Group Discussions

Sick kids in daycare/school

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  I am new to this whole daycare thing, so sorry if this is naive.
  
  
  
  I brought my daughter to her preschool today and one of the kids was coughing up a storm, her nose was running, she seemed miserable. I am sure my daughter will catch what she has and we're going to be juggling schedules this week - call it a mother's instinct.
  
  
  
  But besides my frustration, I just don't understand why parents would do this. Yes, it's hard to juggle work and family and chidcare, we all know this. But to send your kid to preschool when she is really, really sick? So unfair to other parents and kids....
  
  
  
  Ok, had to vent, sorry!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 10th September 2007
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  I used to work at a preschool, and that always drove me crazy! You might mention it to the director. He/she could tactfully tell the parent in question that other parents are concerned.
  
  
  
  In the mean time I'll be sending healthy vibes your way

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 10th September 2007
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  This is so frustrating to me. People are so self centered, they can't even think beyond themselves and see how miserable their kids is. We used to have this problem at a little daycare run by a moms group I was in. I complained, because my own daughter has chronic lung disease, and the daycare rules clearly state that your kid can't be there with a cough, runny nose, fever, etc (it's a mom's group for heavens sake, no one is even missing work if they don't go...). The daycare workers just shrugged and said that the mom said it "wasn't contagious." After a couple of visits, we had to stop going altogether because other moms couldn't be bothered to skip just one week for the sake of the other moms and kids when their kids was clearly ill.
  
  
  
  I hope your daughter stays healthy. Our one winter using real daycare was a trial.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kristie McNealy on 12th September 2007
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  If I had to keep my child home everytime she had a runny nose she would never go to school. Between allergies and sinus problems she always seems sick. And don't get me started on drainage making her stomach upset which makes her vomit. She's had tubes in her ears, adnoids removed and more trips to doctors than I can count yet she continues to be the stuffed up and runny nose kid. On top of that my husband has been in the ER 3 times until they figured out his gall bladder didn't work. I've missed so much work in the past year that I'm in danger of losing my job. I can't afford a nanny with all the medical bills but the nanny wouldn't have helped when I feared losing my husband. Sometimes people have more to balance than feasibly possible. If stuff would just happen a little at a time instead of all at once. Oh well, now I've vented.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lynn on 6th October 2007
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  Unfortunately there are some parents who cannot be there for their child and send them to school sick. But then again, most daycare policies are that if the child has fever they have to go home, there is no limit to how much they are coughing or sneezing.
  
  
  
  I have seen kids who look awful with oogie boogies running down ther face...and sometimes they are my kid! but at home this never happens because i have this habit of wiping my childs runny nose, something that daycare teachers can't seem to keep up with during winter. So then the child appears sicker than they really are.
  
  
  
  I've just taught my child (once she got old enough) to stay away from coughing-sneezing kids - though who knows what she does when that sick child has the toy she wants!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Shama_Mama on 26th October 2007
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  It is sad so many kids have to attend daycare when they aren't feeling well. Unfortunately it's part of the world today. There are too many people forced to choose between a sick child or a lost job. My husband and I went through two years of having sick day after sick day when our little guy had autoimmune problems. He was sick all the time!! I was fortunate enough to have a flex schedule that allowed me to be home with him when he was sick. I'm glad I never had to experience that struggle. I'm also blessed that we got to the root of his illness (with no help from the doctors I might add), and last year he had perfect attendance.
  
  My heart goes out to anyone who can't be with their sick child. It is a time when they need us most!!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Non Toxic Mom on 20th November 2007