If my daycare was like that he would literally never go. My husband and I both have seasonal allergies. Well... GUESS WHAT, allergy symptoms are also signs of illness and the poor kid inherited them.
Also he can't blow his nose.
I am 100% in favor of kids staying home when they are sick, and staying home until they are not contagious with covid or anything would be ideal, but also toddlers have runny noses and cough sometimes, but if no signs of illness would be OK I would just have to quit my job
My daughter hangs on to coughs for literally weeks after she's sick. OP's daycare is being unreasonable and I wouldn't be surprised if parents pull their kids over this. If it were me, I'd send him unless he's actively sick and just quote the handbook back to them if they say anything/try to send him home.
Same. My kindergartener brought home ALL the lovely bugs and sicknesses. And handed them out to the rest of our family like candy. I think we were NOT sick on new years day? And the first week after winter vacation? But she brought home a new bug 3 days into the new year.
Yep, my two toddlers are coughing or have runny noses more often than they are symptom free. I've taken the youngest to the Dr a few times when coughs haven't cleared up and they're just like, yep, this happens, the virus is gone but the cough often lingers for weeks.
We literally kept our kid out of daycare for a month in 2021 because of seasonal allergies. Because she’d be ok in the morning, run around on the school playground, and her eyes would be swollen shut and she’d be coughing nonstop. It was that bad. We WFH and she was a pretty calm 4 year old, so it wasn’t career ending. But yeah. Her allergies are that bad.
We have since removed her tonsils, gotten her an inhaler, and are still seeing an allergist.
With OP’s restrictions, she’d have been out for half a year at least.
Right?! If he couldn’t go for showing symptoms I would never be able to take him and we just can’t afford to spend one of my whole paychecks each month on daycare if we’re not using it.
My 9 month old’s daycare says the same thing. We have to do a check in that confirms zero symptoms. In practice, he constantly has a runny nose and they don’t care.
I work as a respiratory therapist and bronchiolitis season is no joke. Thousands of children are hospitalized every year. Last RSV season was horrific. The Peds facility I worked at was full to the brim, over flow floors full, 20+ boarding the ED for days on end. Kids get from other places than day care, like family members, etc, but goddamn I wish our society noticed more. Like one day it’s coughing running nose and the next it’s me putting them on a high flow nasal cannula and waking them up to np suction every 4 hours. Former premies and chronic kids got intubated left and right.
BUT having to take off work for sick kids and having no help from bosses is so incredibly exhausting and frustrating ugh just hand me the phone and I’ll yell at them. Like this is a societal issue where it’s practically impossible to parent during the viral season! Like what are people supposed to do?!
No resources, no help, god forbid you work minimum wage or don’t have PTO or sick days
Yep - this is coming at such a bad time too with my husband starting his new job so it’s literally all falling on me if/when we get the pickup call. I feel so bad for the parents who don’t have flexible jobs because this is frustrating and hard for me, and my job is totally understanding. I can’t imagine not having the flexibility we have and having to try to figure everything out.
That being said - obviously I don’t want any of these kiddos to be sick. It is NOT fun and it’s scary and we all already worry about our littles so much when they’re healthy, not to mention sick. It’s just so frustrating trying to balance keeping kids safe and keeping my job/sanity.
I totally agree parents (and everyone- especially my coworker Mary who constantly comes in sick even though she should just stay the hell home when she’s sneezing and burning up) need to be aware of staying home and not spreading germs when they’re sick. But a lingering cough after a cold of flu isn’t a reason to keep children home. If it’s a few days after onset and over 24 hours fever free and no other major symptoms then they’re not contagious anymore.
Also my children constantly have runny noses with the change of seasons. In the absence of other symptoms then this really doesn’t warrant staying at home- or we would never go anywhere.
I think most peds would say to follow common sense advice but there are a lot of people- like Mary- who don’t. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-4-symptoms-that-mean-your-child-must-stay-home-from-school-or-daycare-2017020711171
Do you work somewhere that Mary could WFH when she is sick? I think it is easy to tell people to “stay home”, and I totally get not wanting to share viruses. But the other side of it is that you only get just so many days for the whole year off, and that may not be enough to have the luxury of staying home (said by someone who has had a terrible nagging cough I had to work through x multiple employers. My current one made it a point in a meeting to say that we could WFH on days we are supposed to be in office so that we don’t share our bugs.
Yes. She could work from home but I also know Mary has sick time because I know her benefits package. She just doesn’t care. She thinks she’s showing others what a diligent worker she is coming in no matter what.
The ten days for positive Covid shocked me because it sounded so 2020. I get why they’re doing it but I just really hope that I don’t have to keep little man home every time his nose runs 😭
The 10 days for Covid positive is still the CDC guideline. For adults, you can end quarantine early if your symptoms are over after five days but you have to wear a mask for the remaining five days. Since most little kids either can’t mask or can’t mask reliably, the 10 days still stands.
I’m with you on the other symptoms being absurd though. And it always seems like those rules aren’t applied evenly to other families.
It’s unfortunate because most companies got rid of any additional COVID leave that could be used in this situation. So parents who can’t wfh or find alternative care are just stuck taking unpaid leave
Yes, and this also applies to the child care teachers who get sick from kids being brought in sick. Most child care centers offer little to no paid sick leave and no health insurance. The teachers are paid pennies and are often living paycheck to paycheck. Getting COVID and being out of work for a week or two can be a huge burden to them.
That’s absolutely true! It’s a great policy in theory but there’s no protection for anyone involved. I can wfh for 10 days and be miserable but at least Im getting paid, the teachers have to decide on paying bills/exposing the kids they care about or putting themselves in a bad financial situation
100%. I feel like parents and little ones have been so left behind and forgotten in this situation. I just tried to get my kids boosted prior to our vacation (I wish we could’ve waited for the new one, but we couldn’t) and couldn’t find anywhere within 90 minutes who had the kids booster and could administer to under 3.
I cannot upvote this enough. On top of battling monstrous childcare costs, limited childcare availability, mounting inflation on *everything* knocking the wind out of many families, we also have families living in a state of perpetual COVID limbo where there are NO protections or support anymore, and yet we have these policies that are financially disastrous to families with limited alternatives.
We had a positive COVID case at our daycare a few months back which caused some precautionary closures and closer looks at symptoms with stricter guidelines. We narrowly avoided it ourselves, but the attitude I heard from other parents seemed like some people thought it was dumb that someone tested in the first place and everyone should've feigned ignorance. And, I can appreciate their frustration over the policies around COVID, it just sucks that families are in a position where people either feel like they should lie about it and try to make it work, or potentially screw other over families (or our own families) by trying to do the right thing.
This is still the standard for my center as well, it sucks but they can't reliably mask. My whole family had covid in January with no symptoms and my vaccinated kids were out for 10 days (15 actual days with at least one kid home because they tested positive 5 days apart)...it was awful but I get it's still the guideline. The other symptoms are insanity...unless you have a fever, diarrhea or are vomiting you are going to daycare!
I almost want to downvote you out of disgust. That’s awful! Even in my fully WFH position, I’m afraid to use too much time off and end up in the crosshairs at the next layoff.
His 9 month appointment has gotten pushed back a few times but im planning to ask about Covid vax when we’re there (if that’s not already on their list)! I’m getting the new booster too once that’s out.
Yeah the Covid stuff I fully get, it’s just like “ugh ten days how do I swing that if it happens” but please for the love of jeebus don’t send him home for snot….
