Child Care and Illness

[Ondine]

Just wondering if anyone else has the problem of their child ALWAYS being sick from child care? I thought that if your child was sick, even slightly, they weren't supposed to attend day care centres. It really annoys me that when Kelsie gets sick, I keep her at home to get better, only to go back and catch another cold the next day!!!

Kelsie was only at day care for 2 weeks before she had to have 3 days off as a cold (caught on her first week) turned to croup, complete with conjunctivitis!

She also shares her day care illnesses with me - meaning both of us have to stay home sick (and still have to pay for the day care). We have both been sick for over a week now!!!

Any tips to try and alleviate so many flus and colds, etc??? How old do children have to be to get a cold and flu shot?

Ondine

[Norman]

I can sympathise with you - our son (7 1/2 months) had been at day care for one week and picked up a dose of bronchiolitis - my DH thinks they are holding you to ransom making you pay fees when they are away sick when its the centres (most likely) causing the illnesses. I too am appalled that people would send their children along sick.

I spoke with a nurse when he was getting his last immunisations just prior to him starting - she said to feed him fresh fruit and veges rather than processed "jars" - it made sense to me as you feel better and healthier yourself when you eat plenty of fresh produce.

Barring the first bout of sickness he's been fine ... good luck

[nemosmum]

DS started daycare 2 days a week when he was about 9 months old (at the centre I teach at) and he too got sick his first week. I thought he was dying it was that bad, he had to sleep in his pram up right coz he kept choking on flem! Its the most horrible thing to go through but it does get better and I agree with the fresh food that helps them fight off illness. After a couple of months my son stopped getting sick and now has had a total of four months without illness YEAH!
Working in the industry I too am always getting sick but unfortaunatley (sp) theres nothing we can do to prevent children with mild colds (thats how it starts) from attending d.care (its up to the regulations) unless they have a temp, vomitting etc theres not much we can do.

[ThomasMum]

Hey there, sorry to hear about your bad experience with CC...

So far Thomas is doing fantastic. He goes to CC 2 days/week since I went back to work part time 2 months ago, and so far so good. Touch wood. His personality/health hasn’t change. No sickness. No grumpiness. I think because his CC has this strict policy, if you child is not well e.g. runny nose etc you aren’t allowed to attend the school. Does your CC have similar policy?

Thomas'sMum

[Chickadee]

I admit to being a mum who sends her DD to daycare with a runny nose, though never if she's being grumpy with it. I try to justify it that it is a family daycare with only 3 other kids and that she likely caught it from there anyways (tho not necessarily). But I know I shouldn't send her. It's just hard to keep taking sick days off work for her :(

[mumof2girls]

I work in childcare and I find that the first 3-6 months are really hard for children as they are around so many other children at one time so they are more prone to illness, but I do have to ask...... when you go shopping do you put your children in shopping trolleys? If so do you know what your child's hands are touching by sitting in the trolley and holding onto the handle

people sneezing and coughing (on handle & their hands)

people going to the bathroom and not washing hands

old food from others eating in the trolley

germs from being left outside all night (or kids runnning around the carpark with them)

The list goes on, not saying that children don't get sick at childcare as they do and so do the adults (staff & parents) but other sources are likely as well :) :)

[Baby Girl]

The first 12 months my DD1 was in care she came home at least once a month with some sort of illness. In the end I had used all my compassionate, sick and annual leave through having time off with her. I can say though that she has not had a cold or anything for almost 12 months now (except chicken pox last week which she has passed onto myself and DD2 - Yippee!!).

It does get better and their immunities will be better for it when they start school. Better to have time off from day care than from primary school when they start, at least that's the way I look at it.

[perrywinkle]

As a manger for a child care centre I can understand where you are all comming from. I used to send the children home if I thought that they were sick enough to go and get a clearance form the doctor. But nowdays the doctors just give away doctors certificates and once the child has been cleared I can't do anything. I myself know that they are contagious but I can't do anything with that clearance from the doctors.

[Refresh]

Hey,

I dont use daycare but I was just thinking about this issue. I dont know how it is ever going to change because for most illnesses the most contagious time is BEFORE the symptoms actually show when you have no way of knowing that they are getting sick. I dont know...maybe look at it in that its good they are building up so much natural immunity at a young age? Hehe that might be the only positive to come out of it. As someone already said, just make sure they have the best chance of fighting off illness by ensuring they have a great diet full of fresh fruit and veges and water.:)

[DustyPeach]

My daughter was two months when she first attended kindi. It was smooth sailing during her shots and the first months. Just the odd runny nose etc. Then a week after her first birthday a runny nose turned into pneumonia and we were in hospital for a week. Oxygen tent, drip etc it was the most frightening experience of my life. We made it through and today I still blame myself for my angel being so sick. It came on so fast it was frightening. I feel kindi is great for their immune system and they can get a nice strong one before they go to school. At least in kindi they have people taking temps and making sure they are not contagious. They don’t do that at school, that is a whole other ball game. I know I would much rather have my girl get sick somewhere there are plenty of people to care for her and contact me if need be. Ie kindi toddlers ratio is 10 to two, school is 30 to one.

I too have used all of my sick, compassionate and holiday leave with my daughter over the time she has been in kindergarten. It makes it so hard when you have to pay for kindi pay for the dr and get docked yourself because you have no leave left. I try to look at it and remember this is MY angel here. My future and if it means I have to stay home and get behind on my kindi fees then so be it. She is worth every moment. It took me 13 years to have her I wont let anyone ruin the joy of having my own baby because she is getting a stronger immune system.

