"But the Doctor Says"

[Babymama]

A child was kept home one day last week because of not feeling well. The parent later called to tell me she had strep throat, an ear infection and excessive drool and runny nose because of teething. She is 2 1/2 years old. The parent then went on to tell me that she was on medication and "the doctor said she was allowed to return to daycare" the following day.
I have a sick policy in my contract that says child must be on antibiotics for 24 hours (and free of obvious symptoms) before returning to daycare following a strep infection. Did the doctor just negate my contract?
I asked the parent to honor our contract and she kept telling me that "the doctor said" it was okay for child to return the next day.
What is up with this??????

[Denali]

A child was kept home one day last week because of not feeling well. The parent later called to tell me she had strep throat, an ear infection and excessive drool and runny nose because of teething. She is 2 1/2 years old. The parent then went on to tell me that she was on medication and "the doctor said she was allowed to return to daycare" the following day.
I have a sick policy in my contract that says child must be on antibiotics for 24 hours (and free of obvious symptoms) before returning to daycare following a strep infection. Did the doctor just negate my contract?
I asked the parent to honor our contract and she kept telling me that "the doctor said" it was okay for child to return the next day.
What is up with this??????

A doctor can not tell you how to run your business. Do you work for the doctor? Nope. You can take what the doctor said under advisement, but YOU can still say nope, your policy is your policy regardless of what a doctor might say, and mom knew what your policy was when signing up. If it says in your contract that you exclude than tell her that your contract trumps all. Kid can return XX date.

I had a kid with hand foot mouth, dose and drop, couldn't get a hold of mom for about an hour after kid spiked a fever. Once mom picked up she took him to doctor and told me hand foot mouth. Had doctors note saying he could return once fever was gone, so he'd be there the next day... kept telling her no, she would try and drop off, I'd turn her away.

My reasoning: #1 - she dose and dropped. So I could not trust her to not do it again. #2 - kid was almost 3.5 and he and mom thought it was funny for him to cough in other kids faces, and where were the open sores?, in his throat. When she tried to drop off she tried to tell me that "oh he covers his mouth so great now!" As he's coughing all over her and my entry WITHOUT covering his mouth. #3 - moms and doctors words "terrible open sores all over his throat and mouth!" From what I read and was told from my doctor open sores = contagious, regardless of if there is fever.

I excluded for maximum amount of days for HFM to pass per the CDC website and told mom exactly why. The original dose and drop was not her first dose and drop with me, I had very young babies in care, and I was not going to allow it to spread because a doctor said he was fine to come back to care, not knowing mom and DCB's history with illness here.

[Blackcat31]

This following paragraphs are included (highlighted) on my illness policy.

PLEASE NOTE: Often times doctors or nurse practitioners will give parents a note stating a child is cleared to be re-admitted into care. While their medical expertise is appreciated, ultimately it is up to the provider whether or not a child is well enough to return to care as the child's health is only one aspect of what is required to participate with regularly scheduled daily activities.

It's also imperative that parents remember that when a child does not feel well, those feelings are amplified when thrust into an environment that is loud, noisy and active. It also places additional responsibilities onto the provider which in turn can take away from the care and supervision the other children require.

[finsup]

Yeah, I've got that before Sorry dcf your doctor doesn't have any real say in how I run my business. I've said to parents before "yes, I am aware the child's doctor felt it was fine for dck to return. Regardless, the sick policy on signed and agreed to is this. Dck may return to care on such and such a date, provided everything has cleared up etc." If they try to argue it, I just say "I sympathize with you, but this is not up for negotiation. See you such and such a day!" It's annoyed people but bottom line is YOU run your business and can exclude for anything, and however long YOU want the doctor can suggest, but they don't get the final say.