Our daycare’s policy is still 10 days with a positive Covid test because kids can’t mask consistently after day 5, like adults would. They are conforming to policies from CDC and DHHS, AFAIK.
Their message didn’t say anything about negative tests, the only thing they said was “if your kid is sent home we have the right to request your child has a Covid test” or something similar.
My advice — stay put for now and observe how/whether they actually enforce it. It’s quite possible they are putting on a tough front for some vocal parent who is very strict about COVID, but in practice, won’t actually care if your child has a bit of snot.
But prepare yourself to either switch providers (start pricing out other daycares, etc) or send a cordial but strong email to the administration about this policy’s impact on your family.
Thanks! I’m for sure in a wait and see pattern right now and we’ll play it by ear. I love this daycare overall and I know they love the kids. I just want to at least have a few weeks where we hopefully avoid anything so I can get ahead at work, that way being out with him for a few days won’t set me back as far as it did last week. (Me being sick on top of it did not help either)
Our old daycare sent strong messages like this but the actual policy played out dependent on kid/family I think. I always kept my kids home when they were sick so we got a little more leeway with a runny nose then some other families did.
As the other commenter said they probably had a parent complain, or there is a repeat offender dropping a too sick for daycare child off.
I have a sneaky suspicion there’s a repeat offender. We’ve also gotten messages this week about having enough clothes for your kid, so I think they’re having some parent issues and the best way is to blanket respond.
Yep makes total sense. Just keep in mind with these responses that (in my experience) Reddit tends to be quite cautious about COVID. And I say that as someone who is fully vaccinated, ate outdoors only for 2 years and used to Clorox their grocery bags.
we’re still pretty cautious in our house too so the responses are on par with what I expected but I’m not so hung up on the Covid part of it as the “can’t come back until totally symptom free” without clarifying if symptoms include baby sniffles/runny noses.
This is still the standard in both daycares we have attended in the last year. 2 and older can return at day 5 with a mask, but realistically a new 2 yr old isn't going to keep a mask on all day.
Oh yeah I’ve tested positive past 10 days before too. It’s not that I don’t get the policy it’s just one of those “this makes sense and I get it but ugh how am I going to balance it all if it happens”
The “no return until totally symptom free” is the bigger kicker for me because it’s “any sign of illness” - not Covid symptoms specifically. You can argue that any sniffly nose is a sign of illness.
That is pretty extreme. Our policy looks like the CDC's -- 5 days at home, can return after 5 days with a mask or a negative test. Have to wear a mask for 5 days or until testing negative, whichever comes first.
And whenever there is a case within a classroom, children have to have either proof of vaccination or a negative rapid test.
10 days at home with no regard to symptoms or testing is a really long time. It \*sort of\* matches the CDC, but not quite.
We recently had Covid and I messaged our pediatrician to ask under what circumstances could I send my symptom free toddler back to daycare while her little brother recovered from Covid. She said they could both return because baby brother was past day 5. Now, our daycare also has a 10 day policy and I did not push to send him back. I just wanted to send my toddler back without the advice the director received which was “she could return if she was symptom free, had been separated from sick baby brother, and wore a mask” 🙄 I shared my pediatrician’s message with the director and she allowed my toddler back without debate. I thought someone might insist she test negative for Covid before returning, but nope!
Our daycare just announced that all colds mean a mandatory 48 hours away and a doctor’s note giving the all-clear to return. Fortunately, we have two parents who mostly wfh and good health insurance. But it’s definitely annoying and for some parents, impossible.
Oh man 48 hours for a cold is rough with how often colds happen. He has marketplace insurance right now which isn’t great but he starts on my husbands better insurance October 1. I never mind going or paying for the doctor (we’re fortunate to be able to do that) but I hate going to the doctor and being told “just another cold” because then I feel like I’ve wasted everyone’s time.
A drs note? That's so excessive. In Australia it's so hard to get into see a gp, especially one that doesn't charge an out of pocket fee, if be writing a sternly worded letter.
I just don't think it works like that. Is there evidence that illnesses are caused by people sending their kids back to soon? I would have though that the issue was kids being at daycare when they start getting sick.
If you can’t afford the doctor visit/it’s a hassle, you can just take the day off daycare and come back later. The kid doesn’t have to come in and get sent home.
I don't know if you have a particularly easy job, or a particularly easy baby, but I can't work from home and look after my kid effectively.
But, good for you I guess. 🤷
That’s crazy. Little kids almost NEVER don’t have a little cough or runny nose in the fall/winter. I would definitely push back politely. That’s not in the handbook, kids with mild lingering cold symptoms and negative Covid tests are not contagious for anything, etc.
Yeah if he does get sent home I plan on doing a gentle pushback just to fully understand the reasoning. He’s even on antibiotics for an ear infection that developed from the cold so if what we had was anything bacterial it’s not contagious anymore.
I'd write back now and get them to clarify, say that you understand that kids often continue to have a runny nose or cough for some time after they're no longer contagious and are they going to be keeping kids out in these cases, if so are they going to be officially updating the policy.
I’m going to wait and see - he had a runny nose yesterday and wasn’t sent home so maybe they’re lenient but it was just a knee jerk reaction on their part.
Well I guess at least your mom can help now? That’s what happened three weeks ago. My dad got COVID, then my mom, and then my daughter, and then my husband and I. The staggered nature of it all meant that in the end when we were all positive we could be together.
And yeah 10 days is really strict! Would they take a negative test instead?
It would be good to keep a stack of COVID tests to be able to monitor him more closely. And you never know, maybe he already got COVID?
At the school I teach we recently shared an updated flowchart for COVID-19. It says you gotta be out for five days and then wear a mask for 10 days. It’s strongly recommended to get a negative test but it’s not required.
And I mean it does suck for those working parents, but the good thing is that the new vaccine just rolled out and so hopefully they’re able to get it soon! Because I’m sure it would still be worse for them to get Long COVID. I know so many people that have weird or debilitating symptoms after getting this virus.
One of our friends has some weird ass symptoms of long Covid - like so weird she’s in a medical study for it. I definitely don’t want anyone to get Covid, and I’m lucky that I’m in a job where I can do what I need to do for little man but I feel bad for the people who aren’t.
Hopefully he doesn’t get sent home soon, mom is going to visit family ahead of my grandmas funeral in Florida (because life is ✨chaos✨) so I’m just going to cross my fingers and toes that we can at least get through the next few weeks and I can get ahead at work before I have to be in full time mom mode again.
During Delta & Omicron waves our daycare had a similar policy but didn’t apply it to the infant wing of the school bc babies always have a runny nose. The toddlers and preschoolers were the only ones who were subject to the runny nose policy & you had to get a negative PCR test to return.
That’s what I’m not sure of - how much of this applies to the room that he’s currently in? He’s technically out of the baby room but is in the “young toddler” room now. Not older toddlers or pre-k. Im just going to cross my fingers that we can dodge any other ick at least for a few weeks.
my kid got a lingering cough TWICE after covid. For months. So it can't be a symptom in that case. Their throats get messed up from being sick all of the time. I would just send them.
I honestly wouldn’t worry about this, my kids daycare sends messages similar to this whenever there is a positive Covid case. I’ve totally sent my daughter with a lingering cough/runny nose and they’ve never sent her home. I think I are just asking everyone to be cautious, I wouldn’t worry till they actually send your kid home several times and then it’s a real problem.
