In Home Daycare

You are not being too strict at all. A sick little one needs to stay at home or else she needs to set up a family member as backup that will watch him when he is sick. I have worked in daycares and schools and know that a lot of parents will send their child sick because they can't or don't want to miss work. I'm not saying that mom does that or not, but the bottom line is that you are 100% right to not want to watch the little guy on those days when he has fevers, rashes, etc. That's what is best for the children, even though it is inconvenient for her, and she is his mom so she has the responsibility to take over care when he is too sick.

I do home daycare as well and i feel that is the right thing to do. You wouldn't want them to bring their child to your home and be exposed to something from your children if their were sick right? I know myself if it meant my child getting someone else'e children sick i have always chose to keep her home with me. I know no one can really afford to take days off of work but your childrens health comes first. So i would talk to the parents and tell them as nice as you can that for your childrens health and your own that they need to keep their son home when he is not well. And explain to them if the roles were reversed and it was you or your children that were sick or had a rash that you will always let them know so they can make other arrangements because you care about their child and you would not want him to get sick or catch something, and that you are setting this rule for everyone's health and safety. It is your job as a mother and provider to look out for the safety of everyone involved and that includes their son as well. Good luck.

google day care contracts for ideas. You should have one in place, even if they are friends.

I have in home daycare and as soon as you posted I was very curious to see what people would say. As you described it, it sounds a bit more serious than what I've dealt with but my question for you is do you take the kids' temp to see a fever or do they tell you he has one? If they are upfront I say right then "sorry, he's too sick...." But my issue has always been what to do when they are coughing a lot or have a bad running nose that doesn't stop. No fever or rash. It is clearly just as contagious, as I have seen my kids catch everything this winter from these kids, but if you tell them to take their kids, 3 out of 5 days a week they are gonna find someone else so its a catch 22. I hear the frustration and it is very real. It is really hard to deal with a sick kid too even if its not a fever. They just want their M. and they are very hugh maintenance. I am happy the weather is gonna warm up cause then being outside with fresh air seems to help a lot. I am still watching to see if anyone has insight on when they are not "under the dcfs 'sick description' like what I am describing. SOrry I'm not more insightful about this.

I copied this from the IL DCFS website. I hope this helps and it does pertain to in-home care and daycare settings.

Children with diarrhea and those with a rash combined with fever (oral temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or under the arm temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) shall not be admitted to the day care home while these symptoms persist, and shall be removed as soon as possible should these symptoms develop while the child is in care.

I spell it out in my contract, dcfs says fevers above 100, unexplained rashes, and anything that may be contagious. I would simply tell them, I absolutely love your son to death, and I know it isn't easy missing work, but when your little guy is sick, he really needs and wants his M./daddy. good luck

You're not alone. I also do home daycare and I have 1 child who seems to be constantly sick. This child has had a "cold" since before Christmas. She is always coughing and has a runny nose. It will go away for a day or two and then start again. Now my kids always have something and I hate it. I can't tell them to keep her home all the time, but it drives me crazy that she always seems to be sick...even if it's just a cold.

I don't let the kids come if they have fevers or rashes. When my kids are sick I give them the option - BUT, I do tell them if my child is sick with (whatever) and then your child gets it - Your child can not come b/c then all of the kids will be exposed to it. It's such a hard situation. Just wanted you to know that you are not alone. I'm also curious to see what everyone else will have to say.

Absolutely you should ask the parents to take their sick child home. I would follow the DCFS guidelines that another poster found and posted. My mom is an awesome babysitter and will do so at the drop of a hat. BUT, she told me the other day (in conversation), "I love to babysit and will do so whenever I can. The only time I don't like to babysit is when the kids are sick. Kids want/need Mom or Dad when they're that sick." I couldn't agree more.

I just would question what the right thing to do when your kids are "sick" under the DCFS guidelines. Technically, they shouldn't be around other children I would think. You just don't want to say something to this family and then allow your children to be sick around their son.

Good luck.

When I watched a neighbor's children in my home, they were not allowed to come if they had fevers or rashes. If the children developed a fever while I was watching them, I'd call the parents and ask them what they wanted me to do (give medicine, etc), but I would rarely ask them to come home early (only if the child was violently ill).

If my kids were sick (fever, rash), I'd call the parents and give them the option of bringing their kids over. Noting, as another poster said that if their children got it, they would have to stay home.

You need to discuss with the parents what you want to do. I don't know about the chronic cough - that could be caused by post-nasal drip or other things. I suppose you could ask for a doctor's note, just to make sure the boy doesn't have anything serious.