How Would You Handle This???

[JJPlaycare]

K first off I just realized I DO NOT have a 24hr fever free thing in my contract! I handed out an updated sick policy thing with that rule on it, but never asked for a signature on it, so technically I do not currently have it in my contract, but will soon!! Okay here is my scenario:
I have a just turned 2 year old that has come to my daycare pretty much his entire life other than a few months when his mother was laid off! Anyhow this child always seems to get sick! I swear since August he has had a runny nose or a cough or diarrhea or something..... K he has had a few healthy days, but not many, he just seems to pick everything up! Well anyway I feel like his parents don't get it or don't care about my sick policy at all and I don't know what else to do! The updated sick policy was made in good part to them! They give the kid meds and send him here with out telling me, but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that out after a few times! She works an hour away so this is what she does! If they don't show up at 7am when they are suppose to, I ALWAYS know it is because the child is sick! They will show up like 9:30-10am without letting me know and I now have figured this all out they show up then, the child has had IB Profen which lasts 6 hours which gets him to about 3:30-4pm until his fever returns and then it takes her an hour to get here so the child made it through the day!! I have warned them, I have told them that other parents have complained, I have turned them away at the door, they just don't care! So yesterday they got here at 7am and I called her at 8am childs temp was 100.4 and he is COUGHING his guts out! Aunt comes to get him! LOW and BEHOLD they show up at 10:00am today with a nebulizer - she tells me that they took him to the ER last night because his chest was concaving and he couldn't get control of his breathing with his coughing attacks! He doesn't have Pnemonia or bronchitis, his bronchial tubes are inflammed where they split and he hasn't had a fever since I sent him home yesterday with one! She is in her jammies when she drops him off, so OBVIOUSLY not going to work!! I take it all and him and seriously I am so done being mad about this I just want to laugh.... Seriously when is she going to get it! So the child seemed pretty good today, no fever of course I am sure he has some sort of med in him! He is coughing but no attacks and nothing unbearable, but seriously this is getting ridiculous, but sadly I need them to keep comming! What would your next step be?

[daycare]

wow.... I had something similar happen to me, however the parents lied...WTH are wrong with these people??

The kid was in the ER last night and now shes dropping the kid off? Did i read that right????

[Blackcat31]

I haven't read them in a while but I am pretty sure it is the State of MN licensing rules that says a provider must exclude any child with an unexplained fever until fever free for 24 hours so I don't think it needs to be in your handbook to be a valid policy.....tell the parents it is a licensing rule. My licensor says it is part of the Mn Dept. of Health rules for children in childcares and public schools so I think that covers you.

[daycare]

when I had the famliy that did something similar, except their 7 month old was in the hospital and they brought me the kid with out even telling me that he was just released that SAME DAY.
Later taht day the DCK starting having a seziure (sp) and I could not figure out waht the heck was going on. Lucky for me my husband is a fire medic and was home when it happened. I called parents right away and said come get your child now or I am calling 911 and kid is going to hospital by ambulance...

after all teh drama, I told the paretns that i needed a doc note stating illness. I then decided after that if I could care for the child under the new conditions. the child was also going to be on a neb and I don't do neb treatments. I also required the parents to supply me with a list of all the meds he was on and the side effects. I eventually decided that there were more health concerns than I could care for without putting out the other kids.

this is what you need to decide.
1. do you want to care for an ill child
2. can you care for an ill child while taking care of others
3. are you willing to do it for the same rate that you charge now?

if you cant meet the childs needs, let them go to someone who can....this is how I felt. I could no longer meet the needs of the child....

[JJPlaycare]

Honestly this is the THIRD time the child has been in the ER the night before and then brought to daycare the very next morning! Once because he had a febrile siezure and now twice for a TERRIBLE cough!! I turned them away at the door for the febrile siezure thing.... REALLY for crying out loud??? Maybe they can't read and I should read my contract to them! I don't know... No I do not want to care for a sick child! I am going to state in my contract or in my daycare name that I care for well children! No one can take care of a sick child and meet the needs of all of the other kids, or what they deserve for that matter! I have sent him home, time and time again they just keep bringing him!! I honestly think that she thinks if he doesn't have pnemonia or bronchitis that it is okay to bring him or something! They both just started new jobs and I know it is hard, but honestly I think this kid doesn't ever get a chance to get better because they don't let him!! So ultimately I feel bad for him and not the parents! UGH I am just frusterated! Oh they are expecting in October too now, so no I don't want to let them go I just want them to get the sick policy through their thick heads! Not sure what else to do to make them get it! Really the 24hour thing is a state thing, didn't know that I will have to start using that one!! : ) The child is great, love him to pieces couldn't ask for a better behaved boy, good grief I would like to see how he behaves when he is healthy!! : ) So can I say I can not and will not neb here??? I wanted to say if he needs to use a nebulizer he can't be here, but just didn't because I was litterally in shock!!

