You don't need that in your policy. It's a public health rule.
How Would You Handle This???
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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!
On the otherhand, there are plenty of times a kid feels sick, but there is nothing wrong with them (diagnostic-wise). That is when I feel really bad for them. When they just want their lovey and to lay on the floor when you are reading, or the others are doing crafts. Andy everytime you call a parent, they ask does he have a fever, and the answer is then no. And, here they stay...miserable. Then mom comes and picks them up and feels really bad cause they look like heck!
I know I am pretty lenient because I feel that kids get sick and we aren't all going to die (and sometimes they eat dirt too - dirt that I haven't even bleached?!). I certainly don't allow throwing up, or obviously ill kids, but snot, and coughs...meh, they are gross, and I don't like boogers or boogery fingerprints on my glass, but maybe that is why my kids are never sick?!- Flag
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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!
I've had too many parents give their children advil or tylenol and THEN take them to the doctor to get their health clearance notes.
If the Doctor doubts the child presented a fever at my house I can easily send the video by phone so that HE sees the child's condition while in my home. This is what the exclusion is for... how the child is at child care NOT how they are under the care of the parents.- Flag
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I like your style
This is a perfect example of why I take TWO temperatures at the same time with TWO different thermometers and VIDEO TAPE it. I put the camera on the screen or glass thermometer immediately as I take it off the child. This means I have TWO sources with a complete start to stop video.
I've had too many parents give their children advil or tylenol and THEN take them to the doctor to get their health clearance notes.
If the Doctor doubts the child presented a fever at my house I can easily send the video by phone so that HE sees the child's condition while in my home. This is what the exclusion is for... how the child is at child care NOT how they are under the care of the parents.I'm the unregistered poster who you quoted. Fortunately, I have sick days, etc, take turns with daddy, etc, but I've heard from daycare teachers about parents doing the tylenol / ibu bit. One thing that daycare would never do is retake the temp in front of me - and would never tell me why they wouldn't when I asked. I really was asking for reassurance - wouldn't you find it suspicious as a parent if the daycare was unwilling to retake in front of parents and parents felt forehead and body and body was cool to touch, not feverish and then doc found there was no fever and found there was no sign of illness? I was always frustrated because I'd be sitting at home using a sick day to stay home with a perfectly well unmedicated child! Sick days aren't for that, and employers monitor that - yes, I could get into trouble by using too many sick days every year without taking FMLA. I'd love to stay home my child but can't afford to.
Anyway, I'm a huge believer in NOT giving meds to kids unless they absolutely need them for fever or pain. If you know how long my kid was in care and far out of the way my work and daycare and home are, you'd understand how the tylenol bit wouldn't work to begin with in my situation. I always had to stay home the rest of the first day because of my work commute, but the doc note came into play the 2nd day - I had a well child to begin with that should be going back to daycare because there was nothing wrong to begin with. Keep in mind that my child was always in care over 9 hours every day (full time), guaranteed, due to my work schedule and commute - first one there and one of first to be picked up in late afternoon. The ibu bit would have never worked on day 2 - it would have worn off by nap time. And on the second day, that daycare never called about fever. Older kids blab/tell/rat out the parents - I would have never gotten away with it. My child has had fevers before and they've never broken in 24 hours. I still think I got duped by the daycare.- Flag
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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.
Policies for Ill Children and Disease Notification Procedures- The Health Department regulations prohibit the admittance of any child into a family childcare home that exhibits any of the following symptoms:- Fever (100 F or higher) - child needs to be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of medication.
- Diarrhea - child must be symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of medication
- Vomiting - child must be symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of medication
- Runny nose with colored discharge - check with doctor
- Discharge from eyes
- Lice - child needs to be treated and nits removed before return
- Communicable diseases - chicken pox, measles, mumps, conjunctivitis (pink eye), influenza etc. The child may return when the incubation and contagious period is passed and the child is well enough to resume normal child care activities. I also require that a child's parent notify me within 24 hours of the diagnosis of a serious contagious illness or parasitic infestation.
Masking your child's symptoms with over-the-counter medications and bringing them to care anyway is not allowed and could be cause for immediate termination. It is also inconsiderate to all families involved. A sick child should be allowed to recuperate fully at home after an illness so that the other children and the provider do not risk unnecessary exposure. If you are unable to stay home with your sick child it will be necessary for you to make arrangements at your own expense. If your child is out ill regular fees still apply. Your child may be brought to care if they have a common cold (which means a slight cough, clear runny nose, sneezing); however I will call you if your child is just plain miserable (whining, crying, repeatedly asking for you). Your child should not attend if they are not feeling well enough to participate in our daily activities (i.e. a child wanting to sleep all day, lay on the couch and watch TV etc.) It is not fair to the other families, including mine, to have sick children in daycare.
I have the right to refuse to care for a sick child. If your child develops any of the above symptoms while in my care, or any other symptoms NOT listed above that cause great concern, you or your alternate will be required to pick up your child immediately. If the child is not picked up within an hour of my calling a $5.00 for every 15minutes or portion there of charge may be assessed. If I have to call a parent to pick up a child that has been dropped off for care to ill to participate in the day the child will also be required to stay at home the following day. Your child may return to care 24 hours AFTER symptoms of illness end.Give a little love to a child, and you get a great deal back.- Flag
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I copied the listed (bullet points) straight from the Minnesota DHS rules/statutes. Not sure which specifically I found it in at the time.Give a little love to a child, and you get a great deal back.- Flag
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