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Okay, so one of my dck's came today and the mom said he had a slight fever yesterday, but today he was okay. No other symptoms. Well he looks pale, sounds like he has a scratchy throat and I took his temp and it’s 100.4. Think I should call for pickup? How much of a fever do you allow if any at all. I have had it running through here. One dck came Monday, but stayed home yesterday due to a double ear infection. Another dcg was out all last week with a fever and another dcb is gone this week with a fever. Sooo, chances are, he has this virus. Some of the kids have been to the dr and the only problem has been one dcb's ear infection. All the others have not been strep or anything, just viral. He is also scheduled to come tomorrow. Any advice?
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My illness policy says anything over 100F and they stay home (or go home in your case).
Technically if he had a fever at all yesterday I wouldn't have allowed him to be in care today. They must be fever free (without meds) for a FULL 24 hours before they can return to care.
I know some kids run temps higher than others but there has to be a line drawn somewhere and our schools all say 100F so that's my cut off too. -
So how do you tell them that they are not welcome tomorrow? I'm so bad with this as you know!!
Not to mention that as she was taking his coat off she told me about his fever yesterday. I don't think it was higher than this though.Comment
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I give them an "Earliest they can return date". So if sending home today, I would say "Now the earliest Johnny can return is a FULL 24 hours AFTER his fever goes away without using any meds."
If a DCM was dropping off and mentioned a fever, I would have said "Oh, he had a fever yesterday? I am sorry but per licenisng rules, I cannot accept him into care since it hasn't been 24 hours without a fever."
I understand it is frustrating, difficult and inconvenient for parents but rules are rules and since we can't eliminate sickness all together, I must do what I can do to minimize the spread and that is follow licensing rules. I think it might even be CDC rules so legally unlicensed providers can still use that thought process too.Comment
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Sounds like the child may have been given a fever reducer before coming? What is in your illness policy? You could reference your policy (if you have one) and show them the policy and tell them that way. I'm bad at telling parents things too, but if you have something to back you up, such as an illness policy, then I find it easier to tell them things. Also, I know this is a little off subject, but if you take an armpit temp, you are supposed to add a degree (unless your thermometer does it for you), a lot of people do not know this.
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Thanks guys. He's going home. I just took it again and it was 101.4.
Melilly, I did add a degree to his armpit, but thanks for the tip. I agree, alot don't know to do that. Gonna go call dad now and I'm going to tell him see you on Monday!Comment
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Sorry, I meant to say a lot of parents don't know that. Then they bring their kids to care saying their fever is only -----, when it's really a degree higher! 
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Sorry I spelled your name wrong in the last post. No need to be sorry, sometimes I have to stop and think if it's add one or take one off because I know the rectal (which I haven't done in years) is subtract one if I'm not mistaken.
Just talked to dad and he's on his way. Time to get cleaning!!Comment
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I struggle all of the time with getting the parents to understand the full 24 hour symptom free without the aide of medication before a child can return.
I have had to spell it our clearly just as BC did to the parents.
I had to tell them...
if your child was running fever or displaying any signs of illness on Sunday morning, this would mean that your child cannot return to care until tuesday. Again remember this means that they were 100% free of all symptoms on Monday WITHOUT the aide of medication.Comment
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It drives me crazy that some parents don't seem like they want to parent. This little boy is not yet 3, but is highly intelligent. I was taking his temp under his arm so he could talk and I asked him if he told his momma that his throat hurt. He said I DID and she said that I needed to rest. Poor little guy. Dad came and got him and I told him that I would see him on Monday, not tomorrow. Told mom that on the phone too. I don't know why if he had a fever yesterday that they would bring him today She said, oh he was fine all night. Oh really, and an hour after he gets here it's over 100? Yea right. Bye bye!Comment
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I know. Really ticks me off. He had a fever when he walked through the door. You could tell because he was white as a ghost. I took his temperature about 1/2 - 1 hour after he got here and it was 100 and an hour after that it's 101. What would it have been at 2:00? Well he was here for 3 hours and he's not coming tomorrow and they can pay me for a full day today and for tomorrow as well. Be a parent, keep your sick child home.Comment
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ALWAYS take a photo of the thermometer showing the temp and text it to the parent. SHOW them you are not lying.
Great way to cure that is to use the 24/48 hour rule.
If a parent notices their child is not feeling well and keeps them homw from daycare, they need to stay out until 24 hours symptom free.
If I send a child home from care, they need to stay home for 48 hour after symptoms disappear.
Makes the decision be the parents responsibility and gives the "incentive" to make the right choice.
GUARANTEED that it works too! (Thank you CH!
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I actually tried to take a pic of the digital thermometer today but my darn phone wouldn't make it out good enough. I'm actually surprised by this parent today. They normally don't act like that. I didn't have the problem though of them not believing me though. I think they could just maybe slip it by me though. Don't think so
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Well the drama continues. DCM called me around 6:00 and told me that the dcb that I sent home today went to the dr and he has strep. He won't be back until Monday. I'm closed on Fridays. In the meantime, I got a text from another dcm asking how her son was at my house today. I said he seemed fine. She said his eyes looked tired and he didn't really eat his dinner oh and he has a fever of 100. Told her, see you Monday, he needs to stay home tomorrow. She texted me back and said and I quote "OK, so you consider 100 a fever? Most drs and people I know think that a "real" (and she quoted that part) fever is 101. I texted back that I don't believe that he will be fine tomorrow because 4 other kids have had this fever in the past week and it lasts 3 days at least. She was pissed off because I said he can't come tomorrow. What do you guys think? What do you consider a "fever" that warrants them not coming the next day? I don't think that I'm being unreasonable at all.Comment
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