[MamaBear]

policy

I would make sure they agree to your sick policy and put on there somehow that if they dont follow the sick policy that they could be terminated... Then try to find a replacement asap and if they break the rule again, then terminate. Thats what I have done.

Once they get that warning then they seem to straighten up and always bring dr's notes and always keep them home when they have a fever or too sick. I still get the occassional sneaky parent that lies and gives the Tylenol before they come... but then a few hrs later that stinky fever raises its ugly head. I have in the policy that if I find that is happening repeatedly (where they are giving fever reducing medication before drop off - which is against my rules), then they will be terminated as well. Just be strict with them and HOPEFULLY they will straighten up. Good luck to you.

[daycare]

do you have a sick fee?
example

Your child will be sent home if they arrive at daycare with any of the above symptoms or conditions. If you are called to pick up a sick child, please come quickly. You must pick up your child within 45minutes of the time that the call is made. If you fail to pick up your child within the 45 minute time frame, you will be charged $1.00 per minutes past the 45 minute time frame has passed. Emergency contacts will be called if either parent is not available by phone or does not return a message within 15 minutes of calling. Remember that your child will have to be isolated from all the other children in care to reduce exposure of illness. With only one staff member this creates an extremely difficult situation for everyone. As the provider of your child, I do everything that I can to maintain a clean, healthy environment with countless hours of sanitizing. Please do your part to keep this environment healthy by NOT sending your child to daycare sick.

A child may return when he or she is free from symptoms and no longer infectious. The child should also be well enough to actively participate throughout the day. In any case of serious or unexplainable illness, a doctor’s medical clearance may be required prior to admission back into care.


In the case of a suspected contagious disease or continuing symptoms, a doctor’s note is required before your child is permitted to return to daycare. As soon as your doctor determines that your child has a communicable disease, you must inform me immediately.

**Doctors notes: Should you be asked to take your child to the Doctor, a Doctor’s note stating the child’s diagnosis and treatment plan will be required before the child can return to child care. A general note stating return to care will not be accepted for admittance back into the childcare. It will be the final decision of the provider whither the provider can properly care for your child or not.

[JJPlaycare]

They give him WAY to much tylenol/IB Profen to my liking in the first place! I think in part of him having febrile siezures they do this, but my goodness they rotate these meds in and out of him like crazy!! So I have another question can I say that if a child needs tylenol or fever reducing meds to make it through a daycare day they can not be here! I feel like now that I confronted her about the meds, now she just doesn't tell me she gave him any!! I don't know but if I am going to take their next child I REALLY need them to get and follow this sickness policy because I AM NOT doing this with two kids! Good grief

[daycare]

you can say anything you want...its your company....if you say every tuesday all kids must poop green and they sign it well then they better poop green.... ok bad example.....just trying to make you laugh.



As the Provider, I clearly sympathize with parents whose children are sick and need to stay home from daycare. I understand that parents are often busy and inconvenienced by their child’s illness. At the same time, please remember that when your child is sent to daycare sick, they put all children, their siblings, the provider, and all other family members at risk. It is the responsibility of the parents to arrange back up care for their ill child/ren.

Please have respect for all families here in the daycare by being honest. Golden rule, you know your child best, if they are starting to come down with something keep them home. Also, please don’t forget that if the Provider should become too ill to operate the daycare, the daycare will be closed until illness subsides. Having to close the daycare will put every family in a bad situation in many ways. Remember that the decision about whether or not a child should attend Daycare should be made by the parent, NOT THE CHILD. I t is great that your children want to be at the Daycare but they need to be well in order to be here.



DO NOT send your child to daycare if they exhibit any of the following symptoms, or conditions (this list only covers the most common illnesses, but is not inclusive of all reasons for exclusion) The following list of symptoms and conditions are those based off of what the CDC states is not acceptable conditions for your child to attend school of any kind.
1. Fever of 99.9, degrees or above. Please do not your child Tylenol or Advil to mask the fever so they appear able to attend the day care.
2. Illness that prevents a child from participating comfortably in any daycare/school activities. Even if a doctor releases your child to return to care, they must be able to return to normal activity. If I feel that they are still showing signs of discomfort or don’t have the ability to participate in activities as normal, they will be sent home.
3. Severe and/or excessive coughing.
4. A runny nose showing greenish nasal mucus that is accompanied by another symptom.