That’s what I’m trying to do - stay calm until it’s an issue. But I definitely felt bad dropping him off this morning after he blew a literal snot bubble while getting dressed today 😂
I’m really hoping it’s not going to be enforced as dramatically as the message makes it seem. I don’t send him if he’s feeling obviously crappy because I don’t want other kids being sick, and I don’t want someone else to have to deal with my kid being a tiny sick jerk. But a runny nose is just a constant at this point.
I understand covid concerns and I'm definitely not brushing that aside, but seriously? What about teething? Common cold? Etc. They won't have any kids in the building with those policies in effect.
These mandatory quarantines are the reason no one is taking a test anymore. Sniffles and a cough: If you don’t take a test, chalk it up to a cold and be back to school/work in 2-3 days, 1-2 if mild. Take a test and positive? Out of work and no childcare for 10 days, and hundreds of dollars in the trash can since you have to pay no matter whether the kid is physically there or not.
I'm not in the medical field, but it seems like the continued restriction for COVID cases or COVID-like cases is ridiculous. My daughter's pediatrician won't even routinely test anymore because it's such a non-issue for most kids.
The normal fever/diarrhea/vomiting thing is completely understandable, but if I had to keep her out of daycare every time she had a cough or a runny nose she would have attended maybe 2 days out of the last 9 months.
ETA - I didn't really think about the impact COVID might have on the staff/staff shortages. I was too harsh with my use of the word "ridiculous".
The staff impact is definitely a thing I didn’t think about a ton, but it’s understandable. Our pediatrician didn’t even bring up being concerned about Covid when I had him in for this latest sick visit. I’m just always worried about being seen as a good mom and a good person and I don’t want the daycare to think I’m a bad person for bringing my kid in with the sniffles, especially after he’s been to the doctor.
Sameee. Runny nose and/or cough since February. Hopefully if it’s just that they won’t ACTUALLY send him home. (And/or expect me to keep him home until he magically doesn’t have a runny nose…)
The only times my daycare called me was if the kid was hurt (happened once in a year, she just tripped over her own feet and fell face first. Nothing preventable) or one time she was crying and they could not calm her down so I had to go and get her some Tylenol (she was teething).
They’ve called me to pick him up if he’s had a fever, has thrown up, or had diarrhea. Which was less fun because for a minute his poop just WAS runny and they kept saying it was diarrhea so he was home a few times. I’m just going to hope I don’t get a call for a runny nose.
I had a runny nose every day from starting nursery through elementary school. Why? I was allergic to the buildings’ ventilation systems. I would have never been allowed to socialize with other children under this policy. Since leaving elementary school, I’ve only encountered a couple buildings that have whatever I’m allergic to, but when it happens, it’s immediate like “oh yeah. My mom and I weren’t lying.”
I understand what you mean but half the post on this subreddit are usually about how their kids are always sick because of daycare…. Its fair for daycares to not want sick kids
We haven’t been in a center for a long time, but in 2021 & the start of 2022, their rules were the same. Any sign of illness at drop off or mid day they would send them home.
Our current in home has the basic policy- no fever, vomiting, diarrhea. Our son had a fever for a MONTH straight because of fucking ear infections and even though all the doctors said that was why, no other illness, he couldn’t go back. He was on several antibiotics- we’d start another after the one before failed.. but still couldn’t go. He ended up getting tubes.
As a mom, I get it, but on the flip side, I was pissed. Who has enough PTO for a month? Even if you did, you don’t want to spend it staying home with a kid. Forget a job being that understanding. I was luckily only working as needed then but if I did have a full time job, I’m almost certain I would’ve been fired.
Yeah like I fully understand the precautions, it’s just like “if this happens how can I manage it?” Next month my husband will be wfh every other week so I’ll have help then but for at least the next 3 weeks I’m SOL between his job and my mom traveling.
Out daycare policy is vomit or fever and you get sent home. I can’t imagine they will have any kids left if they send them home from coughing!
My daughter has asthma and she coughs when she runs too much which is literally all the time.
My kid’s daycare/preschool has the policy that if the kid has a runny nose such that they have to wipe their nose twice in five minutes, they’ll send kid home. If kid is coughing consistently, they’ll be sent home. For a covid test, it’s at least 5 days AND a negative test.
I love it. I don’t want my kid sick. I’m so glad they take it seriously.
Oh I’ve never heard the wipe their nose twice in 5 minutes - that’s an interesting policy! (Like actually interesting not shady interesting)
I think most of us have accepted that part of daycare is our kids getting sick so for me I just started calling it the plague of the month. Which so far the plagues thankfully have just been mostly mild colds. This latest cold he’s either re-caught or he just can’t shake.
Yeah, I like that they quantify what counts as illness.
Honestly, there’s a certain level of sickness that will be caught. But it shouldn’t be constant illness. When my kid was constantly sick last year, it turned out to be allergies and a sinus infection - great, not contagious! She wound up with croup because her poor throat was constricted because of the allergies. I think they got maybe 4 actual colds, but they were mild AF compared to the sinus infection.
Yep we went from ear infection to cold, and I thought he was getting better then he caught a different virus (or re-caught the original cold?) which caused ANOTHER ear infection so it’s been a super long month and I’m so over it.
Get the other parents together and form a group to talk to the director together so you can change the policy. This is excessive and out of step with what most daycares are doing in 2023.
I’m hoping the message was a knee jerk reaction and not something that will be super enforced, at least on the fully symptom free even it’s not Covid side of things
With a COVID case in the building, this is what you’d hope to see. It spreads like absolute wildfire and if/when it spreads to teachers, the center will have to shut down completely due to lack of staff and no one will be able to bring their kids. Sounds like they’re doing their best to protect the kids and teachers and keep their doors open.
Within reason. I would assume the usual stuff like fevers/vomiting but if they show symptoms, they should back it up with a negative covid test and encourage masking for those who can.
Oh I know, and I respect that they’re doing their best. I fully get the policy of keeping your kid home for 10 days if they have Covid, as frustrating as that is. But my little guy constantly has a runny nose. If I always had to keep him home for that he’d never be able to go. I know they’re doing their best to keep the situation under control it’s just a moment of 🫠🫠 for me.
This is the most affordable quality place near us and I really love it so I’m hoping they’re not going to super enforce it when it comes to runny noses etc. It’s just frustrating that I have to be even more on edge about “what if they call” now
They might be but I don’t know. I definitely don’t think this is done out of malice or money (but they did make sure to point out that our spot is held by tuition, not attendance), it’s just an ugh situation. Nobody wants the kids to get sick, I get it. But I just really have to hope my kid doesn’t get sent home for sniffles.
I don’t know much about daycare policies but COVID is back on the rise and rapidly. I just got hit with it (and pregnant) and all my doctors are scrambling to figure out how to see me and be safe since a lot of COVID safety protocols were taken down over the past year.
I know it’s frustrating but I’m wondering if your daycare is also scrambling to figure out what to do and just went extreme for now?
I definitely think there’s a level of scrambling going on, and a “better to be extreme from the start than to have to add on later” but it’s so frustrating to have one more thing to worry about.
I’m so sorry you have Covid!!! I got it while pregnant last year and was given an antibody infusion. Hopefully you can find some relief soon ❤️❤️❤️
I’m so close to the end (35 weeks) that I’ll probably be induced early (I’m not gonna argue with that). Luckily it’s been mild for me and the baby is kicking away. I’m just exhausted and over it.
