WWYD--daycare's child has strep

[Deleted]

I'm trying not to be the crazy mom because I know that kids are going to get sick and they love to share all their germs, but what is your opinion on this situation:

Daycare provider has a 4 year old DD. She had a fever Sat and Sun but her mom thought it was associated with something else and brought her to the Dr on Monday, thinking she had something wrong with her appendix. It turns out she had strep. She called me shortly after the Dr appt and I went and picked up flybaby just as a precaution even though they already had been together that morning (flybaby LOVES her DD). Would you keep your kid away any longer or would you have picked up your kid in the first place? (assume you have a pretty flexible schedule and can work from home when this happens, and also your kid is 1 and can't verbalize when he doesn't feel well)

[madladybride]

I think at our center, if your child has a fever/strep, they need to be either fever free WITHOUT medication or, in the case of strep, on medication for 24 hours AND fever-free.

Yes, I would have picked up my kid and I would keep my kid away from her kid until one of the above conditions was met.

[ijack]

I believe that it's very rare for babies to get strep, but yes I would keep him home until her daughter had been on antibiotics for 24hrs and was feeling better.

[Deleted]

agree with everyone above

[jinnifah]

I would have done exactly the same thing. Why take the chance right? Especially since your schedule is flexible to allow you to be cautious

[Deleted]

I wouldn't have picked her up, my thought being she was probably all ready around her so the damage is done. Also, I have been told by my doctor most kids under 2 don't get strep. I found this to be true w/ my children. My older daughter got strep a ton between 2 and 4 and my babies never once got it during that time.

[vanillacourage]

Jun 12, 2012 8:40:17 GMT -5 madladybride said:

I think at our center, if your child has a fever/strep, they need to be either fever free WITHOUT medication or, in the case of strep, on medication for 24 hours AND fever-free.

Yes, I would have picked up my kid and I would keep my kid away from her kid until one of the above conditions was met.

Agree. Do you have to pay for time that your kid can't attend until the DCP's daughter is better?

[GailGoldie]

so this is an in-home daycare correct?

yes, at centers they have rules about kids being out for 24 hours from starting Abx, etc.... but since your child is a baby and not likely to get strep- and was already around this child while she was sick for a few days - i'd just leave her there. I'd much rather have more days to take off when my own child is sick.

and this is coming from a family who has had strep 9x's in the past year... all of us.

[Deleted]

Jun 12, 2012 10:07:18 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

Jun 12, 2012 8:40:17 GMT -5 madladybride said:

I think at our center, if your child has a fever/strep, they need to be either fever free WITHOUT medication or, in the case of strep, on medication for 24 hours AND fever-free.

Yes, I would have picked up my kid and I would keep my kid away from her kid until one of the above conditions was met.

Agree. Do you have to pay for time that your kid can't attend until the DCP's daughter is better?

You know this never occurred to me until now. No, I don't need to pay if her child is sick, but I didn't plan on not paying because it was my choice to leave my DS home today. I couldn't figure out why my DCP seemed slightly offended that I didn't bring DS today--I bet she thought that I would take a credit on my next payment. Now I feel bad.

[GailGoldie]

think about it - when you have more than one child - and one is sick- you can't just not have the other children in the house....

having an in-home daycare is similar to this.... but you do have the option to not have your kids there. So- do what you feel comfortable with - but you do need to discuss this with your DCP b/c this will come up again - her child will get sick - and your child will be older and likely picking up things from DCP's child... this should have been in a contract.

[vanillacourage]

Jun 12, 2012 11:24:48 GMT -5 mishy said:

Why wouldn't you take the credit on the next payment, and why do you feel bad? While it sucks for her, there's no reason for you to pay for the childcare when you aren't using it because her kid is sick.

ETA: And I absolutely would have picked my kid up and not use the care until the criteria PP mentioned was met.

Yeah, this is sort of where I'm at too. I probably wouldn't not pay this time, but as PP said it will happen again so I'd use this as an opportunity to define what happens next time. I don't see it as you choosing not to send your son, when sending him would expose him to communicable illness.

[Deleted]

She is insanely reasonable with her pay already, like nearly $1500 cheaper a year than anyone around me. To me, I'd rather her err on the side of caution if one of her kids might be sick vs thinking that she might lose a days pay. I'm not saying I don't trust her either-its just a catch 22.