Mommas who use daycare

mlebates · December 2013

Mommas who put your kids in daycare... Do I have a right to be upset, or am I over reacting?

So the little girl I watch came over last week, and her mom informs me at the door she has a "cold", but that she's "mostly over it". Well as the first day goes on it's clear she might not be mostly over it, but I don't know how long she's had it at this point, or what her other symptoms were. With me it was a cough, and VERY runny nose.

The next day it was the same, and third day same. Saturday hits, and my LO and me are both sick. Tonight I call LO's doctor because I'm pretty sure she has a sore throat. They said it sounds like it could be strep, and to give her Tylenol/Motrin to keep her comfortable, then have her seen tomorrow.

These people don't take this kid even for well checks. SHE NEVER SEES THE DOCTOR! If it's strep do I have the right to be upset? I feel upset. But I don't want to be over reacting.

Thanks ladies.

allardr · December 2013

If you watch a kid, I'd make clear expectations like a daycare does--needs to be over it for 24 hrs before returning. I guess I'd be irritated but I don't stress too much over colds, it's part of life. Can't say I'm perfect either with not being around others before 24 hour rule. Strep would annoy me more though than the common cold.

BPer · December 2013

catarntina said:

If it is just a runny nose and cough, and she didn't have a fever, then I wouldn't be upset. Our daycare rules are no fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. Coughing and runny noses are perfectly fine.

This. And unless the little girl had a fever, her parents probably would have no idea that she possibly had strep. My DD has had a perpetually runny nose for like a month and a half. Teething can contribute to this as well.

mlebates · December 2013

Honestly I thought it was a cold too. Up until I called DD's doctor to see what I can do about her sore throat, because she's only 19mo I can't really give her anything OTC. (I think sore throat because she isn't eating/drinking but complains she's hungry and thirsty.) if it's only a cold nbd. But strep... I think because I had to have my tonsils taken out, because I had strep 10 times in 1 year at a young age it freaks me out a little more maybe.

INmommy871278 · December 2013

mlebates said:

Honestly I thought it was a cold too. Up until I called DD's doctor to see what I can do about her sore throat, because she's only 19mo I can't really give her anything OTC. (I think sore throat because she isn't eating/drinking but complains she's hungry and thirsty.) if it's only a cold nbd. But strep... I think because I had to have my tonsils taken out, because I had strep 10 times in 1 year at a young age it freaks me out a little more maybe.

Have you tried giving her lukewarm milk instead if cold? When I worked at a daycare we had a little boy who was sick a lot with a sore throat and he would only drink lukewarm fluids during that time. For the original question, if it's strep yes I would be upset. Like PP said I would type up expectations and have the parents sign it. Our rules were a fever of 99.5 and higher without medication child went/stayed home. Puking and recurring diarrhea also resulted in being sent home. There is no reason for a child to be miserable and sick and putting other kids at risk.

cookieinva · December 2013

BPer said:

catarntina said:

If it is just a runny nose and cough, and she didn't have a fever, then I wouldn't be upset. Our daycare rules are no fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. Coughing and runny noses are perfectly fine.

This. And unless the little girl had a fever, her parents probably would have no idea that she possibly had strep. My DD has had a perpetually runny nose for like a month and a half. Teething can contribute to this as well.

Same here and I agree with all of this. If DS couldn't go to school for a cough or runny nose he wouldn't be there all season; probably none of the kids would be and it would be empty. And I'd be unemployed.

hab83 · December 2013

Did you take the little girl's temperature?

mlebates · December 2013

No. She did feel "warm" to me a couple times. We do rectal temps in my house, and I haven't asked permission from her mom to do those.

DD felt like she had a low temp yesterday, gave her some Motrin, and she cooled off.

reils500 · December 2013

As others have said my daycare's policy is 24 hours with a fever, vomiting, & diarrhea.
My LO had a cold, cough, & ear infections all last winter.
I work in a preschool & elementary schools, I consider exposure to runny nosed, coughing kids an occupational hazard.

mlebates · December 2013

Also I should note the mom doesn't get to have a cell phone. Only her hubby. And she's a sub for teaching, but never tells me what school she's at.

alyss0nl · December 2013

catarntina said:

If it is just a runny nose and cough, and she didn't have a fever, then I wouldn't be upset. Our daycare rules are no fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. Coughing and runny noses are perfectly fine.

Same for my daycare. But since you are watching this girl, and it is strep, then I would tell parents she cannot come back for 24 hours after seeing a doctor.