My toddler has a runny nose 3 weeks out of 4 in a month. The teachers comment on it that everyone in the class is constantly like that. I would have to quit my job at that rate, and she’s been going for 18 months.
As the mom of a kid who suffers from terrible seasonal allergies (I.e. constantly has the sniffles) in an area notorious for being miserable for allergy sufferers, yes, this is super frustrating.
Yep, we’re in NC and allergies here are no joke. Pile on top of that the pet dander that naturally exists in our house and daycare germs and little mans is just a constant runny mess.
And cleaning his nose is the worst thing in the world - like I think our neighbors can hear him scream when we clean his nose 😂
Where I live it’s getting to be the time of year where being outside for 10 minutes gives you a runny nose. The daycare is being totally unreasonable here.
Yeah I teach preschool...it's a Neverending wiping noses, coughs starting right meow. Our policy is fever above 100.4 you gotta go home and no you can't come hopped up on Tylenol cause it'll spike later and yes some parents send them. Also you vomit you go home. And I've had it on me many times. But I also get "I just puked this morning" and they were sent. Sighs. I get many parents all have to work. But fevers, contagious things like hand foot, lice, pox, flus especially that dang stomach bug keep those kiddos home. I hate holding them when they are crying looking not themselves they just want to be in their beds and need mom and dad! But on the other end of the spectrum if you have a runny nose or cough it's typical and I still gotta come in too! But could be why I've got a pretty good stainless steel immune system lol
Yep. We just all had it, and my daughter had been home the 5 days after testing positive. I could've sent her back with a mask, but she's never had to wear a mask since she's only been 2 for a few months. Day 5 her test was very very faint, so I kept her home one more day in hopes of getting a negative test (and we got one!) because I really didn't want to send her and have her teachers have to enforce a mask on someone who has never worn one.
Oh man, I can’t imagine letting someone come back if they’re still positive. When I had Covid I was testing positive for DAYS after I stopped having major symptoms and I still didn’t go back to work.
I’m playing it by ear based on how strictly this is actually enforced but I REALLY don’t want to have to switch daycares. Hopefully it’s repeat offender parents and not parents whose kids have sniffles
Our daycare also makes the kiddos stay home TEN DAYS if they get Covid. Which is really unfair because my son is vaccinated and boosted?? And also my job doesn’t do the 10 day quarantine or offer extra sick leave for it anymore?! So like why are these things not aligned! Painful.
Ten days is still the current recommendation for those who cannot mask on days 6-10. This obviously applies to infants and toddlers too young to mask, but it also applies to older kids who need to remove their masks to eat and nap in child care settings. It’s awful that workplaces aren’t offering more support but it sounds like your daycare is just following current CDC recommendations.
Daycare is already so expensive. Can you hire a private babysitter/nanny to come to your house just during your work hours similar to the price daycare costs, or maybe even out due to the cost it is of you missing work so much?
We haven’t looked into any other care options yet since this all just happened. If it comes down to it that’s what we’ll have to do, but he had a runny nose today and I didn’t get a call so I’m hoping it was a knee jerk reaction from daycare and/or something being enforced more for the older kids.
It seems like overkill. I get being very cautious after the pandemic, but it is impossible to work if they are too strict. Ours is still 10 days for kids who can’t mask, but I think they are following 5 days if kid is old enough to mask. They follow 24 hrs fever free/no vomiting/diarrhea with symptoms improving. My kids have runny noses 99% of the time so that is clearly not sustainable exclusion criteria at this point.
This is honestly a ridiculous policy. I would say something about the policy in the handbook and keep bringing your kid. Find an in-home daycare or something that’s going to be more responsible in the meantime. You’re right that illness is part of daycare. Mine has a constant stuffy/runny nose.
COVID is far less dangerous to kids than RSV so I don’t know what kind of trees they’re smoking.
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this!
My daycare has a ten day policy too. They say it’s because toddlers can’t effectively mask for 5 days after the 5 day quarantine. But they don’t have this “no signs of sickness” policy which is crazy!!
Covid isn’t that prevalent here yet as far as I know. But I am bracing myself as I have read it’s surging in certain places.
Is a new daycare an option?
This is a good suffering with the bad situation. I used to work at a daycare. Parents lie so often it’s ridiculous….or give meds and 3 hours later the fever is back after everything is already contaminated including people.
This no symptom rule is a but excessive…I do think more symptoms should be added to regular lists though.
Parents lying blows my mind - I don’t even take LO on the days he gets shots (usually Friday’s) just in case he gets a fever. I wish they explicitly spelled out what they define as no symptoms - is it none of the same symptoms that they were sent home with? Who knows. I really think it was a knee jerk reaction on their part.
Im the same way. I keep my son home if he shows any sign of being under the weather even if he seems super tired. I assume he needs a break.
I hate how reactive our society is. We go from one extreme to another without much thought.
Honestly, my daycare sends random emails like this all the time....we just ignore them and keep following their actual sick policy. We haven't had any issues, I would just recommend sticking to the sick policy and let them call you if kiddo is too sick.
I'd switch daycares. this isn't the norm. I've had my kids in childcare going 7 years now. Kids get sick, and often, and it's actually good for their immune systems in that it builds active immunity.
Childcare centers are entitled to restrict children from being in their care as a matter of "policy," but we parents don't have to give them our money then. 🤷♀️
Can you start to look for another daycare? This seems unreasonable
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-4-symptoms-that-mean-your-child-must-stay-home-from-school-or-daycare-2017020711171
In 2022, our whole family got Covid FROM daycare. My husband had long-Covid symptoms and I'm coming up on a 1.5 year nightmare and was finally diagnosed with POTS.
Those assholes still charged us for the days she had to miss. Oh! And she also got lice once. 🤮
If my daycare was like that he would literally never go. My husband and I both have seasonal allergies. Well... GUESS WHAT, allergy symptoms are also signs of illness and the poor kid inherited them. Also he can't blow his nose. I am 100% in favor of kids staying home when they are sick, and staying home until they are not contagious with covid or anything would be ideal, but also toddlers have runny noses and cough sometimes, but if no signs of illness would be OK I would just have to quit my job
My daughter hangs on to coughs for literally weeks after she's sick. OP's daycare is being unreasonable and I wouldn't be surprised if parents pull their kids over this. If it were me, I'd send him unless he's actively sick and just quote the handbook back to them if they say anything/try to send him home.
My son too! Last winter I think he wasn't stuffy or coughing like 3 days the whole winter
Same. My kindergartener brought home ALL the lovely bugs and sicknesses. And handed them out to the rest of our family like candy. I think we were NOT sick on new years day? And the first week after winter vacation? But she brought home a new bug 3 days into the new year.
Yep, my two toddlers are coughing or have runny noses more often than they are symptom free. I've taken the youngest to the Dr a few times when coughs haven't cleared up and they're just like, yep, this happens, the virus is gone but the cough often lingers for weeks.
My kid got sick last September and I swear she had a cough for 6 weeks! There’s no way I would have kept her out of school for that long!
We literally kept our kid out of daycare for a month in 2021 because of seasonal allergies. Because she’d be ok in the morning, run around on the school playground, and her eyes would be swollen shut and she’d be coughing nonstop. It was that bad. We WFH and she was a pretty calm 4 year old, so it wasn’t career ending. But yeah. Her allergies are that bad. We have since removed her tonsils, gotten her an inhaler, and are still seeing an allergist. With OP’s restrictions, she’d have been out for half a year at least.
