Dose and Drops...UGH!

[Brustkt]

How do you all handle dose and drops? I had two dcf do it this week! Very frustrating! Now 3/4 of my daycare is out with bronchitis.
Monday dcm drops son off and says he has a little cough so she gave him some Tylenol. I just looked at her confused... Didn't know Tylenol helped coughs! He then proceeded to hack all over everyone and spread his germs. Precisely after nap time...BAM! 103 degree fever! Now everyone is coughing and another mom dosed and dropped (Tylenol) on Thurs. 103 degree fever...right after nap! I'm very frustrated and feel like this should be addressed but not sure how to do it! Suggestions?

[Babyluver21]

How do you all handle dose and drops? I had two dcf do it this week! Very frustrating! Now 3/4 of my daycare is out with bronchitis.
Monday dcm drops son off and says he has a little cough so she gave him some Tylenol. I just looked at her confused... Didn't know Tylenol helped coughs! He then proceeded to hack all over everyone and spread his germs. Precisely after nap time...BAM! 103 degree fever! Now everyone is coughing and another mom dosed and dropped (Tylenol) on Thurs. 103 degree fever...right after nap! I'm very frustrated and feel like this should be addressed but not sure how to do it! Suggestions?

That is grounds for immediate termination in my contract. If you want to give a warning, I'd explain the next time this happens, it's IMMEDIATE term, NO exceptions. There were some illnesses I would actually accept, and told them to always contact me if they weren't sure, and that they MAY not get a "yes" but they might. If they got a "NO" and tried the dose and leave, I'd say "Um, sorry, termed!!!"

[CraftyMom]

That is grounds for immediate termination in my contract. If you want to give a warning, I'd explain the next time this happens, it's IMMEDIATE term, NO exceptions. There were some illnesses I would actually accept, and told them to always contact me if they weren't sure, and that they MAY not get a "yes" but they might. If they got a "NO" and tried the dose and leave, I'd say "Um, sorry, termed!!!"

My policy is the same, termination. Only problem though how to prove it?? It's always denied by dcp

[MotherNature]

If they don't inform me that their kid is medicated,it's immediate termination. Too much liability if their kid starts having a seizure or something. You could take them to the hospital, and they'd get overdosed b/c you didn't know they had been given meds. Yup-termed immediately.

[Brustkt]

Ok thanks ladies. I will update my policies. Dcm that dosed and dropped on Monday texted me yesterday and asked if anyone else is coughing. I replied "yes...so nice of your son to share on Monday!"

[Blackcat31]

My policy is the same, termination. Only problem though how to prove it?? It's always denied by dcp

It's easy to prove when the kid starts running a temp at the 4 hour mark...

Also, I would term immediately too if someone doped their kid and dropped them off but one of the best ways to curb that possibility is having the 24/48 hour exclusion rule.

If a parent chooses to keep their sick child home, then the child must remain out of care until 24 hours AFTER all symptoms have subsided.

If a child is sent home from daycare sick, the child must remain out of care until 48 hours AFTER all symptoms have subsided.

Having that rule really makes parents have to step up and evaluate their child's health on their own. It makes them take responsibility in making that call. They can either err on the side of caution and only miss one day of work or they can send their child to care and risk having to miss 2 days of work.

I learned this from Cat Herder (lovethis) and other than a few tips and tricks I 've learned from Nan, there is NO other rule in regards to daycare that works so wonderfully well.

I didn't really think it would work when I first heard it but I can honestly say that since implementing the 24/48 hour rule, I have had NO incidences of illness here. None in almost 2 years now.

[MarinaVanessa]

I specifically point out in my policies that I do not allow dope-and-drops and that doing so is grounds for termination. I go beyond that and say that if a child needs over-the-counter medication of any sort then the child is too sick/in pain to come to daycare ... including teething infants. If the child is on meds, the child stays home.

I also specifically point out to them that we have the dope-and-drop term. The 48 hour exclusion policy also helps a lot.
Child is sick so parent keeps child home = 24 hour exclusion AFTER symptoms go away AND is medication free.
Child gets sick at daycare and is sent home = 48 hour exclusion AFTER symptoms go away AND is medication free.

