How Do I Confront the Parents When There Child Is Sick?

It's very sad people were rude to you. If you don't have something nice to say...right? Anyway, sounds like you'll have to "be the bad guy" on this one. Don't think of it as being mean or rude. Think of it as being a protective, good mom that wants her children to be well and wants to get some sleep at night and not be up with her sick kids for hours! I worked in a preschool - the rule is, if the child has a temperature he is not allowed to come to school for 24 hours.I think I would let the parents know that your kids are now sick so please do NOT bring your child by until my kids are better and in order for this to not happen on a regular basis, please do NOT bring your child to my house if he/she is sick. I think that's how I'd try to handle it anyway. Actually my friends all have an honor code that if their kid even has a sniffle and a cough (no temp needed) we don't get together until the kid is better. Hope you work it out!
M.

Hi D. I am so glad to see you back on the message board I did write you a personal note i hope you recieved it. I am going to tell you what i do and its with my oldest daughter and my three grandkids. when she tells me they are sick and want to visit I tell her I am sorry but I dont want to get sick and I dont want my five year old to get sick .I dont come to your house sick and i dont take my littlest out when she is sick. when everyone is well we will plan a visit.I doing it lovingly and talk to each child and explain why they cant come to gram's untill they are well. hope this helps be forward with these people your children need to stay healthy too. God Bless Vickie

I am really sorry that people were rude to your last requests, I sure hope I wasn't one of them, and if I was, I do apologize!

It sounds like you have already try to just ask them, and it seems that I am more out spoken than you are! I would just tell them that it isn't fair to your children and that if your children were sick you wouldn't want to get their child sick either! Just be honest and tell them that you can't watch him while he is sick, and that you can't wait for him to get better, so he can come back! That way they know you enjoy him there, but just have an issue with him being sick! I hope this helps, good luck!

I can be that way too, then regret not being forthright and honest. You have to simply tell them, 'No bringing him if he is sick, this includes fevers, bad coughs, and vomiting.' If they bring him and you notice he is ill, tell them he can't stay that day. That as soon as he is feeling better he is welcome back. It is not easy, but you have your children's health to think about. If things don't improve you may have to find another family to sit for. I hope that doesn't make me sound too harsh, but I have children too, and doctor bills add up! Plus the mental toll it takes on you when your kids are ill.
On the flip side of this, I feel sorry for parents with no family to help, or no other back up sitters. It must be awful.
Kind Regards,
L.

If you haven't already done so I would write up a contract with them. I know for the childcare center I take my child to I cannot bring her if she is sick. In the contract they set up they will call me if she has a fever, excessive coughing, excessive runny nose, throws up, has 3 runny diapers or is too sick to participate in the activities. I know I don't want my child around sick kids so I don't bring her if she is sick. If they call me I have to have someone pick her up in an hour, if I am not available I had to provide back up people to get. Sometimes it sucks to have to get her when I am in school but I understand where they are coming from. I would just write up a contract with them and then follow the contract. Let them know you enjoy taking care of their kid but you will not compromise the health of your children to do so. Also be respectful of them by letting them know if your child is sick. I sometimes am shy about speaking up myself but if it is for the well being of my child I always find a way to do so! I hope this helps you out!

D.,

I agree with Ginger. Write up a contract. When my son was in daycare...he wasn't aloud there if he was sick. (I can't remember what the stipulations were though). But I would go to any public daycare and ask them to view their contract and what the stipulations are for sick children. See what signs of sickness the kids are showing that would not allow them to be at the day care. (i phrased that wierd, but you get what I'm saying! haha)

Chrsitina