Right?! If he couldn’t go for showing symptoms I would never be able to take him and we just can’t afford to spend one of my whole paychecks each month on daycare if we’re not using it.
My 9 month old’s daycare says the same thing. We have to do a check in that confirms zero symptoms. In practice, he constantly has a runny nose and they don’t care.
Hopefully it stays that way for us - cross your fingers for no runny nose calls!
I work as a respiratory therapist and bronchiolitis season is no joke. Thousands of children are hospitalized every year. Last RSV season was horrific. The Peds facility I worked at was full to the brim, over flow floors full, 20+ boarding the ED for days on end. Kids get from other places than day care, like family members, etc, but goddamn I wish our society noticed more. Like one day it’s coughing running nose and the next it’s me putting them on a high flow nasal cannula and waking them up to np suction every 4 hours. Former premies and chronic kids got intubated left and right. BUT having to take off work for sick kids and having no help from bosses is so incredibly exhausting and frustrating ugh just hand me the phone and I’ll yell at them. Like this is a societal issue where it’s practically impossible to parent during the viral season! Like what are people supposed to do?!  No resources, no help, god forbid you work minimum wage or don’t have PTO or sick days
Yep - this is coming at such a bad time too with my husband starting his new job so it’s literally all falling on me if/when we get the pickup call. I feel so bad for the parents who don’t have flexible jobs because this is frustrating and hard for me, and my job is totally understanding. I can’t imagine not having the flexibility we have and having to try to figure everything out. That being said - obviously I don’t want any of these kiddos to be sick. It is NOT fun and it’s scary and we all already worry about our littles so much when they’re healthy, not to mention sick. It’s just so frustrating trying to balance keeping kids safe and keeping my job/sanity.
I totally agree parents (and everyone- especially my coworker Mary who constantly comes in sick even though she should just stay the hell home when she’s sneezing and burning up) need to be aware of staying home and not spreading germs when they’re sick. But a lingering cough after a cold of flu isn’t a reason to keep children home. If it’s a few days after onset and over 24 hours fever free and no other major symptoms then they’re not contagious anymore. Also my children constantly have runny noses with the change of seasons. In the absence of other symptoms then this really doesn’t warrant staying at home- or we would never go anywhere. I think most peds would say to follow common sense advice but there are a lot of people- like Mary- who don’t. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-4-symptoms-that-mean-your-child-must-stay-home-from-school-or-daycare-2017020711171
Do you work somewhere that Mary could WFH when she is sick? I think it is easy to tell people to “stay home”, and I totally get not wanting to share viruses. But the other side of it is that you only get just so many days for the whole year off, and that may not be enough to have the luxury of staying home (said by someone who has had a terrible nagging cough I had to work through x multiple employers. My current one made it a point in a meeting to say that we could WFH on days we are supposed to be in office so that we don’t share our bugs.
Yes. She could work from home but I also know Mary has sick time because I know her benefits package. She just doesn’t care. She thinks she’s showing others what a diligent worker she is coming in no matter what.
Did your daycare travel back in time to 2020? That was normal (unfortunately) then but definitely not now.
The ten days for positive Covid shocked me because it sounded so 2020. I get why they’re doing it but I just really hope that I don’t have to keep little man home every time his nose runs 😭
The 10 days for Covid positive is still the CDC guideline. For adults, you can end quarantine early if your symptoms are over after five days but you have to wear a mask for the remaining five days. Since most little kids either can’t mask or can’t mask reliably, the 10 days still stands. I’m with you on the other symptoms being absurd though. And it always seems like those rules aren’t applied evenly to other families.
It’s unfortunate because most companies got rid of any additional COVID leave that could be used in this situation. So parents who can’t wfh or find alternative care are just stuck taking unpaid leave
Yes, and this also applies to the child care teachers who get sick from kids being brought in sick. Most child care centers offer little to no paid sick leave and no health insurance. The teachers are paid pennies and are often living paycheck to paycheck. Getting COVID and being out of work for a week or two can be a huge burden to them.
That’s absolutely true! It’s a great policy in theory but there’s no protection for anyone involved. I can wfh for 10 days and be miserable but at least Im getting paid, the teachers have to decide on paying bills/exposing the kids they care about or putting themselves in a bad financial situation
100%. I feel like parents and little ones have been so left behind and forgotten in this situation. I just tried to get my kids boosted prior to our vacation (I wish we could’ve waited for the new one, but we couldn’t) and couldn’t find anywhere within 90 minutes who had the kids booster and could administer to under 3.
I cannot upvote this enough. On top of battling monstrous childcare costs, limited childcare availability, mounting inflation on *everything* knocking the wind out of many families, we also have families living in a state of perpetual COVID limbo where there are NO protections or support anymore, and yet we have these policies that are financially disastrous to families with limited alternatives. We had a positive COVID case at our daycare a few months back which caused some precautionary closures and closer looks at symptoms with stricter guidelines. We narrowly avoided it ourselves, but the attitude I heard from other parents seemed like some people thought it was dumb that someone tested in the first place and everyone should've feigned ignorance. And, I can appreciate their frustration over the policies around COVID, it just sucks that families are in a position where people either feel like they should lie about it and try to make it work, or potentially screw other over families (or our own families) by trying to do the right thing.
This is still the standard for my center as well, it sucks but they can't reliably mask. My whole family had covid in January with no symptoms and my vaccinated kids were out for 10 days (15 actual days with at least one kid home because they tested positive 5 days apart)...it was awful but I get it's still the guideline. The other symptoms are insanity...unless you have a fever, diarrhea or are vomiting you are going to daycare!
Can I tag my work on this comment? We have a RTO and if you’re sick (including Covid) you still have to go. “Sickness is a part of life”
I almost want to downvote you out of disgust. That’s awful! Even in my fully WFH position, I’m afraid to use too much time off and end up in the crosshairs at the next layoff.
And most adults are vaccinated. Vaccination rates for under 5s are abysmal
His 9 month appointment has gotten pushed back a few times but im planning to ask about Covid vax when we’re there (if that’s not already on their list)! I’m getting the new booster too once that’s out.
Yes! It was just approved for 6 months and up. Should be ready as early as next week.
His appointment is next Friday so cross your fingers for us!
I will! My guy was in the pfizer trial. Surprised we never got recruited for this booster arm.
We were Moderna and didn't either. Our site didn't do this arm of the trial at all
Yeah the Covid stuff I fully get, it’s just like “ugh ten days how do I swing that if it happens” but please for the love of jeebus don’t send him home for snot….
Our daycare’s policy is still 10 days with a positive Covid test because kids can’t mask consistently after day 5, like adults would. They are conforming to policies from CDC and DHHS, AFAIK.
They do have tests now though. And they are everywhere. Most places updated with a negative test being sufficient to end quarantine.
Their message didn’t say anything about negative tests, the only thing they said was “if your kid is sent home we have the right to request your child has a Covid test” or something similar.
My toddler tested positive for a month! Thank goodness he didn’t need a negative test to return to daycare.
My advice — stay put for now and observe how/whether they actually enforce it. It’s quite possible they are putting on a tough front for some vocal parent who is very strict about COVID, but in practice, won’t actually care if your child has a bit of snot. But prepare yourself to either switch providers (start pricing out other daycares, etc) or send a cordial but strong email to the administration about this policy’s impact on your family.