BBColt78 · December 2013

Colds really don't mean anything. Fevers only and normally the rules state over 100.

iris427 · December 2013

I wouldn't be upset unless the mom knowingly sent the kid to your house with a fever. Little kids have runny noses and coughs a lot and most of the time, it's harmless. If parents had to keep their kids home from daycare every time they had a lingering cough or snotty nose, the economy would grind to a halt.

Do you have set guidelines for when a child can come back after being sick?

mlebates · December 2013

reils500 said:
As others have said my daycare's policy is 24 hours with a fever, vomiting, & diarrhea.
My LO had a cold, cough, & ear infections all last winter.
I work in a preschool & elementary schools, I consider exposure to runny nosed, coughing kids an occupational hazard.

This is true. Which is why I put the question out there for mommas who use daycare, or even work in them. Because germs get passed. Also before I had her I don't know if she had any fevers, diarrhea, or anything else.

Sometimes I can be a little too over protective of my LO and her health.

iris427 · December 2013

Also I think if you take care of a kid when you know the parents never take her to the doctor, even for well checks, you run the risk of the kid bringing some untreated germs over. Most daycares/preschools require up to date vaccination records and a signed form from the pediatrician to enroll. Is this little girl vaccinated? If not, strep may be the least of your worries.

mlebates · December 2013

Honestly I don't know. I think I'll ask her that next time. My LO is done with shots until 5 so I hope at least they help with the bigger worries. They do shots for I think $10 at the local public health, so she might have shots through them.

michellexm · December 2013

catarntina said:
I didn't think strep caused a runny nose? I could be wrong, but I thought runny nose ruled out strep.

If the girl didn't have a fever, then I wouldn't assume it's strep or anything more than a cold.

A runny nose doesn't rule out strep. Strep can cause pretty much any upper respiratory tract type infection (ear infection, sinus infection, sore throat).

But most plain runny noses wouldn't be strep (at least not immediately).

singingirl96 · December 2013

quinncat said:

I know that if I had to stay home with my son every time he had a runny nose I would lose my job.

^^^^ this! If the kid didn't have a fever, she should be fine to come to daycare. The only time I don't take my son to daycare is only if he's had a fever of over 102 within 24 hours, or is vomiting or has diarrhea. I've always taken him if coughing, snotty, runny nose... etc.

When you run a daycare you have to be prepared to deal with all kinds of germs.

kmawb · December 2013

iris427 said:

Also I think if you take care of a kid when you know the parents never take her to the doctor, even for well checks, you run the risk of the kid bringing some untreated germs over. Most daycares/preschools require up to date vaccination records and a signed form from the pediatrician to enroll. Is this little girl vaccinated? If not, strep may be the least of your worries.

This was my thought too, if they don't even take her for well checks is she even vaccinated? If not, then looking after her could put you, your unborn baby and DD at serious risk.

michellexm · December 2013

michellexm said:

I didn't think strep caused a runny nose? I could be wrong, but I thought runny nose ruled out strep. If the girl didn't have a fever, then I wouldn't assume it's strep or anything more than a cold.
A runny nose doesn't rule out strep. Strep can cause pretty much any upper respiratory tract type infection (ear infection, sinus infection, sore throat). But most plain runny noses wouldn't be strep (at least not immediately).

Sorry; I realized later that I made a really confusing statement.

There are different kinds of Strep bugs. The one you're thinking of that causes Strep throat will probably not cause a runny nose, but you have so many bacteria and viruses that can pass through your throat and nose area that it's totally possible you could get two infections at once. There are also other Strep bugs that don't cause Strep throat, but do cause a bunch of other nasty upper respiratory infections.

HokieLaw · December 2013

catarntina said:

If it is just a runny nose and cough, and she didn't have a fever, then I wouldn't be upset. Our daycare rules are no fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. Coughing and runny noses are perfectly fine.

Our daycare has the same rules.

mlebates · December 2013

DD saw the doctor today, and she has tonsillitis, and 2 ear infections. Poor kid.

mamakiss · December 2013

Where I work they have to be 48 hours clear of a fever, no vomiting or diarrhea, no "excessive" coughing or runny nose (though we have an asthmatic 2yo and other parents are always too concerned that he's sick all the time). It's tricky with the cough or runny nose but if it seems like more than teething or the sniffles we call the parents and ask if they've been sick... A little too frequently parents bring in kids knowing they're sick and they apologize and come get them immediately. Why would you even drop them off if you knew that??

eortman · December 2013

I agree with PP that I would probably still take my kids to daycare if they just have a cough and runny nose. If not, I would never be at work. With that being said though, our daycare requires that they have regular medical attention (well child visits, vaccines, etc), it is state law. You could easily turn them away for not getting tproviding proof of appropriate medical care.

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