[Brustkt]

Wow! I love that 24/48 hour rule! Definitely using that one in my policies...along with no meds before daycare!

[Cradle2crayons]

I use he 24/48 hour rule also. And dope and drop is also immediate termination here too... And I explain that very clearly during interview when I go over my illness policy.

[Blackcat31]

I specifically point out in my policies that I do not allow dope-and-drops and that doing so is grounds for termination. I go beyond that and say that if a child needs over-the-counter medication of any sort then the child is too sick/in pain to come to daycare ... including teething infants. If the child is on meds, the child stays home.

I also specifically point out to them that we have the dope-and-drop term. The 48 hour exclusion policy also helps a lot.
Child is sick so parent keeps child home = 24 hour exclusion AFTER symptoms go away AND is medication free.
Child gets sick at daycare and is sent home = 48 hour exclusion AFTER symptoms go away AND is medication free.

Discussing your illness rules/policies and your unwillingness to ever bend or waive them during the interview process makes a HUGE difference.

If it is important enough for you to spend 10-15 minutes covering it while interviewing, then parents know up front what to expect and how rigid you will be with your rules.

[TwinKristi]

I would send home a very obvious letter updating or reminding everyone of your sick policy and basically calling out the moms (obviously not naming them) for doing this. I would explain that while illnesses happen and it's normal in young children, especially in group care, that alternate care plans need to be utilized and NOT brought to daycare. Due to people bringing their sick children, medicated to mask symptoms, several friends have gotten sick now and other parents are missing work not to mention the risk of you/your family getting sick and having to close causing everyone to miss work/income plus extra cleaning on your part to sanitize. Is missing a day or two of work to care for your sick child really worth that? Put in bold, failure to comply with your illness policy will result in immediate termination.

I had a mom question my policy when I sent her son home with a sore on his lips. I explained I have and would send anyone else home just the same to prevent her child from getting sick as well. Its this mentality that their life/job/child/money is so much more important than anyone else's. Now it's costing these families money in dr's visits, medication, missed work and potentially costing you money if you have to close for the day. It's so rude. The first year I did care this one mom (my only family at the time) brought her son sick numerous times. I know she knew he was sick, but didn't want to call in before work, and would rather I called her later and make her come get him kinda thing. She often brought him to work with her, which made me feel bad for poor sick DCB, and I'd often just let him take his nap and have her pick up early. Of course my DS got sick, I got sick, all my kids got sick... bad move!! Then she got used to this treatment and continued doing it. Last summer I was in the hospital for a double staph infection in my finger and dh was my backup. He texts me and says DCB has a fever of 103! I said to have him picked up NOW and he said she asked if he could nap there and she'd pick up early. I knew otherwise he'd end up sitting at her work, burning up sick, but of course the next week my DS ended up sick and had a fever of 105!! I was so mad!

[NoMoreJuice!]

Wish I had been mean!

Just had to send a dcb home this morning. Got here at 5:30AM, went back to bed until 8:30, woke up with a horrible fever and cough. I called dcd, he admitted to giving tylenol at 5am because dcb "felt kinda warm and had a cough." GRRRRR. I asked him to pick up ASAP, and told him that he is never to bring a sick child here again. When he picked up (looking guilty) he said "You didn't have to be so mean about it."

Dude, I was holding back to sound more professional. You want to hear MEAN??

[Blackcat31]

. When he picked up (looking guilty) he said "You didn't have to be so mean about it."

Before I had a chance to slap my hand over my mouth, I probably would have replied "You didn't have to be so stupid either."

[NoMoreJuice!]

Hehe

Before I had a chance to slap my hand over my mouth, I probably would have replied "You didn't have to be so stupid either."

Hehe!

[Leanna]

Just wondering how you all enforce the "without meds" part of the 24/48 hour exclusion policy. If they deny giving meds what can one really do? I am seriously asking.