I care for one child besides my son full time and another three days per week. The part timer has been sick since before Thanksgiving. I am having a really hard time with the family because they are not communicating with me. For example: she woke up with neon green eye drainage- (and was knowingly around pink eye) and her mom says " oh yeah, she's had that all weekend". Last week she was throwing up over the weekend and I was told they were going to bring her but she threw up before bed too so they canceled. This week she's had diarrhea and a cold. My son and the other full timer unfortunately finally caught the cold and are both miserable now.
I know other daycares have sick policies and first off I'm interested in what they are. Secondly, I understand that she can't stay home all the time, but when should she? I do not think she should be here until she has had a solid poop or hasn't thrown up in 24hrs and is eating.
I also wanted to know how I can approach the mom about being more conscious of the other families here. She goes to the same ped. as we do and has shared their advice about her daughter with me but then say that she isn't going to follow the advice (they said no dairy when she had the flu- common sense to me).
I've talked with her, but I still am not getting information until they drop her off- they say she's fine and then I find myself cleaning up explosive poops while the other two wait to take a nap.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Thanks so much for the support guys!!
I am handing out a more detailed sick policy today. I talked with the mom last night and I feel like she just doesn't get it. The problem is that I have a hard time being strict. When I talk to them I feel like a jerk telling them 1) they don't know what they are talking about and 2) stay home.
I, however, have a harder time tolerating the repeated "I'm not trying to bring sickness into your home" comment after cleaning up diarrhea all day and wiping the other kid's noses because they now have it....It really bothers me that everyone else got sick after being told over and over again that her daughter was fine.
All in all- if she does not adhere to the sick policy (and keep her daughter home next time AND communicate truthfully how she is doing ( not just "she's fine"))- I will be looking for a replacement.
Again, thanks for the support and the advice on the beefed up sick policy!!
Dump this kid. They are knowingly bringing a sick kid to you and making the other 2 ill as well. This has to be costing you more than it is worth.
Sorry, somebody has to say it. I'm sorry for the kids but the parents are irresponsible in exposing others to their child when they are contageous.
Hi J.~
I understand that you want to be accomodating to these moms but they are responsible for their own sick children. I can only imagine what they would say if the sick kids were coming to their house and infecting their children. Whether or not she has to stay home from work to parent a sick child is not your problem...its her child. Just because you happen to work at home, shouldn't entitle people to respect you less. It might be tough, but one bout of calling her out of work to pick up a vomiting, pooping child just might get your message accross. You've got to put your foot down. Print up a 'sick child' policy and send one home everyday for a week with every parent, then nobody can say they didn't know...and stick to your guns! These parents are taking advantage of you!
~L.
I am glad to hear that you have made a new policy and are sticking to it. You can get burned from parents who take advantage of you. I have a 10 page contract i make parents sign every year, so I don't get screwed over by parents. They forget that this is your business and source of income. Many will try to take advantage of you. You have to look out for number one!
My policy is if they throw up, the parents must come and get them. If they have a fever 100 or higher, they have to come get them.
You need to be firm on what you expect,,, and if she doesn't respect your needs,, she needs to find someone else.
I've done daycare for 14 years, and as long as your straight with them from the beginning they should respect you.
I always tell them I will treat them the way that I want to be treated.,,, and I've had great succuss with this.
Good luck, J.
I would run your Day Care just like any other school:
Fever
Diareaha
vomitting
rash or eye discharge
Green nose discharge
All should be gone or on medication for 24 hours. If they can't abide, then let them find a new caregiver! Have this in a contart singned by the parents.
Hi J.,
I watch 3 kids other than my 2 during the week and luckily haven't had any problems with moms bringing over sick kids. I have always asked that if they have thrown up or had diarrhea within 12-24 hours not to bring them over. Luckily both of the moms agree with me and have never brought their kids to me when they're sick. My son goes to preschool and that is their policy too. I would figure out a policy that you would want to start and talk to her about it. Maybe the mom can take her to her ped. if she's been so sick. It's hard when a sick kid is around your own. Good luck.
Chris
