Dck is always sick and getting everyone else sick!

[LeslieG]

I started this little boy (14 months) a little over a month ago. He has had a runny nose that varies in severity since day one. He is also the drooliest kid I have ever seen (like his whole shirt soaked within an hour). The other kids (including my own son) have been sick since he started here. My son has also has rashes on his body that the doctor thinks is related to him being sick for a long period of time. I am so fed up with this and I'm desperate to get my son better, as well as the other kids!!

I'm thinking of closing for all of next week and sending out a letter (mainly for the parents of the sick kid) about my sick policy and how I can't even take them if they have a bad cold. I honestly wouldn't be sad if they decided to take him elsewhere!

Thoughts?

[LeslieG]

Does anyone have advice on wording of the letter and what to say in person to his parents? I'm not the greatest with words especially in uncomfortable situations.

What I really want is for him to stay home tomorrow and all next week so I can get my son better!

[childcaremom]

I exclude for symptoms.

Runny nose: if I have to follow around with a kleenex, I send home.

Drooling: I don't exclude for.

I would find it difficult to pin point where an illness starts. I don't want dcps to point fingers at me and I won't point fingers at them.

Having said that, I know how frustrating it is to deal with the revolving illnesses.

I don't know if I would send a letter home but I would def. be proactive at excluding when the child meets the criteria. Also consider implementing the 24/48 hour rule. Fresh air, exercise, good eats.

[LeslieG]

I exclude for symptoms.

Runny nose: if I have to follow around with a kleenex, I send home.

Drooling: I don't exclude for.

I would find it difficult to pin point where an illness starts. I don't want dcps to point fingers at me and I won't point fingers at them.

Having said that, I know how frustrating it is to deal with the revolving illnesses.

I don't know if I would send a letter home but I would def. be proactive at excluding when the child meets the criteria. Also consider implementing the 24/48 hour rule. Fresh air, exercise, good eats.

Oh no, I'm not excluding because of drooling. I'm just saying that he's spreading his bad cold even more because he drools excessively! It's the bad cold thing that I need to stop. If it were any other kid with a bad cold, I'd feel the same way.

[childcaremom]

Oh no, I'm not excluding because of drooling. I'm just saying that he's spreading his bad cold even more because he drools excessively! It's the bad cold thing that I need to stop. If it were any other kid with a bad cold, I'd feel the same way.

:hug: I hear you.

I'd be looking at his symptoms. What else is going on? Chesty cough? Irritability? Not eating, sleeping, napping?

I'd be looking for those type things and then sending home, 24 hours symptom free before returning.

[Unregistered]

I have a dcb like that. This kid has been sick literally every two weeks (if not more) since August. He has started countless illnesses in this house since August including RSV, bronchitis, numerous colds, two stomach bugs, and at least two sinus infections. I've had to take my own kids to the doctor and put them on antibiotics several times and every time it started with this boy and his runny nose. I also ended up with bronchitis and was sick for two weeks which also started with him.

This little guy just got off his third antibiotic in less than two months and was fine for exactly one week. Monday he came and was crabby and the tell tale runny nose started. Tuesday he got here and within an hour was running a temp so I sent him home and he's still out today. Hopefully this time the rest of us will dodge a bullet and stay healthy.

This is my biggest pet peeve about doing daycare, the constant stream of infectious illnesses. There just doesn't seem to be a realistic way to avoid this. The biggest problem is that most viral and bacterial ailments are contagious before a child even has symptoms, so even if you have the strictest illness policy, you still can't always avoid it. Also, with kids like these, the parents would not be able to keep a job if daycare sent them home every time they had symptoms. If I sent this boy home every time he had a runny nose, his mom would have been out of a job. I really don't know what the answer is.

Sorry, I really don't have any advice. Just venting!

[Ariana]

I am convinced that lowered immune systems like this is caused by food sensitivities that are going undiagnosed.

[Blackcat31]

I have a dcb like that. This kid has been sick literally every two weeks (if not more) since August. He has started countless illnesses in this house since August including RSV, bronchitis, numerous colds, two stomach bugs, and at least two sinus infections. I've had to take my own kids to the doctor and put them on antibiotics several times and every time it started with this boy and his runny nose. I also ended up with bronchitis and was sick for two weeks which also started with him.

This little guy just got off his third antibiotic in less than two months and was fine for exactly one week. Monday he came and was crabby and the tell tale runny nose started. Tuesday he got here and within an hour was running a temp so I sent him home and he's still out today. Hopefully this time the rest of us will dodge a bullet and stay healthy.