[wdmmom]

Here's my illness policy:

Illness:

We are a well child day care. Please assess your child before arrival. If your child is ill he/she cannot attend. Children showing signs of illness upon arrival will not be admitted. If you have any questions concerning your child’s symptoms, please call in advance. Parents must notify the day care at drop off of ANY medication given to the child within six hours of the drop off. Please do not give your child Tylenol or Advil to mask the fever so they appear able to attend the day care.

Children cannot attend daycare for a full 24 hours if they have or have had:

Fever (over 100*), Diarrhea, Vomiting, Body rash, Persistent runny nose, Coughing, Any contagious illness

If any of the preceding occurs while your child is in daycare, you will be contacted and will need to have your child picked up within 30 minutes of notification. Children must remain out of the daycare until they are free of the preceding or for a minimum of 24 hours.

If your child has visited a physician, a note stating your child’s illness is required. Daycare staff will then determine when your child will be able to return to daycare.



Teething, Ear Infections, and Allergies: When children present with moderate illness symptoms the parents feel it is either teething, allergies, or an ear infection. These are three "illnesses" that are not contagious which would allow the child to be in day care despite symptoms that would otherwise exclude them from care.



Teething: It is a common misconception that children get fevers when they are teething. Children will not be allowed to attend the day care if they have a fever, persistent runny nose, coughing, or diarrhea that coincides with teething. Children will be allowed to attend day care if they present swollen gums and drooling associated with teething.



Ear Infection: Children may attend day care with an ear infection as long as he/she is able to participate in our normal activities and does not have any fluid draining out of the ear canal. Children will not be allowed to attend the day care if they have a fever, persistent runny nose, coughing or diarrhea that coincides with an ear infection.



Allergies: If a child comes to day care with a runny nose, coughing, congestion, and the parent feels this is due to allergies we must have a Doctor's diagnosis stating what the child is allergic to. Children will not be allowed to attend the day care if they have a fever, persistent runny nose, persistent coughing or diarrhea that coincides with allergies.



Viruses: If your child is diagnosed with a virus, we must receive a note from the doctor indicating if your child’s virus is contagious. If your child is contagious, he/she may not attend day care until the child is symptom free without the aid of fever reducing medication.



Medication: If your child is prescribed antibiotics, they must be administered for at least 24 hours before the child can return.

If your child is prescribed antibiotics and a dose is needed while at daycare, parents must sign a consent form. ALL medications must be in original container with the physician’s dosing instructions attached.

Parents are welcome to keep a small bottle of Tylenol at the daycare. Children will never be given any over the counter medications (with the exception of diaper rash ointment) without the written consent of parents.

We do not give nebulizer or breathing treatments. If your child requires treatments they cannot attend the day care until their condition allows them to be in care without the need of the treatments. We also do not allow parents to give breathing treatments in our home. We will accept a child after receiving a treatment. Please let us know if you have given your child a nebulizer treatment before care.

By the sounds of it, she violated a lot of my policies...brought the child fully knowing he was ill, masked the fever and never said he had any tylenol, had a fever and returned the next day, brought a nebulizer (a big NO NO in my eyes) and brought him in pajamas.

I would have opened the door this morning and responded with something like, "Wow, I wasn't expect to see you here this morning, are you here to pay in advance because you know (child's name) can't attend today."

Then if you are asked why..."Um, hello...fever yesterday, ER last night, no doctors note, a nebulizer, not dressed...how many other reasons do you need? Clearly you need a copy of the illness policy. I'll print one off for you. See you tomorrow!"

[bice99]

My two page contract states, "We received a copy of the Shamrock Childcare Handbook and agree to comply with all procedures and expectations as explained in it. The handbook is subject to change and we will be notified as needed."

[Meeko]

I blame the state as much as possible when I re-enforce rules. It's the wimps way out...but they don't argue when they think it's "official". Some parents seem to think that because OUR rules...they can break them!

[daycare]

I blame the state as much as possible when I re-enforce rules. It's the wimps way out...but they don't argue when they think it's "official". Some parents seem to think that because OUR rules...they can break them!

Oh yes so true..................they think if we make them then we can let them break them......WTH? Rules are rules and most are written becuase of something someone pulled. Some disrespectful situation of some kind ususally gets me adding new policies or rules to my PHB...ugh

[Unregistered]

kids get sick often

I'm coming from a parent's point of view. Kids get sick, period. It's unrealistic to think that all kids with colds or minor coughs should stay home. Have you researched how many colds the average child gets in a year? It's over a dozen. You can't expect any parent to keep their child home for a cold or a minor cough or runny nose regardless of color of discharge. All doctors will tell you that the color of discharge doesn't mean the child has an infection. I agree that the child shouldn't be sent to daycare when the parents know they are running a fever (and give them ibuprofin) or have diarhea, etc. That's just plain wrong of parents.

