a cold, I call the parents and let them decide. If my kids are sick (symptoms that in my handbook says a dck needs to stay home), I also call them and let them decide. I've only had to close twice in almost 3 years...both were last year. Stomach bug and mastitis.

          Comment

          • Danielle
            Daycare.com Member
            • Jan 2011
            • 241

            #6
            I don't think it's right to not let the parents know. I would be ticked if I brought my kids to a sitter and didn't know that the sitter or her kids were sick. I think the parents have a right to decide if they want their kids exposed.

            Comment

            • jen
              Advanced Daycare.com Member
              • Sep 2009
              • 1832

              #7
              I don't think you did anything wrong. I've been doing daycare for years and I've never closed due to my own illness.

              Comment

              • cillybean83
                Daycare.com Member
                • Dec 2010
                • 544

                #8
                The only time I closed was in November when my gallbladder *literally* exploded. I got rushed to the hospital, my BP was 60/40 and I got stabbed with a huge shot of epinephrine (or however you spell it) and ended up in surgery for 6 hours because I had gallstones go off like buckshot and they were imbedded in my liver, kidney, intestines, and stomach.

                The one daycare parents that I still have was very concerned, visited me in the hospital, offered to take off work to watch MY kids, she was so sweet.

                The other daycare parent (who is no longer here) threw a hissy fit, called me at the hospital and YELLED at me because she didn't have back up care.

                Comment

                • SilverSabre25
                  Senior Member
                  • Aug 2010
                  • 7585

                  #9
                  Originally posted by cillybean83
                  The only time I closed was in November when my gallbladder *literally* exploded. I got rushed to the hospital, my BP was 60/40 and I got stabbed with a huge shot of epinephrine (or however you spell it) and ended up in surgery for 6 hours because I had gallstones go off like buckshot and they were imbedded in my liver, kidney, intestines, and stomach.

                  The one daycare parents that I still have was very concerned, visited me in the hospital, offered to take off work to watch MY kids, she was so sweet.

                  The other daycare parent (who is no longer here) threw a hissy fit, called me at the hospital and YELLED at me because she didn't have back up care.

                  cillybean, you are MUCH better off without that second one! Wow! I can't believe that! Well, wait, I *can*....but you know what I mean, .
                  Hee hee! Look, I have a signature!

                  Comment

                  • DanceMom
                    Advanced Daycare.com Member
                    • Mar 2010
                    • 353

                    #10
                    Ya know..I actually dont even tell my parents anymore but that is because of THEM. I used to call them if me or my kids were sick and give them the option to come, but every single time they would still come no matter what...so now I dont even bother telling them.

                    Ive never closed for my own illness and Ive only closed for my son when he had H1N1 last winter...other than that the typical virus or cold - I dont even tell them...

                    Again..because they come anyways and have every single time...

                    Comment

                    • momofboys
                      Advanced Daycare Member
                      • Dec 2009
                      • 2560

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Danielle
                      I don't think it's right to not let the parents know. I would be ticked if I brought my kids to a sitter and didn't know that the sitter or her kids were sick. I think the parents have a right to decide if they want their kids exposed.
                      Unless you missed what I had written I did not provide care for the kids. . . my husband did. I cared for them for maybe 1/2 - 1 hr before they were picked up & at that time I hadn't had a fever for 24 hrs.

                      Comment

                      • lvt77
                        Daycare Member
                        • Dec 2010
                        • 597

                        #12
                        Originally posted by janarae
                        Unless you missed what I had written I did not provide care for the kids. . . my husband did. I cared for them for maybe 1/2 - 1 hr before they were picked up & at that time I hadn't had a fever for 24 hrs.
                        I guess you have to look at it like this? Is any one complaining? I know that you feel guilty, but its not like you took the day off to go shopping or to lay in bed all day to watch soaps. You did these paretns a favor by not closing. You had to do what you needed to in order to run your business. I see no harm done....
                        I do think however, maybe you should have stayed away from the kids the entire day as not to expose the kids.....
                        I commend you for taking that extra mile asking your husband to take the day off of work to help you. Lucky for everyone you had that as an option...

                        Comment

                        • momofboys
                          Advanced Daycare Member
                          • Dec 2009
                          • 2560

                          #13
                          Originally posted by DanceMom
                          Ya know..I actually dont even tell my parents anymore but that is because of THEM. I used to call them if me or my kids were sick and give them the option to come, but every single time they would still come no matter what...so now I dont even bother telling them.

                          Ive never closed for my own illness and Ive only closed for my son when he had H1N1 last winter...other than that the typical virus or cold - I dont even tell them...

                          Again..because they come anyways and have every single time...
                          I guess this was kind of how I felt. . . whenever I disclosed ANYTHING they came regardless of what it was. . . strep/fever/bronchitis, etc. And I know for a fact that there are lots of times they had been ill that they never bothered to even tell me. There is a good chance that I got ill as a result of them. DCG said something about being sick over the weekend. So I guess it goes both ways.
                          Last edited by momofboys; 01-21-2011, 08:21 AM. Reason: wrong word

                          Comment

                          • DaycareMomma
                            Daycare.com Member
                            • Dec 2010
                            • 218

                            #14
                            My youngest son was born with many health problems. My daycare parents knew this when they signed on with me, as I started daycare after he was born. I have had to take off 3 different weeks for my son being hospitalized, a few days here and there for his appointments and for when he's sick. I have RARELY closed for myself. I think I did once when I had such a bad migraine that I couldn't even use the phone to call the parents, my husband had to.

                            For the most party my parents are pretty understanding. I have never lost a family due to my son being hospitalized and whatnot.

                            If I'm feeling less than stellar, I will tell the parents when they get here and it is in their ballcourt if they want to stay or go.

                            Comment

                            • MarinaVanessa
                              Family Childcare Home
                              • Jan 2010
                              • 7211

                              #15
                              Just remember that if someone has a fever for something contagious they are typically contagious a few days before they even get symptoms as well as during the time they have the fever. Your fever wasn't all that high and I'm sure that for the short time that you were watching the littles you took precautions anyway.

                              If I'm sick I have someone come and sub for me also but I let the parents know and give them the choice of picking the kids up or not with the understanding that if they get sick they have to go/stay home. I've only been sick so bad that I've to call someone in for me until a few weeks ago but I have been sick with colds and coughs and low grade fevers and none of the parents have ever opted to come pick their child up. None of their kiddos ever got sick because of this either but I always let the parents know so they have the choice to pick up or not.

                              Comment

                              Working...