Do You Close If Your Own Kids Are Sick?

[Carole's Daycare]

I couldnt either- hence the PJ pants- no bra etc. I was actually really happy when the mom told me she got it & had been puking. Mean- but this particular mom is starting to wear on me.

[tenderhearts]

I use to call when my kids were younger and if they chose not to bring their child I would not charge them since really you're suppose to close, but now that they are older I don't call, they usually stay in their rooms in their beds. I suppose depending on what it is I would call, but thankfully my kids or myself dont' get sick very often at all.

[originalkat]

I cant believe they showed up at the door anyway!! The nerve of people sometimes! Serves them right.::

[gbcc]

Ugh, that is crazy. What is wrong with people? I would not have allowed them to stay unless they wanted to pay me double since it would take double my effort being sick and all!

I feel bad for the children involved, but it does serve that mom right!!

[GretasLittleFriends]

It depends on why/how my children are sick. I can confine my daughter to her room and my son to mine (as I have the tv (w/dvd and vcr) and he doesn't).

We had a bout of strep throat at/after Thanksgiving that I ended up with too. I felt fine other than my throat. I was on antibiotics for 36hrs (because of Tgiving holiday) so didn't close, but left the option for my parents to not bring their children and not charge them. They all came as scheduled. Nobody got sick.

New Years Day I had planned on being open, however I had some bad pizza the night before and ended up with food poisoning. I was able to contact most of my parents and inform them I was sick and taking the day off by the time it hit. I had one dad that I couldn't get a hold of because he was already on his way here. My husband watched that boy (5yrs) and our son play all day. Of course I got teased over this one big time because my parents knew I was going out the night before. I am pregnant (6 almost 7 mos) and sober cab. The guys all drank like fish and me, obviously not a drop of alcohol. Well, they had no hangover, no nothing. I had a bite of undercooked pizza at a bar and end up sicker than sick. They had the same pizza, but figured they had enough alcohol in their systems to kill whatever germ it was that got to pregnant me.

[momofboys]

I have only taken 2 days off besides my Holidays in 8 years. One of those days I was in the Hospital w/ pneumonia. I actually tried to close on a Monday a few weeks ago after my kids had a stomach bug, as I had been cleaning, washing pukey bedding etc and knew/could feel that I was next. Two of my moms showed up anyway- basically saying they couldnt afford to miss etc. I greeted them with my puke bowl in pJ pants- and they acted like nothing was amiss. It's as if they didn't really think I was sick. Of course Tuesday one threw up at the lunch table and mom had to pick up- the week continued w/ the kids , like dominoes getting the bug. The mom who insisted on bringing kids actally griped about having to clean where her daughter puked on her carpet etc- as if I was to blame. From now on, I'm CLOSED and locking the door, not answering if we are really sick. Colds etc I can keep my kids in their rooms, and warn the families- but I changed my contract to say I charge now when I'm closed for illness since so many families have abused the policy and brought sick children, to discourage families from doing that.

Aren't they supposed to have back-up?!?! Insane? I would never take my child into a home where people had recently been ill & the caregiver was ill. I'd like to know what you told them (when you said you needed the day off) & how they responded. Ridiculous! I'm sort of glad the mom got ill too!

[Chickenhauler]

If my kids are sick with a fever or stomach bug, I call the parents before hand (if I already knew) and give them the option the bring them. They have to pay because I am not closing.

I give my parents the option to come or keep their child home. Since I did not close, they are still required to pay me for the day.

But let me guess, when your child's illness is spread to a DC child (gates and hollow core interior doors are not a bio-membrane), you not only require them to keep their child home, but you also charge them since you were open?

[SimpleMom]

If my kids are young and can't stay confined to their room safely, I close. If they are old enough and not so sick they need onene, I give the parents a heads up and let them decide. I let them know I will have them stay in their rooms during daycare hours.

Last Friday, my little one was throwing up constantly and needed a ton of onene. We were up from 12M til 10am and constantly needing a bucket. That, I closed for. All of my families were totally ok with that. They didn't want their children getting that, either.

[originalkat]

But let me guess, when your child's illness is spread to a DC child (gates and hollow core interior doors are not a bio-membrane), you not only require them to keep their child home, but you also charge them since you were open?

You are exactly right Chicken Hauler. Because every child deserves to be under to one-on-one care, attention, and love when they are sick that only a parent can provide. And, yes, I run what I like to call a business. So yes they have to pay.

[Chickenhauler]

You are exactly right Chicken Hauler. Because every child deserves to be under to one-on-one care, attention, and love when they are sick that only a parent can provide. And, yes, I run what I like to call a business. So yes they have to pay.

At least you're honest about your double standards.

Your kid's sick, forcing people to pay during YOUR closure dates due to YOUR child's illness and pay when THEIR child is out when ill isn't right.


That's like the plumber canceling due to his being ill and still sending you a bill for a service call.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I've only closed once this year - unfortunately, it was for a full week - my youngest had the "dreaded" H1N1. I told the parents they didn't have to pay, but one did anyway. It was so nice of her and I have given her a couple of breaks since then.

My policy states that if I close for my own illness or for my kids' illnesses, I don't charge. However, the parents are paying for the spot and not the days, so if I'm open, then they pay if they choose to stay home.

[Daycare Mommy]

If I or my children have anything that I would send a daycare child home for I call all parents and give them the option of coming. If they come I just keep the sick / not sick seperated and wash hands like crazy and the parents pay like normal. If they catch whatever we had because their parents sent them they pay me on the days they end up calling out too. If they choose not to come when we're sick, I give them credit on next week's tuition, so they can pay a backup sitter.

[originalkat]

At least you're honest about your double standards.

Your kid's sick, forcing people to pay during YOUR closure dates due to YOUR child's illness and pay when THEIR child is out when ill isn't right.


That's like the plumber canceling due to his being ill and still sending you a bill for a service call.

If I close for my kids illness, I use one of my 5 paid personal days for the year that is in my fee contract. If I go above my 5 days the parents dont have to pay. Most times I dont close and my kids stay out of the daycare room. As of yet I have not had any child get sick directly after my own kids sickness unless it was the common cold that all the kids get at about the same time. I dont have double standards I have policies that arent uncommon (at least where I live).

[momofboys]

I would like to add to this. The problem I have with this is that I care for two families. One family will ALWAYS keep their kids home if one of us is ill & I applaud them for it! However, my other family will insist that they still come & likely would still want to come even if we had the plague. They seem to have no back-up care & mom has a limited amount of sick time & apparently even though dad runs his own business he never seems to pitch in. I have CLOSED once & I think it inconvenienced them (I don;t make them pay when I close) but I guess my point is some parents don't seem to care. . . they still want you to provide your service even at the risk of all of their family getting sick. I will never be able to understand this mindset.

[Chickenhauler]

If I close for my kids illness, I use one of my 5 paid personal days for the year that is in my fee contract. If I go above my 5 days the parents dont have to pay. Most times I dont close and my kids stay out of the daycare room. As of yet I have not had any child get sick directly after my own kids sickness unless it was the common cold that all the kids get at about the same time. I dont have double standards I have policies that arent uncommon (at least where I live).

Now that you explained further your contract (with the 5 paid personal days), it sounds fair.