I've posted many times about how much I like Hunters daycare. While I wish I didn't have to send him to daycare for so many hours each day I really do like the teachers and can see how much Hunter enjoys going. With that said I have been extremely frustrated the past few days. Hunters daycare, as with many daycares I'm sure, have very specific rules when it comes to sending home sick children. If they have a fever over 100, are vomiting or have had 2+ diarrhea poops they have to go home. If they are sent home they can't return until they are symptom free for 24 hours unless you have a doctors note.
There have been several times I've had to pick him up early due to a fever (always attributed to teething). In most of those cases he's been sent home early in the day so I was able to take him back early the next day. Well last Wednesday I was called around 3:30 and told he had had two diarrhea poops and had to go home. Kristian was already on his way to pick him up so it wasn't a big deal in that respect but it also meant that he wouldn't be able to return the next day and therefore I was going to have to work from home. To top it off Kristian woke up Thursday morning with what I'm pretty sure was the flu and could barely get out of bed so I not only had to take care of Hunter (who by the way was totally fine and not sick at all) but also take care of Kristian, oh and try to get work done.
Well today I once again received a call around 1:30 that Hunter had two diarrhea poops and had to go home. Kristian was able to pick him up but once again he now can't return tomorrow unless I take him to the doctor and get a note signed saying he can return sooner. Well I'm not going to take a seemingly healthy child to a germ infested doctor's office just to get a note signed saying he's not sick. The fact is, Hunter is teething, he's cutting his one year molars and even his teacher said that was probably the cause for all the stomach issues but she has to follow their policy.
I understand that they don't want sick kids there passing along germs and infecting other kids. I can even understand sending the child home early but their policy of not allowing them back for 24 hours I think is pretty dumb especially when the child is obviously not sick and shows no other signs of being ill or contagious. Oh and to top it off we still have to pay for the days he's not allowed to attend. So basically we're paying approximately $50 to the daycare for the day even though he's home with me.
Obviously if Hunter were truly sick or contagious I wouldn't want him to go to daycare and I've kept him home by my own choice when he's actually been sick but the fact is I do have a job and even though I can technically work from home, it's very difficult to do with a very active toddler who does not like when mommy is on the computer. I am very fortunate to have a very understanding boss who lets me work from home when Hunter can't go to daycare (Kristian works in sales and can't really work from home which is why I do it). But I know there are many other parents that don't have that luxury and I feel for them.
For other parents that have kids in daycare what are their sick child policies?
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12 comments:
I hear ya! We've had lots of days at home because C has fevers from fighting ear aches (which aren't contagious) pain in the butt! Thankfully we have lots of family around that help us cover those days!
Our daycare policy is the same. Many times Jamie's been sent home with a teething related fever and I've had to take off the following day to stay home with a perfectly healthy child.
It sucks. But our hands are tied.
Our in-home provider doesn't seem to have a "policy". She's never called for us to pick up Em, and the only times she's stayed home was when I deemed her un-fit for daycare (to spare the other children catching her germs). I've been waiting for the day when we get a "come get her" call, but it hasn't happened yet.
I agree with you that it's a pretty ridiculous policy. If he's not allowed to go to daycare, I think it's crazy that they still charge you for those days. Not allowing kids to return for 24 hours when there's obviously nothing wrong just creates a hassle for parents who already have enough to stress about, too.
One of many reasons I'm oh so happy staying home now. Our daycare sick policies were: 3 poops+ in their care, fever, green runny nose, vomiting. If it happened in their care, he couldn't return for 24 hours. No option of even a dr's note to help the situation. With his RSV back in November, had I stayed working in 2013, I would've been taking days unpaid as I'd used all my sick time until I got new days in July 2013 for C. Hubs sick policy is its only for him, not wife or kids so for him to stay home he had to use vacation time, which he's been saving to take off when #2 is born in April. I too get the sick thing, but often those temps and poops all stem from teething. You'd think a daycare with babies and toddlers would get that!
So sorry!
Wow, that seems crazy!! (Although I guess it is not from most other daycare goers responses). I think the runny diaper thing is a bit much. And just isn't fair that you have to pay for it when he isn't even there!!! As you know, that is more than we pay a month so that just blows my mind. How frustrating. I can completely understand if he is really sick and contagious but this seems like any little thing. Such a shame since you love his daycare in all other ways! :(
I guess I can understand the policy -- everyone is so super safe about everything these days, and I think it's probably better than if it were the other way around, yanno? (though I also don't know enough about babies yet to know how ridiculous having two diarrhea poops to send a kid home is) -- but I definitely can't believe they still make you pay for the days Hunter isn't there. :(
Chloe's daycare will send her home if she has any of those symptoms, but they're no where near as strict. They understand that a lot of the time it's teething - especially with Chloe. Now, when they know she's teething, if she has a fever they'll give her Tylenol and wait for it to kick in. They call me if the fever isn't gone with Tylenol. That works so much better for me. Teething really is the devil.
My nephew's school sends him home all the time with fevers. He just runs hot. Luckily, my mom can pick him up for my sister. I've sent Laura dosed up on Tylenol before school to get her through most of the day before anyone notices. I haven't had to deal with daycare (yet) though. It is pretty common policy with most. Others have different tedious rules. So, it's kind of devil you know.
That's so annoying! Our daycare sends babies home if they have a fever over 100, or if they vomit. And they came come back as long as they don't have fever/vomit for 24 hours, no doctors note needed.
Man, that is rough! That is kinda annoying, especially the fact that you still have to pay the days he's not there. Ugh. Seems so silly to me.
Holden just started at his nursery this week as I only just went back to work on Monday. Im just working part time and my dad has him one day so its just two days at daycare.
Ive not had to pick him up or anything yet but I know their policy is to send home after 3 episodes and not allowed to return for 48 hours, which is crazy, especially since you still have to pay for it! We pay £42 a day here which is around $63 so a lot of money to waste if he ever cant go!
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