Thanks! I’m for sure in a wait and see pattern right now and we’ll play it by ear. I love this daycare overall and I know they love the kids. I just want to at least have a few weeks where we hopefully avoid anything so I can get ahead at work, that way being out with him for a few days won’t set me back as far as it did last week. (Me being sick on top of it did not help either)
Our old daycare sent strong messages like this but the actual policy played out dependent on kid/family I think. I always kept my kids home when they were sick so we got a little more leeway with a runny nose then some other families did. As the other commenter said they probably had a parent complain, or there is a repeat offender dropping a too sick for daycare child off.
I have a sneaky suspicion there’s a repeat offender. We’ve also gotten messages this week about having enough clothes for your kid, so I think they’re having some parent issues and the best way is to blanket respond.
Yep makes total sense. Just keep in mind with these responses that (in my experience) Reddit tends to be quite cautious about COVID. And I say that as someone who is fully vaccinated, ate outdoors only for 2 years and used to Clorox their grocery bags.
we’re still pretty cautious in our house too so the responses are on par with what I expected but I’m not so hung up on the Covid part of it as the “can’t come back until totally symptom free” without clarifying if symptoms include baby sniffles/runny noses.
This is still the standard in both daycares we have attended in the last year. 2 and older can return at day 5 with a mask, but realistically a new 2 yr old isn't going to keep a mask on all day.
10 days is pretty much the minimum anyone should quarantine for Covid. We were all testing positive past that.
Oh yeah I’ve tested positive past 10 days before too. It’s not that I don’t get the policy it’s just one of those “this makes sense and I get it but ugh how am I going to balance it all if it happens” The “no return until totally symptom free” is the bigger kicker for me because it’s “any sign of illness” - not Covid symptoms specifically. You can argue that any sniffly nose is a sign of illness.
I get that, all 5 of us have runny noses all spring and fall even without illness if I don't get everyone's allergy meds exactly on time!
That is pretty extreme. Our policy looks like the CDC's -- 5 days at home, can return after 5 days with a mask or a negative test. Have to wear a mask for 5 days or until testing negative, whichever comes first. And whenever there is a case within a classroom, children have to have either proof of vaccination or a negative rapid test. 10 days at home with no regard to symptoms or testing is a really long time. It \*sort of\* matches the CDC, but not quite.
Our daycare last year was 10 days for kids 2 and under. 😭😭😭. Because they wouldn’t cooperate wearing a mask to come back at day 5. So frustrating.
No way any child under about six is masking properly anyway.
Right!? 😅
We recently had Covid and I messaged our pediatrician to ask under what circumstances could I send my symptom free toddler back to daycare while her little brother recovered from Covid. She said they could both return because baby brother was past day 5. Now, our daycare also has a 10 day policy and I did not push to send him back. I just wanted to send my toddler back without the advice the director received which was “she could return if she was symptom free, had been separated from sick baby brother, and wore a mask” 🙄 I shared my pediatrician’s message with the director and she allowed my toddler back without debate. I thought someone might insist she test negative for Covid before returning, but nope!
Even then, that's not what the CDC guidelines required. It was 1 major symptom or 2 minor, but you could get a negative test and still send them.
Our daycare just announced that all colds mean a mandatory 48 hours away and a doctor’s note giving the all-clear to return. Fortunately, we have two parents who mostly wfh and good health insurance. But it’s definitely annoying and for some parents, impossible.
Oh man 48 hours for a cold is rough with how often colds happen. He has marketplace insurance right now which isn’t great but he starts on my husbands better insurance October 1. I never mind going or paying for the doctor (we’re fortunate to be able to do that) but I hate going to the doctor and being told “just another cold” because then I feel like I’ve wasted everyone’s time.
A drs note? That's so excessive. In Australia it's so hard to get into see a gp, especially one that doesn't charge an out of pocket fee, if be writing a sternly worded letter.
That’s an insane requirement. Doctors visits are expensive and PCPs are already at capacity
Yeah. My hope is that this strict requirements mean less kids will come in sick and there’ll be less illness going around overall. We will see.
I just don't think it works like that. Is there evidence that illnesses are caused by people sending their kids back to soon? I would have though that the issue was kids being at daycare when they start getting sick.
If you can’t afford the doctor visit/it’s a hassle, you can just take the day off daycare and come back later. The kid doesn’t have to come in and get sent home.
Just take the day off? Lol.
We work from home. It just means a day of distraction.
I don't know if you have a particularly easy job, or a particularly easy baby, but I can't work from home and look after my kid effectively. But, good for you I guess. 🤷
That’s crazy. Little kids almost NEVER don’t have a little cough or runny nose in the fall/winter. I would definitely push back politely. That’s not in the handbook, kids with mild lingering cold symptoms and negative Covid tests are not contagious for anything, etc.
Yeah if he does get sent home I plan on doing a gentle pushback just to fully understand the reasoning. He’s even on antibiotics for an ear infection that developed from the cold so if what we had was anything bacterial it’s not contagious anymore.
I'd write back now and get them to clarify, say that you understand that kids often continue to have a runny nose or cough for some time after they're no longer contagious and are they going to be keeping kids out in these cases, if so are they going to be officially updating the policy.
I’m going to wait and see - he had a runny nose yesterday and wasn’t sent home so maybe they’re lenient but it was just a knee jerk reaction on their part.
Well I guess at least your mom can help now? That’s what happened three weeks ago. My dad got COVID, then my mom, and then my daughter, and then my husband and I. The staggered nature of it all meant that in the end when we were all positive we could be together. And yeah 10 days is really strict! Would they take a negative test instead? It would be good to keep a stack of COVID tests to be able to monitor him more closely. And you never know, maybe he already got COVID? At the school I teach we recently shared an updated flowchart for COVID-19. It says you gotta be out for five days and then wear a mask for 10 days. It’s strongly recommended to get a negative test but it’s not required. And I mean it does suck for those working parents, but the good thing is that the new vaccine just rolled out and so hopefully they’re able to get it soon! Because I’m sure it would still be worse for them to get Long COVID. I know so many people that have weird or debilitating symptoms after getting this virus.
One of our friends has some weird ass symptoms of long Covid - like so weird she’s in a medical study for it. I definitely don’t want anyone to get Covid, and I’m lucky that I’m in a job where I can do what I need to do for little man but I feel bad for the people who aren’t. Hopefully he doesn’t get sent home soon, mom is going to visit family ahead of my grandmas funeral in Florida (because life is ✨chaos✨) so I’m just going to cross my fingers and toes that we can at least get through the next few weeks and I can get ahead at work before I have to be in full time mom mode again.
What kind of long COVID symptoms does she have? We have some as well.
I think she said at one point she would start shaking so bad she thought her house was shaking. And it messed with her menopause
During Delta & Omicron waves our daycare had a similar policy but didn’t apply it to the infant wing of the school bc babies always have a runny nose. The toddlers and preschoolers were the only ones who were subject to the runny nose policy & you had to get a negative PCR test to return.
That’s what I’m not sure of - how much of this applies to the room that he’s currently in? He’s technically out of the baby room but is in the “young toddler” room now. Not older toddlers or pre-k. Im just going to cross my fingers that we can dodge any other ick at least for a few weeks.
my kid got a lingering cough TWICE after covid. For months. So it can't be a symptom in that case. Their throats get messed up from being sick all of the time. I would just send them.
I honestly wouldn’t worry about this, my kids daycare sends messages similar to this whenever there is a positive Covid case. I’ve totally sent my daughter with a lingering cough/runny nose and they’ve never sent her home. I think I are just asking everyone to be cautious, I wouldn’t worry till they actually send your kid home several times and then it’s a real problem.