Enjoy your babies and whatever life has to bring because they are only little once ;)

[nemosmum]

This is totally off the thread LOL but I love your logon name DUSTYPEACH it is sooooo lovely :) why did you choose it, if u dont mind me asking :p

[DustyPeach]

Hi orladosmum, I got tired of always using my real name. Sooo I was trying to think of something different. Eating a peach at the time whiped some fuzz off and it had the apearance of dust. Quite boring actually LOL.

[nemosmum]

Everything happens for a reason, nothing is random. Anyway I think its lovely :)

[Melissa1983]

Hi
I can relate. DD1 has be good, but for DD2 not so good. They started at there daycare centre 3 weeks ago and i have already had 2 days off with her, if she is sick i keep her home, daycare is no place for a child that is sick all they want is there mum! But now she might have the chicken pox! so more time off!

[Ondine]

Hey guys!

Kelsie is still sick - it has been over two weeks now. She isn't sleeping properly (keeps waking due to coughing) or even finishing her bottle anymore!!! She also keeps vomiting up her bottle feeds - yay!!! :(

She stayed the night at my Mum's last night, and woke every hour coughing and choking on phlegm - yummy!! :(

My Mum took her to the doctor this morning and she has finally been given drops for her conjunctivitis (which has actually been caused by her congestion) and cough syrup to dry up the congestion and help her sleep. The doctor has said that she is fine to go to day care, as she has no temperature or anything, and shouldn't be contageous.

I have been pureeing plenty of apple and pear for her to eat, but have been giving her jars of gel from the supermarket, as I have read they contain lots of fluids, to help alleviate dehydration, (I cannot for the life of me or the world of persistance get her to drink ANY water). I can't even get her to drink juice. It is milk or nothing according to her!!!

Thanks for all the stories - makes me feel like I am not the only one whose child seems to be dying of the common cold from day care!!!

Ondine

[Brontesmum]

Hi Ondine - I can relate. We have only just come off 10 weeks straight of antibiotics for my daughter (who is 10 months old) of which I was not fussed but had to do. She has been a day care since 7 months old due to me going back to work. The last 2 weeks have been heaven and there has been no runny nose, temperatures, vomiting - she is back to her old self - happy. I am hoping that everyone is right in that it is best that they are sick now rather than later for their immune system but I do understand what you are going through. I guess as is always said there is light at the end of the tunnel its just hard to see your child so sick all the time. Best of luck.

[Ondine]

Thanks everybody for assuring me that this is normal. I have had numerous trips to the doctor, all of which have me leaving none the wiser!! They all say there is nothing wrong with her!!!! After five weeks of being constantly sick, drixine drops for the runny/blocked nose, chlorsig drops for the conjunctivitis, benadryl for the cough, and the house constantly smelling of eucalyptus and lavender vicks rub, she has finally been healthy for almost a week.

We have also started looking at the possibility that the last couple of weeks was related to an allergy, as she would get better on the weekend, and worsen during the week. Some of the trees as the daycare centre are in blossom, so we are thinking she might have hayfever type allergies!!??

Does anyone know whether babies get hayfever???

[Imogensmum]

You beat me too it!! I was about to suggest an allergy!! My little one gets all stuffy in the nose from certain perfumes and washing powder smells!! So i would say yeah they can get an allergic/hayfever type reaction to certain items!! Don't know how you would fix this? I'm no help am I :rolleyes:

I hope it all goes weel- I am a child care worker and I know exactly what you mean about them always being sick and unfortunately it is a real roll on effect- meaning:- when they get sick immune system lowers- so they then catch the next thing around and so on so forth!!! I suggest- and I know it is not always possible- keeping her home until she is 99% weel- that way she is not getting reinfected while her immunity is still weak (I know in a perfect world this woould work but only limited sick days!!)


Hope she is feeling much better soon!!
Shannan

[hummingbird]

I had no idea that CCC (child care centres) charge you even if you are at home looking after your sick child. No wonder people send sick kids anyway.

[nemosmum]

I know it may sound unfair to still have to pay for days when your child is sick but really when you think about it, it actually makes sense.
Your child is booked in for that day and so they put on staff to cater for how many children are enrolled that day. Its really not fair to say oh well im not sending DS so I shouldnt have to pay, the centre still has to pay their staff after all.
I mean if we get sick and stay home we still get paid for not working (sick leave) etc.

At a centre I used to work at if a family were going on holidays say for 2 or 3 weeks they would try and fill that position with another child who needs care. If this was possible the parents would not have to pay while they were on holidays etc. But this was at a small centre I now work at a large Govt. centre were these things dont happen.

DS attends two days a weeks and I still pay if his sick, public holidays and any holidays I take during the year. But Im ok with that as I get paid sick leave, family leave, public holidays and holiday leave. But if I didnt get paid I would be a bit p#@*ed off so I do understand.

[babytoo]

In normal circumstances when my son is sick, I am happy to pay but recently there was a rather large outbreak of chicken pox....he didnt get it but being pregnant and early in the pregnancy at the time, I kept him away for 3 weeks as cases just kept popping up...my husband was a little peeved that we had to pay, as was I. It wasn't our fault that this happened and we still had to pay..just one of those things I guess