Daycare Sick Policy

kellyrn9956 · October 2013

My son was sent home from day care on Tuesday because he had "diarrhea" twice. We are introducing new foods and sometimes he will have a stool that's runnier than usual, especially with peaches and pears. He had one runny stool at 8:00 and one again at 3:30. Both were blowouts. To their credit, his normal teacher wasn't there. She knows his stool pattern and we even giggle at his peach blowouts. I decided to go with the more expensive center versus in home for the reliability. I'm not thrilled that they can send him home with loose stools on a whim. Fever I get. Vomiting and TRUE diarrhea I get. But the clothes that he messed did not look like diarrhea. It was runny but not watery. I pay $300 more a month than I would in an in home. I'm considering rethinking my decision. He was not allowed to go to day care yesterday either which means I am paying for that day, plus I lost a precious sick day at work. My bank is almost depleted. I'm now scared to intro new foods in case he gets a runny stool. Ugh. Am I overreacting? What are your day cares sick policies?

Pips09 · October 2013

My daycare also sends home for 2 diarrhea's. I think it's pretty common, on the list with fever and vomiting. We also have to keep her home at least 24 hours after the last symptom, so if she gets sent home, she'll be home the next day too. It's stressful to miss that much work, but it's in the best interest of the rest of the kids.

I used to only intro new foods on the weekend, when I could watch her reaction. If his reaction to a particular food is to have diarrhea, I probably would avoid feeding it to him, and try again when he's a litle older. Good luck!

ETA: A licensed in-home will have the same sick policies as the center. We use an in-home and get sent home for the same thing.

jlaOK · October 2013

We have the same policy about diarrhea and vomit. I also feel as though my daycare is sometimes are over cautious about sending kids home (DD has been sent home for vomit that was maybe more of a big spit-up), but it doesn't bother me too much. The days I feel that the kids are sent home unjustifiably are few and I'm happy that they are cautious with all the kids because in the long run it will reduce the amount that my kids are sick.

jd614 · October 2013

i only intro new foods on the weekends as well to watch for reactions. I know its annoying, but its best for the other kids (and for your baby if he isnt feeling well). I think those re standard procedures at most day cares, but i guess your definition of diarrhea was different than theirs, so maybe thats worth a conversation with his teacher.

Karla CS · October 2013

Our daycare's policy is the same - their version of 'diarrhea' is when it can't be contained in the diaper, which it sounds like this was. Sucks, but I fully understand that it's in the best interest of the other kids there.

I agree with PP's, that you'd likely have similar concerns with a home DCP, and your best bet is to introduce new foods on the weekends or evenings and see how he tolerates them.

On a side note, I think if your bank account is being depleted by daycare costs it might be worth it to see if you can find a cheaper option. $3,600 isn't exactly chump change, and I personally would feel more comfortable having the savings and not worrying about depleting my savings each month. I also work for a really flexible company, so I know I have a little bit more leeway when it comes to certain things like working from home or taking PTO, which may or may not be the case with you, but I think it's at least worth exploring your options.

(Edited. I have grammar skills on par with DD this morning)

QueSrah · October 2013

I think an in-home might be better equipped to use discretion in when to send kids home. DD regularly had blowouts and odd poop as a baby, but she was never sent home for it. And I'm thankful, because she typically wasn't actually sick when it happened - she just had a weird GI system. I don't think all in-homes are magically laid back like that, but it seems like it could be worth a try if you're running into troubles regularly. (Though if this was the first time, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a pattern - the regular teacher seems to be more lenient than her fill-in.)

newenglander71 · October 2013

I would talk to the director about this. We've had what I would call diarrhea a couple times since DS started DC, always due to the antibiotics he was on for ear infections. Because the women who work in DS's room knew he was on antibiotics, and the D wasn't from a stomach bug or something else that was infectious and could put the other children at risk, they never sent him home.

traveltheworld · October 2013

My DC has the same policy, but they were very accomadating when DS had diarhea (which he had, for about 3 weeks when he first strated). He only got sent home once, and that was after the 5th diaper change of the day. I know many other centers enforce the sickness policy a lot more strictly though.

LoCarb · October 2013

Talk to the teacher and director if you feel the blow outs are from new foods. In the future, if your co-pay is inexpensive, take your LO to the dr and get a dr's note that he can return to school. There is no need to take additional days off of work.

sillygirlio · October 2013

I'm sorry, but this is the rule you'll find at any daycare that is worth your time, including in homes. It can be hard to tell what is from food and what is from illness, so they have to take the side of caution. They're not doing it to annoy and inconvenience you, they're doing it to keep from annoying and inconveniencing everyone else who goes there and their families... yes, it's inconvenient and expensive, but that's part of parenthood and you signed up for it!

kellyrn9956 · October 2013

Thanks everyone! I am not questioning the policy as much as I am that I just don't agree that he had true diarrhea that would be contagious to another child. I will also say that I know that day care centers are doing the best that they can, but many contagious viruses are most contagious during the incubation period. So I'm not sure how effective the policies really are, but I digress...I do understand that an in home will have the same policies. But I'm paying more for the reliability and I'm not sure it's worth it. So I'd be in the same spot, but paying a heck of a lot less!

Karla CS · October 2013

Dgardner203 said:

This was a good post. This is actually one of the reasons I have chosen an in-home with a few children being watched. If the baby is sick, or if you miss a day for any reason, you are not paying for that day, You only pay for what you use. I like that flexibility. Notice not needed either. I think sometimes there are benefits especially with young kids, that really play in on a home-care situation. Do let us know what you decide to do!

This is a really great arrangement for you, but not very common, at least around here. Even with home based daycares, you pay per week, whether or not you're using the care.

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