Creche - Should I take my child off Creche?

outlooks

Hi everyone, I have a 2 year old one that started Creche about a two month ago. On the first week he got a stomach bug so was sent home for 3 days. When back to the Creche, got rainy nose and occasionally had temperature. After another week got the stomach bug again and was sent home for another 3 days. When back to the chreche got chicken pox. Was sent home again for a week. When back to the Creche got conjuctivitis and spent another week at home. At this stage I'm starting to wonder if this is normal or if I should pull him out of Creche. Management say they clean the Creche and it is the fact that parents just bring their kids sick that causes the issues. Looking for other people's experience.

strawberrie

To be honest I think this happens to all children when they start to socialise more whether it is in a play group, creche or school. They are exposed to more than they would be in the family home. Their bodies fight off these new infections and build up resistance to them over time. If you are particularly concerned about your child I would see your family doctor. They could be run down from fighting one infection after the other leaving them less able to fight off the next. I doubt it is anything in particular the creche are doing that is causing this. Of course you are right that children who are unwell should be kept at home and cared for until fully recovered, this would mean less exposure to infection for the other children.

neris

outlooks wrote: »

it is the fact that parents just bring their kids sick that causes the issues. Looking for other people's experience.

This does happen alot or what also happens is a child gets sick or unwell early in the day and their parents are rang to tell them they have to take the child out due to its illness but the parents dont bother coming till collection time that evening. So you then have a sick child in the creche who is suffering and uncomfortable all day and what ever they are suffering from could be getting passed around.

strawberrie

It is the parents responsibility to collect their child if they are called to say the child is sick. The creche could make a report to social services if they are concerned that the parents are neglecting their child by ignoring the fact that they are ill and leaving them all day in the creche after being called and this is happening repeatedly.

riffmongous

Out of interest do you have to pay for all the missed time?

Sleeper12

My daughter has been a childminder in creches for a number of years. She says parents tend to bring the kids in knowing that they are ill. I'm not pointing fingers here. It must be a tough decision, sick child, mortgage due, broken washing machine has to be paid for etc. Anyway lots of sick kids playing together in close contact.

outlooks

riffmongous wrote: »

Out of interest do you have to pay for all the missed time?

I do yes. No deduction or anything like that. However that is a good point that I'll bring to the manager next time.

outlooks

Sleeper12 wrote: »

My daughter has been a childminder in creches for a number of years. She says parents tend to bring the kids in knowing that they are ill. I'm not pointing fingers here. It must be a tough decision, sick child, mortgage due, broken washing machine has to be paid for etc. Anyway lots of sick kids playing together in close contact.

That's a fair point. Some of these problems are not addressed properly or mitigated by the management. I was surprised with a number of things during first week, but being new to this I just let it roll. At first I was surprised to see all kids wearing shoes in the play room, walking around on the carpet, where they crawl, play, etc. Even in Funky Monkeys kids have to take off their shoes.

Another one was to see a lot of kids with rainy noses, where their only option was to wipe it with their tongues.

I was also surprised when I was told that childminders were the ones cleaning the place. This should not be their job and if anything they should call a company to wipe all the bugs at the end of the day. A last small one but maybe relevant is that clothes don't last long. They get all types of things, from food to whatever so maybe some smocks would make sense.

Overall I'm probably being over zealous but it just seems to make sense and would avoid a lot of these issues.

huskerdu

It may be that the standards in your crèche are not as high as in some very well run crèches but it is normal for kids who are new in childcare to get every germ going for a few months. Even with the highest of hygiene standards, your child is now spending the day for the first time in close quarters with lots of other kids. The same thing has happened to me and loads of other parents I know.

Some parents don't keep their kids out enough when sick, or don't recognise the symptoms early. Again, you are very unlikely to find a crèche where this doesn't happen.

BTW, I have never heard of a crèche, ever, who given money back because your child is out sick. Id be very surprised if that was entertained.

I do sympathise, its hard leaving your child for the first time, and you will always worry that you haven't chosen the right place,

If you are unhappy with the crèche, you should try to find somewhere else, but you will have to accept the reality of this form of childcare.

outlooks

Hi,

Thank you all for sharing your views. My son just got another winter bug from the creche today. Third one. I spoke to the manager and it seems that kids usually only get two and should be fine afterwards. Did anyone had kids with more than two gastroenteritis in a year?

lawred2

outlooks wrote: »

Hi everyone, I have a 2 year old one that started Creche about a two month ago. On the first week he got a stomach bug so was sent home for 3 days. When back to the Creche, got rainy nose and occasionally had temperature. After another week got the stomach bug again and was sent home for another 3 days. When back to the chreche got chicken pox. Was sent home again for a week. When back to the Creche got conjuctivitis and spent another week at home. At this stage I'm starting to wonder if this is normal or if I should pull him out of Creche. Management say they clean the Creche and it is the fact that parents just bring their kids sick that causes the issues. Looking for other people's experience.

It's 100% normal.

Every child goes through this at the start. It's a pain but nothing to worry about. It will pass.

It's just their immune system needs to fill in a few gaps. And there's nowhere better than creche to do it.

evolving_doors

Ya I think it's run of the mill to catch everything when they're new!
But you seem to be getting the bad end of the stick!
I'd give it one or 2 more tries then try another place if it's possible... although, will it be a whole new bunch of germs to get used to again?
Apart from the cleaning aspect, is there a hand washing policy.

outlooks

Gebgbegb wrote: »

Ya I think it's run of the mill to catch everything when they're new!
But you seem to be getting the bad end of the stick!
I'd give it one or 2 more tries then try another place if it's possible... although, will it be a whole new bunch of germs to get used to again?
Apart from the cleaning aspect, is there a hand washing policy.

I have not seen the hand wash policy. Things have improved and I rang a couple of other crèches and it seems that the winter was too damp and this year there was a spike of chicken pox and stomach bugs. After this summer if the bugs are back again then there's definitely lack of cleaning in that Creche. Also conjuctivitis is avoidable as it's due a lot to hygiene.

happywithlife

Have 3 in crèche so my two cents worth is to give your child bio cult or some other probiotic to help build up his tummy after so many bugs. Get the infant sachet version even though at two he could take the adult form - but those capsules are awkward at that age
Did he start crèche very quickly full time with any lead in time? I found with my smallest (and sickest) child I had to revert to a 2 day week for a few months and it's actually only recently he has started back full time - though he does have other health issues
They don't always get smocks but my creche does use them for smaller children. There's also a no shoe policy in the two youngest rooms but it doesn't apply from the toddler room up as I guess they are expected to be able to wipe their shoes.
Immunity will build so personally i think if you can stick it out give it a minimum of 6 months before changing or else reduce hours for a short time frame if possible