This is my biggest pet peeve about doing daycare, the constant stream of infectious illnesses. There just doesn't seem to be a realistic way to avoid this. The biggest problem is that most viral and bacterial ailments are contagious before a child even has symptoms, so even if you have the strictest illness policy, you still can't always avoid it. Also, with kids like these, the parents would not be able to keep a job if daycare sent them home every time they had symptoms. If I sent this boy home every time he had a runny nose, his mom would have been out of a job. I really don't know what the answer is.

Sorry, I really don't have any advice. Just venting!

Antibiotics usually exasperate a common cold.

They'll alleviate bacterial infections but don't help viruses.

This child's cold symptoms could be worsened by the multiple antibiotics he's been on.

[Blackcat31]

I would find it difficult to pin point where an illness starts. I don't want dcps to point fingers at me and I won't point fingers at them.

I exclude for symptoms only as well.

Pinpointing WHERE an actual illness came from is a silly as thinking the earth is flat.

EVERYONE is a carrier. In many cases, the child (or person) that is continually exhibiting symptoms aren't the carriers, just the sufferers.

His parent could be bringing it in, the provider themselves could have picked up something while at Target etc....

There are just so many ways an illness is contracted and spread that I don't even concern myself with it at all.

Exclude for symptoms and it's so much less stressful.

[LeslieG]

I exclude for symptoms only as well.

Pinpointing WHERE an actual illness came from is a silly as thinking the earth is flat.

EVERYONE is a carrier. In many cases, the child (or person) that is continually exhibiting symptoms aren't the carriers, just the sufferers.

His parent could be bringing it in, the provider themselves could have picked up something while at Target etc....

There are just so many ways an illness is contracted and spread that I don't even concern myself with it at all.

Exclude for symptoms and it's so much less stressful.

I get that! But seriously, my son and the kids in my daycare rarely ever got sick before this boy started! He came here with a runny nose on day one and now every one of my kids have been sick for a month! It's just frustrating! Illnesses alone make me want to quit daycare!

[Laurie]

I never blame an illness on the child. As BC pointed out... you don't really know where it's coming from.

Tighten up your illness policies!
Send the child home for symptoms.
Have the child stay home until They're symptom free for 24hrs.
Don't send notes Home about a child bringing illness into the home. It's really not cool to play the blame game

[Laurie]

I get that! But seriously, my son and the kids in my daycare rarely ever got sick before this boy started! He came here with a runny nose on day one and now every one of my kids have been sick for a month! It's just frustrating! Illnesses alone make me want to quit daycare!

Don't stress out Send the child home until he's symptom free for 24hrs. Air your home out as best you can while the child home. If he comes back sick.... send him home again!

[CityGarden]

I have a very strict illness policy.... tighten yours up and enforce it. Send a letter home with the new illness policy.

My policy is similar to the one below and I enforce it:

For the safety, health, and welfare of the children and faculty, do not send your child to school if any of the following conditions is present:

1. If he/she has a temperature, diarrhea, or vomiting within the previous 24 hours.
2. A cold less than three days old or a runny nose.
3. Red throat/persistent cough.
4. Swollen neck glands/earache.
5. Reddened eyes.
6. Unexplained skin rash or skin eruptions.
7. If he/she acts listless, drowsy, has a headache, flushed face, lack of appetite, or shows behavior that is noticeably out of the ordinary.

No need for a letter of blame just tighten up the policies and enforce them - if the family cannot handle them then they have to leave. If you are bothered to the point you don't want then there then give them notice.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I exclude for symptoms.

Runny nose: if I have to follow around with a kleenex, I send home.

Drooling: I don't exclude for.

I would find it difficult to pin point where an illness starts. I don't want dcps to point fingers at me and I won't point fingers at them.

Having said that, I know how frustrating it is to deal with the revolving illnesses.

I don't know if I would send a letter home but I would def. be proactive at excluding when the child meets the criteria. Also consider implementing the 24/48 hour rule. Fresh air, exercise, good eats.

I, too, exclude for symptoms. Even "allergies" and "teething."

A persistent runny nose (running every 15 min. or less), yellow/green snot, a constant cough (every 15 min. or less), etc. are excluded for here. I also do the 24/48 hour rule that others here do. If THEY keep their child displaying illness symptoms home then they remain home a min. of 24 hours and must be symptom free upon returning. If I hae to send their child displaying illness symptoms home then they remain home a min. of 48 hours and must be symptom free upon returning.
I've had one family here for 2 years and yes, they do get mad. One other family does as well. BUT, they can always leave if they wish to. All of the other 16 children's parents? Nope. Just fine.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I get that! But seriously, my son and the kids in my daycare rarely ever got sick before this boy started! He came here with a runny nose on day one and now every one of my kids have been sick for a month! It's just frustrating! Illnesses alone make me want to quit daycare!

I get it. It's maddening. Enforce a STRICT illness policy for the benefit of everyone.