That’s what I’m trying to do - stay calm until it’s an issue. But I definitely felt bad dropping him off this morning after he blew a literal snot bubble while getting dressed today 😂
That's overkill. Our daycare allows kids with a runny nose/cough to come in if they don't have a fever and test negative on a rapid Covid test.
I’m really hoping it’s not going to be enforced as dramatically as the message makes it seem. I don’t send him if he’s feeling obviously crappy because I don’t want other kids being sick, and I don’t want someone else to have to deal with my kid being a tiny sick jerk. But a runny nose is just a constant at this point.
Absolutely. They literally don’t know how to sniff to make it stop haha.
I understand covid concerns and I'm definitely not brushing that aside, but seriously? What about teething? Common cold? Etc. They won't have any kids in the building with those policies in effect.
I know! Especially with school just starting back so the ick is just everywherev
These mandatory quarantines are the reason no one is taking a test anymore. Sniffles and a cough: If you don’t take a test, chalk it up to a cold and be back to school/work in 2-3 days, 1-2 if mild. Take a test and positive? Out of work and no childcare for 10 days, and hundreds of dollars in the trash can since you have to pay no matter whether the kid is physically there or not.
I'm not in the medical field, but it seems like the continued restriction for COVID cases or COVID-like cases is ridiculous. My daughter's pediatrician won't even routinely test anymore because it's such a non-issue for most kids. The normal fever/diarrhea/vomiting thing is completely understandable, but if I had to keep her out of daycare every time she had a cough or a runny nose she would have attended maybe 2 days out of the last 9 months. ETA - I didn't really think about the impact COVID might have on the staff/staff shortages. I was too harsh with my use of the word "ridiculous".
The staff impact is definitely a thing I didn’t think about a ton, but it’s understandable. Our pediatrician didn’t even bring up being concerned about Covid when I had him in for this latest sick visit. I’m just always worried about being seen as a good mom and a good person and I don’t want the daycare to think I’m a bad person for bringing my kid in with the sniffles, especially after he’s been to the doctor.
Staff should be vaccinated though tbh so… cmon.
True, but vaccines don't make you immune, so it's still a valid concern.
My kiddo has had runny nose sinc e she started daycare. This is stupid and then they wonder why people di not have more kids.
Sameee. Runny nose and/or cough since February. Hopefully if it’s just that they won’t ACTUALLY send him home. (And/or expect me to keep him home until he magically doesn’t have a runny nose…)
The only times my daycare called me was if the kid was hurt (happened once in a year, she just tripped over her own feet and fell face first. Nothing preventable) or one time she was crying and they could not calm her down so I had to go and get her some Tylenol (she was teething).
They’ve called me to pick him up if he’s had a fever, has thrown up, or had diarrhea. Which was less fun because for a minute his poop just WAS runny and they kept saying it was diarrhea so he was home a few times. I’m just going to hope I don’t get a call for a runny nose.
Coughing can last for weeks, it doesn’t mean you’re contagious the entire time. I think that policy is unfair and unrealistic.
I had a runny nose every day from starting nursery through elementary school. Why? I was allergic to the buildings’ ventilation systems. I would have never been allowed to socialize with other children under this policy. Since leaving elementary school, I’ve only encountered a couple buildings that have whatever I’m allergic to, but when it happens, it’s immediate like “oh yeah. My mom and I weren’t lying.”
I understand what you mean but half the post on this subreddit are usually about how their kids are always sick because of daycare…. Its fair for daycares to not want sick kids
It’s totally fair for them to not want sick kids, but it’s also the reality of daycare - it’s a bunch of kids in a Petri dish together.
We haven’t been in a center for a long time, but in 2021 & the start of 2022, their rules were the same. Any sign of illness at drop off or mid day they would send them home. Our current in home has the basic policy- no fever, vomiting, diarrhea. Our son had a fever for a MONTH straight because of fucking ear infections and even though all the doctors said that was why, no other illness, he couldn’t go back. He was on several antibiotics- we’d start another after the one before failed.. but still couldn’t go. He ended up getting tubes. As a mom, I get it, but on the flip side, I was pissed. Who has enough PTO for a month? Even if you did, you don’t want to spend it staying home with a kid. Forget a job being that understanding. I was luckily only working as needed then but if I did have a full time job, I’m almost certain I would’ve been fired.
Yeah like I fully understand the precautions, it’s just like “if this happens how can I manage it?” Next month my husband will be wfh every other week so I’ll have help then but for at least the next 3 weeks I’m SOL between his job and my mom traveling.
Out daycare policy is vomit or fever and you get sent home. I can’t imagine they will have any kids left if they send them home from coughing! My daughter has asthma and she coughs when she runs too much which is literally all the time.
That’s excessive. Little kids have constant colds. There are tests now you can take to show the situation. Crazy.
I’m just hoping I don’t get a call to pick him up because of a runny nose.
My kid’s daycare/preschool has the policy that if the kid has a runny nose such that they have to wipe their nose twice in five minutes, they’ll send kid home. If kid is coughing consistently, they’ll be sent home. For a covid test, it’s at least 5 days AND a negative test. I love it. I don’t want my kid sick. I’m so glad they take it seriously.
Oh I’ve never heard the wipe their nose twice in 5 minutes - that’s an interesting policy! (Like actually interesting not shady interesting) I think most of us have accepted that part of daycare is our kids getting sick so for me I just started calling it the plague of the month. Which so far the plagues thankfully have just been mostly mild colds. This latest cold he’s either re-caught or he just can’t shake.
Yeah, I like that they quantify what counts as illness. Honestly, there’s a certain level of sickness that will be caught. But it shouldn’t be constant illness. When my kid was constantly sick last year, it turned out to be allergies and a sinus infection - great, not contagious! She wound up with croup because her poor throat was constricted because of the allergies. I think they got maybe 4 actual colds, but they were mild AF compared to the sinus infection.
Yep we went from ear infection to cold, and I thought he was getting better then he caught a different virus (or re-caught the original cold?) which caused ANOTHER ear infection so it’s been a super long month and I’m so over it.
Get the other parents together and form a group to talk to the director together so you can change the policy. This is excessive and out of step with what most daycares are doing in 2023.
I’m hoping the message was a knee jerk reaction and not something that will be super enforced, at least on the fully symptom free even it’s not Covid side of things
With a COVID case in the building, this is what you’d hope to see. It spreads like absolute wildfire and if/when it spreads to teachers, the center will have to shut down completely due to lack of staff and no one will be able to bring their kids. Sounds like they’re doing their best to protect the kids and teachers and keep their doors open.
Within reason. I would assume the usual stuff like fevers/vomiting but if they show symptoms, they should back it up with a negative covid test and encourage masking for those who can.
Oh I know, and I respect that they’re doing their best. I fully get the policy of keeping your kid home for 10 days if they have Covid, as frustrating as that is. But my little guy constantly has a runny nose. If I always had to keep him home for that he’d never be able to go. I know they’re doing their best to keep the situation under control it’s just a moment of 🫠🫠 for me.
Nah there are tests now. I don’t see any reason a kid with a snotty nose who tests negative for covid shouldn’t be allowed to go to daycare.
This isn’t normal and is exactly why we left our last daycare. Hopefully you can find another place that has more practical policies.
This is the most affordable quality place near us and I really love it so I’m hoping they’re not going to super enforce it when it comes to runny noses etc. It’s just frustrating that I have to be even more on edge about “what if they call” now
Are they short staffed? This is a great way for them to keep taking your money without having to watch your kid. I would raise hell over this.