My philosophy is if you can't take of your kid when they are sick enough to be home, then you shouldn't have kids to begin with or you need to have sick daycare backup, which I have. That being said, the standard in center care is fevers, diarhea, contagious diseases, etc get sent home and can return 24 hours after symptoms clear. Even licensing agrees with this practice. Saying that all colds and coughs should be excluded from care is completely unreasonable. I agree with the center's policy of contagious, diarhea, etc. I also agree with doctor notes. Do you know how many times a previous provider of mine sent one of my babies home for a fever that was nonexistent? I went to the doctor every single time and there was no fever and brought my child back with the doctor's note much to the provider's embarrassment .

There was only 1 time where the exclusion was justified while a baby. I 100% support if my child is sick and I come right away, but in all the years since that child has grown up, it has only been justified 3 times, yes 3!!! Every single other time, there was nothing wrong with my child as evaluated by the doctor and myself and there wasn't one single symptom that my provider claimed that there was. I've had multiple pediatrician's say that daycares sending kids home for colds and coughs and other minor things is rampent and they are tired of it. Can't say I blame them. It got pretty sickening for my kid to get sent home for nonexistent illnesses - that provider was a waste of my time so I went somewhere else. And it was magical how the kid didn't get sent home for illness ever again. It must have been a miracle!

[daycare]

I'm coming from a parent's point of view. Kids get sick, period. It's unrealistic to think that all kids with colds or minor coughs should stay home. Have you researched how many colds the average child gets in a year? It's over a dozen. You can't expect any parent to keep their child home for a cold or a minor cough or runny nose regardless of color of discharge. All doctors will tell you that the color of discharge doesn't mean the child has an infection. I agree that the child shouldn't be sent to daycare when the parents know they are running a fever (and give them ibuprofin) or have diarhea, etc. That's just plain wrong of parents.

My philosophy is if you can't take of your kid when they are sick enough to be home, then you shouldn't have kids to begin with or you need to have sick daycare backup, which I have. That being said, the standard in center care is fevers, diarhea, contagious diseases, etc get sent home and can return 24 hours after symptoms clear. Even licensing agrees with this practice. Saying that all colds and coughs should be excluded from care is completely unreasonable. I agree with the center's policy of contagious, diarhea, etc. I also agree with doctor notes. Do you know how many times a previous provider of mine sent one of my babies home for a fever that was nonexistent? I went to the doctor every single time and there was no fever and brought my child back with the doctor's note much to the provider's embarrassment .

There was only 1 time where the exclusion was justified while a baby. I 100% support if my child is sick and I come right away, but in all the years since that child has grown up, it has only been justified 3 times, yes 3!!! Every single other time, there was nothing wrong with my child as evaluated by the doctor and myself and there wasn't one single symptom that my provider claimed that there was. I've had multiple pediatrician's say that daycares sending kids home for colds and coughs and other minor things is rampent and they are tired of it. Can't say I blame them. It got pretty sickening for my kid to get sent home for nonexistent illnesses - that provider was a waste of my time so I went somewhere else. And it was magical how the kid didn't get sent home for illness ever again. It must have been a miracle!

yes I agree that the colds are colds and I don't send kids home because of them unless there are other symptoms accompanied with it.... it also depends on the age of the child. If the child is too young to wash hands and mouths toys all the time it will be impossible to stop the spread of it.. Dependingn on how bad of a cough and runny nose, I will send home a younger child who cant wash hands or mouths toys.... If I didnt i would be washing my entire house daily to disinfect.

you also have to understand that this is our HOME, not a center. Would you like it if someone came sick to your home? this is the hardest part about running a DC from your home. Allowing all of the germs that come with it to enter your house.

Also, we are not doctors and cant diagnosis a child. If your child is acting miserable and can't participate normally then they need to be home to get more TLC. What if we just say oh its nothing and then little Johnny ends up affecting the entire DC with something horrible. We have to take precautions to protect everyone.
Most of us have ONE person to care for several children and need to meet the children's needs as a group. In a center you have several staff that can assist children when not feeling well, therefore it may be better for some parents to use a center than an inhome……..
There are disadvantages and advantages to both center and home. This tends to be a disadvantage of in home DC...... I don't see it as one, but I know a lot of people do