[Leigh]

A child was kept home one day last week because of not feeling well. The parent later called to tell me she had strep throat, an ear infection and excessive drool and runny nose because of teething. She is 2 1/2 years old. The parent then went on to tell me that she was on medication and "the doctor said she was allowed to return to daycare" the following day.
I have a sick policy in my contract that says child must be on antibiotics for 24 hours (and free of obvious symptoms) before returning to daycare following a strep infection. Did the doctor just negate my contract?
I asked the parent to honor our contract and she kept telling me that "the doctor said" it was okay for child to return the next day.
What is up with this??????

I just ignore "the doctor said" and repeat MY guidelines and my feelings. 2 weeks ago, I had one of my 2 year old daycare twins get diagnosed with strep on a Monday afternoon. The doctor said they could return to daycare the next day. I reminded Mom of MY guidelines and told her that the other twin is going to come down with it, too (they mouth everything, including their hands). I told her we'd discuss it Wednesday morning on whether they could return. They wound up in the ER early Wednesday morning-the other twin was diagnosed, and in even worse shape. I told them I'd see them on Monday.

[Fiddlesticks]

I have a 24 hours rule about antibiotics (which I altered to include no partial days, so if they start antibiotics at 11:00, they may not return at 11:00 the next day, they have to stay out until the morning after that.) But I also seriously doubt a doctor would give the go ahead for a child to return to daycare before the 24 hour rule with strep. Whenever I have it the doctors are sure to remind me that I cannot care for children until I have had antibiotics for 24 hours, and I am not putting all of their toys in my mouth... Did they have a note from the doctor with the diagnosis and return recommendations, or are they just telling you the doctor said this? But, I agree with everyone else, regardless of what the doctor recommends, your policies trump that.

[Ariana]

My policy states that a dr's note is required to say a child is not contagious or is no longer contagious but that it is up the discretion of the provider as to whether or not they are able to return. They cannot return for 48 hours after first antibiotic treatment.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

A child was kept home one day last week because of not feeling well. The parent later called to tell me she had strep throat, an ear infection and excessive drool and runny nose because of teething. She is 2 1/2 years old. The parent then went on to tell me that she was on medication and "the doctor said she was allowed to return to daycare" the following day.
I have a sick policy in my contract that says child must be on antibiotics for 24 hours (and free of obvious symptoms) before returning to daycare following a strep infection. Did the doctor just negate my contract?
I asked the parent to honor our contract and she kept telling me that "the doctor said" it was okay for child to return the next day.
What is up with this??????

I just had strep and was down for 2 full days (after beginning the antibiotics). My child then caught it 5 days after my first symptoms and was down and out for 2 full days (after beginning antibiotics).
There is no way I would allow a child with strep back in less than 24 hours after the first dose. Also, for the parents that say they'll "be there tomorrow and they'll have been on antibiotics for 24 hours at drop off time..." I doubt it. How could they have been seen, gotten the medication, and administered it all by 8:00 am? Our Doctors around here do not open that early and I usually get a text at 7:30 saying their child isn't feeling well so they'll take them to the Doctor. :dislike:

Tell the parent that if their child has ANY symptoms then they'll be turned away at the door and not permitted to attend that day.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Yeah, I've got that before Sorry dcf your doctor doesn't have any real say in how I run my business. I've said to parents before "yes, I am aware the child's doctor felt it was fine for dck to return. Regardless, the sick policy on signed and agreed to is this. Dck may return to care on such and such a date, provided everything has cleared up etc." If they try to argue it, I just say "I sympathize with you, but this is not up for negotiation. See you such and such a day!" It's annoyed people but bottom line is YOU run your business and can exclude for anything, and however long YOU want the doctor can suggest, but they don't get the final say.

Bingo!

They WILL be annoyed. Just prepare for it. I had a passive aggressive parent write, "This is ridiculous!" on the bottom of my illness sheet that they sign prior to taking them home. It told them that they couldn't return for 48 hours (which was actually only 3 hours later than normal since they were a part-time child). Anything that inconveniences the parent...

[nannyde]

https://www.daycare.com/nannyde/doctors-notes-return-to-daycare.htm