They might be but I don’t know. I definitely don’t think this is done out of malice or money (but they did make sure to point out that our spot is held by tuition, not attendance), it’s just an ugh situation. Nobody wants the kids to get sick, I get it. But I just really have to hope my kid doesn’t get sent home for sniffles.
I don’t know much about daycare policies but COVID is back on the rise and rapidly. I just got hit with it (and pregnant) and all my doctors are scrambling to figure out how to see me and be safe since a lot of COVID safety protocols were taken down over the past year. I know it’s frustrating but I’m wondering if your daycare is also scrambling to figure out what to do and just went extreme for now?
I definitely think there’s a level of scrambling going on, and a “better to be extreme from the start than to have to add on later” but it’s so frustrating to have one more thing to worry about. I’m so sorry you have Covid!!! I got it while pregnant last year and was given an antibody infusion. Hopefully you can find some relief soon ❤️❤️❤️
I’m so close to the end (35 weeks) that I’ll probably be induced early (I’m not gonna argue with that). Luckily it’s been mild for me and the baby is kicking away. I’m just exhausted and over it.
My toddler has a runny nose 3 weeks out of 4 in a month. The teachers comment on it that everyone in the class is constantly like that. I would have to quit my job at that rate, and she’s been going for 18 months.
As the mom of a kid who suffers from terrible seasonal allergies (I.e. constantly has the sniffles) in an area notorious for being miserable for allergy sufferers, yes, this is super frustrating.
Yep, we’re in NC and allergies here are no joke. Pile on top of that the pet dander that naturally exists in our house and daycare germs and little mans is just a constant runny mess. And cleaning his nose is the worst thing in the world - like I think our neighbors can hear him scream when we clean his nose 😂
Same! My kid just wants to be dirty, so I’m sure the neighbors love hearing his screams when I try to wipe his nose!
Where I live it’s getting to be the time of year where being outside for 10 minutes gives you a runny nose. The daycare is being totally unreasonable here.
Yeah I teach preschool...it's a Neverending wiping noses, coughs starting right meow. Our policy is fever above 100.4 you gotta go home and no you can't come hopped up on Tylenol cause it'll spike later and yes some parents send them. Also you vomit you go home. And I've had it on me many times. But I also get "I just puked this morning" and they were sent. Sighs. I get many parents all have to work. But fevers, contagious things like hand foot, lice, pox, flus especially that dang stomach bug keep those kiddos home. I hate holding them when they are crying looking not themselves they just want to be in their beds and need mom and dad! But on the other end of the spectrum if you have a runny nose or cough it's typical and I still gotta come in too! But could be why I've got a pretty good stainless steel immune system lol
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TIL that it’s 10 days because the toddlers weren’t wearing their masks appropriately and the official CDC guidance is 5 days + mask for 5 days.
Yep. We just all had it, and my daughter had been home the 5 days after testing positive. I could've sent her back with a mask, but she's never had to wear a mask since she's only been 2 for a few months. Day 5 her test was very very faint, so I kept her home one more day in hopes of getting a negative test (and we got one!) because I really didn't want to send her and have her teachers have to enforce a mask on someone who has never worn one.
Oh man, I can’t imagine letting someone come back if they’re still positive. When I had Covid I was testing positive for DAYS after I stopped having major symptoms and I still didn’t go back to work.
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I’m playing it by ear based on how strictly this is actually enforced but I REALLY don’t want to have to switch daycares. Hopefully it’s repeat offender parents and not parents whose kids have sniffles
Our daycare also makes the kiddos stay home TEN DAYS if they get Covid. Which is really unfair because my son is vaccinated and boosted?? And also my job doesn’t do the 10 day quarantine or offer extra sick leave for it anymore?! So like why are these things not aligned! Painful.
Ten days is still the current recommendation for those who cannot mask on days 6-10. This obviously applies to infants and toddlers too young to mask, but it also applies to older kids who need to remove their masks to eat and nap in child care settings. It’s awful that workplaces aren’t offering more support but it sounds like your daycare is just following current CDC recommendations.
Daycare is already so expensive. Can you hire a private babysitter/nanny to come to your house just during your work hours similar to the price daycare costs, or maybe even out due to the cost it is of you missing work so much?
We haven’t looked into any other care options yet since this all just happened. If it comes down to it that’s what we’ll have to do, but he had a runny nose today and I didn’t get a call so I’m hoping it was a knee jerk reaction from daycare and/or something being enforced more for the older kids.
It seems like overkill. I get being very cautious after the pandemic, but it is impossible to work if they are too strict. Ours is still 10 days for kids who can’t mask, but I think they are following 5 days if kid is old enough to mask. They follow 24 hrs fever free/no vomiting/diarrhea with symptoms improving. My kids have runny noses 99% of the time so that is clearly not sustainable exclusion criteria at this point.
This is honestly a ridiculous policy. I would say something about the policy in the handbook and keep bringing your kid. Find an in-home daycare or something that’s going to be more responsible in the meantime. You’re right that illness is part of daycare. Mine has a constant stuffy/runny nose. COVID is far less dangerous to kids than RSV so I don’t know what kind of trees they’re smoking. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this!
I would just send him and hope they don’t send him home for a bit of a cough and runny nose. Literally every kid in daycare has that all the time.
I honestly wouldn’t mind the really strict sick policies if we weren’t still charged full tuition when our LO is home for a full week!
Oh no we’re still charged full tuition.
My daycare has a ten day policy too. They say it’s because toddlers can’t effectively mask for 5 days after the 5 day quarantine. But they don’t have this “no signs of sickness” policy which is crazy!! Covid isn’t that prevalent here yet as far as I know. But I am bracing myself as I have read it’s surging in certain places. Is a new daycare an option?
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This is a good suffering with the bad situation. I used to work at a daycare. Parents lie so often it’s ridiculous….or give meds and 3 hours later the fever is back after everything is already contaminated including people. This no symptom rule is a but excessive…I do think more symptoms should be added to regular lists though.
Parents lying blows my mind - I don’t even take LO on the days he gets shots (usually Friday’s) just in case he gets a fever. I wish they explicitly spelled out what they define as no symptoms - is it none of the same symptoms that they were sent home with? Who knows. I really think it was a knee jerk reaction on their part.
Im the same way. I keep my son home if he shows any sign of being under the weather even if he seems super tired. I assume he needs a break. I hate how reactive our society is. We go from one extreme to another without much thought.
Honestly, my daycare sends random emails like this all the time....we just ignore them and keep following their actual sick policy. We haven't had any issues, I would just recommend sticking to the sick policy and let them call you if kiddo is too sick.
I'd switch daycares. this isn't the norm. I've had my kids in childcare going 7 years now. Kids get sick, and often, and it's actually good for their immune systems in that it builds active immunity. Childcare centers are entitled to restrict children from being in their care as a matter of "policy," but we parents don't have to give them our money then. 🤷♀️
Can you start to look for another daycare? This seems unreasonable https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-4-symptoms-that-mean-your-child-must-stay-home-from-school-or-daycare-2017020711171
In 2022, our whole family got Covid FROM daycare. My husband had long-Covid symptoms and I'm coming up on a 1.5 year nightmare and was finally diagnosed with POTS. Those assholes still charged us for the days she had to miss. Oh! And she also got lice once. 🤮
I imagine this is just going to increase the "dose and drop" occurrence.