My daughter has a cold and she's been sick for two days. She RARELY gets sick. I'm wondering when to send her back to be with other kids? She has a Halloween party tomorrow that she's so excited over. It's her only Halloween party this year (we homeschool so it's the Homeschool Halloween party) and I don't want her to miss but I'm also conscious of her getting other kids sick.
What's your general rule when it comes to colds?
Thanks moms! She only had a fever the first day so she's been fever-free for over 24 hours. She woke up today in good spirits and hardly sneezing or coughing so I did break down and give her some cold medicine and she had a great time at the party!
I'm super conscious about making other people sick because that's how things spread. Since her nose wasn't running and she wasn't coughing I just made sure she had clean hands and I kept an eye on her so she didn't get too wild.
I try to keep mine home if they have symptoms that make them more contagious (sneezing, very runny nose, bad cough) or a fever. But if they have been home a few days and are getting better I would let them go out for a bit. Maybe just do the party and nothing else much that day. I'm not one to stress over just a cold (but I am home so it isn't a huge deal to stay home with a sick kid if I have to).
A minor cold? I'd send her. If she's got green snot or a fever within 24 hours, I'd keep her home. Just make sure that she's keeping her hands clean and not sneezing on anyone.
My rule of thumb is to keep them home for 24 hours from the last incidence of fever or vomiting. My son came home with a fever on Monday afternoon and I kept him home Tuesday, the fever went away by Tuesday but he developed a barking cough so I kept him home Wednesday. He seemed to have good energy and took it easy all day. I sent him to school today and he was fine.
I think even when they are fever free for 24 hours they can still be run down, so I usually take it case by case and kid by kid. Sometimes kids recover faster from an illness than others.
I'd take her to the party.
It sounds like you are being a super thoughtful mom, and as another mom, I appreciate it!
Here are my thoughts on the general subject: Never understood the 24 hours after a fever rule --- as most viruses are actually contagious for 5 days.
This is actually a pet peeve of mine -- when the "24 hour" rule is invoked, as a cold doesn't usually have a fever component -- and is certainly contagious. So while it's easier to send kids back to school quickly (which a lot of parents do when a kid has a cold but no fever) -- it definitely will be making other kids sick == and other families will have to deal with childcare, missed work days, etc -- so I'm superconcientious about sending a kid (yes even one with a "minor" cold) back to school too soon.
All that being said -- oh my goodness -- her only Halloween party this year? I would definitely hope that by the third day of her cold she is a lot better and can attend. But if she's got goopy green stuff, no way. Play it by ear the morning of. If not == Halloween is not for another week or so - take her to a pumpkin patch, or other events in town that are kid friendly for Halloween, and she will feel part of the festivities.
My rule will be (not school-age yet) the same as my mom's was: The only things that are going to keep them home are fever or vomiting. I know at a daycare that I had my daughter at, their rule was that they couldn't come back until 24 hours after their fever had disappeared.
If she has been fever free for 24 hours she can go. Happy Halloween :)
When you think she is no longer contagious as well as when you think she's able to cope well with a busy school day. IF there was a fever involved, you must wait 24 hours before sending her back to school.
General rule is 24 hours after a fever, or a green, hacking cough/runny nose.
We've always been told if they are fever free for 24hours. I also gauge it by their level of activity too though. Given this is a special situation though, I'd say let her go as long as no fever.
