Daycare Frustration

Letitia - posted on 03/02/2010

having worked in a day care for 4 yrs Id recommend that you just ask how much they sanitize their toys. Yes germs are a part of every childs life and I know how hard it is to keep every little thing clean every time it makes its way into someones mouth but at least once a week toys should be sanitized. Bleach water is the best. This should be day care 101 for any caregiver and it does make a difference. Runny noses happen but my daughter caught pneumonia after 4 others had it because her teacher wasnt doing what she was supposed to and as much as I have had to deal with my baby being sick I do not take lightly to someone being lazy. Little things can turn into big things in little ones fast.

Ambra - posted on 01/24/2010

If I kept my daughter home every day she had a runny nose she'd hardly go a day between November and April and I'd lose my job. It's not a question of not caring or of being desperate. Of course I care. On the other hand, it is completely normal for kids to be sick quite often as babies and it actually increases their immunity to common germs when they get older, which is good since most germs tend to be more severe the older kids are when they catch them. Kids who have been in daycare and exposed to germs have been proven in many studies to have fewer sick days in school because they have developed greater immunity at a younger age.



The other thing to consider is that, as with my daughter, a runny nose is not always a sign she is sick. She has allergies and also tends to have a runny nose when she is teething. Try not to judge too much! A fever-- yes she should stay home. Vomiting, yes she should stay home. A cough? Runny nose? Welcome to winter!!

Ldoo - posted on 01/20/2010

Yeah, it sucks, but what can you do? Any real day care will send a kid home if they have a fever or are diagnosed with something contagious.

Other than that, germs are a fact of life. Kids have snotty noses, and you can't leave your kid home every time they have boogers, otherwise they'd never go to day care. :)

Just think - your kid is getting immunities now that her body has to get used to.

My daughter was sick constantly those first 6 months or so of day care. Now it's been quite a while since she's been sick.

Vanessa - posted on 01/19/2010

I hear ya!! Some parents either don't care or they may be desperate. But the stream of runny noses doesn't end at the daycare ever!