What would you text to DCM?

[TaylorTots]

DCG 12m drops off today with runny nose and cough. I don't exclude for either. Mom says she didn't sleep well between cough and cutting teeth. She feels warm, I take temp and it is 99.5.

My cutoff is 100.0

I had a parent call Monday with a case of strep for another DCK - which means DCK was likely contagious when she was here on Friday (with DCG).


I was thinking of putting DCG in a separate area with some toys in a pack and play to minimalize exposure to my other toddler (since DCG mouths everything), as well as sending a text to mom to give her a heads up (this DCM makes any illness pick up a HUGE deal and headache).

I stink at composing texts like this, can you guys help? What would you send?


Oh, and how often do you check temperatures when you suspect a fever impending?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I do warn parents. "Hey Sue, I just wanted to give you a head's up that Sally has a rising temperature accompanying her runny nose and cough. It is 99.5 at this point in time. I will keep you informed on if she needs to be picked up. Have a nice Wednesday!"

[DaisyMamma]

I do warn parents. "Hey Sue, I just wanted to give you a head's up that Sally has a rising temperature accompanying her runny nose and cough. It is 99.5 at this point in time. I will keep you informed on if she needs to be picked up. Have a nice Wednesday!"

[taylorw1210]

I do warn parents. "Hey Sue, I just wanted to give you a head's up that Sally has a rising temperature accompanying her runny nose and cough. It is 99.5 at this point in time. I will keep you informed on if she needs to be picked up. Have a nice Wednesday!"

I did the same last Monday for a new-start. Texted the mom to keep her informed. The DCG's temperature ended up spiking to 102 after nap and she tested positive for strep that afternoon.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I did the same last Monday for a new-start. Texted the mom to keep her informed. The DCG's temperature ended up spiking to 102 after nap and she tested positive for strep that afternoon.

EVERY child that I send a warning text for spikes soon after (within a couple of hours). The parents at least had warning so if they are the Doctor taking type most have scheduled an appointment just in case. It works well.

Now, I did have ONE family who always had an excuse every single time their child was ill. Allergies, too much watermelon, too much granola, etc. I never warned them. The one time I did the Mom wanted me to text her a picture of the symptom I was texting about so she could ask her "Doctor friends." The child was ill (which showed up by temp later and the Mom disputed that my thermometer wasn't the best of the best and THAT was why her daughter had a temp.) but her Doctor friend's diagnosed that she wasn't contagious over the phone. ::

[Blackcat31]

Like ECS, I send a "head's up" text if I anticipate someone needing to be pickup or if they begin to show the first signs of illness.

I have a couple DCF's that like to see their Dr for any type of illness so the text serves it's purpose.

OP~ I look at the over-all behavior of the child and not just the fever, or possibility of one. If the child is at 99.5 AND the behavior is out of the ordinary or the child is having difficulty participating in normal activities, I will still send them home.

Sometimes catching the bug and treating it with rest AT HOME helps minimize the likelihood of the child actually getting sick/sicker.

[CraftyMom]

My policy says child is excluded for fever, I do not give a number. My state says 100, however, if it's 99.5 it will almost definitely be 100 soon, so I would exclude. Also, if a child has any fever they are usually showing it through crankiness or behavior and should be home

I have REALLY tightened down on my illness policy. I'm done with games and illness in my home

[cheerfuldom]

I would text them to pickup now. The fever combined with the symptoms says without a doubt that she is sick. I would not haggle over half a degree. More than likely, she will be warmer by the time the parents come anyway. I wouldnt say the number either, just that she has a fever and needs to go home.

[TaylorTots]

Thanks ladies. I texted DCM with "Hey DCM, I just wanted to give you a head's up that DCG has a rising temperature accompanying her runny nose and cough. It is 99.5 at this point in time. I will keep you informed on if she needs to be picked up. I got another report from a parent today of another daycare child being diagnosed with strep last night. Have a nice Wednesday!"

She replied: "I almost kept her home today too. I put sub in system so once sub comes I will be able to leave." (Teacher @ school 35 minutes away).



I guess my other question is what is reasonable for pickup time once I tell DCM that DCG has to be picked up? I know she has a 35 minute commute on top of waiting for a sub (which she already requested). My other DCFs have at least one parent or relative that works/lives locally so they can pick up within 20-30 minutes. This one always stretches from 1-2 hours from the pick up call but I know that they don't have any local relatives (45 minutes away) and they both have a work commute.

[TickleMonster]

I would text them to pickup now. The fever combined with the symptoms says without a doubt that she is sick. I would not haggle over half a degree. More than likely, she will be warmer by the time the parents come anyway. I wouldnt say the number either, just that she has a fever and needs to go home.

yep yep did this yesterday with both our babies

[Blackcat31]

I guess my other question is what is reasonable for pickup time once I tell DCM that DCG has to be picked up? I know she has a 35 minute commute on top of waiting for a sub (which she already requested). My other DCFs have at least one parent or relative that works/lives locally so they can pick up within 20-30 minutes. This one always stretches from 1-2 hours from the pick up call but I know that they don't have any local relatives (45 minutes away) and they both have a work commute.

I give parents 45 minutes to retrieve their child.

I live in a smaller community that doesn't experience many traffic issues and none of my parents work farther than 15 minutes away so 45 is my MAX allowable time for them to either close up whatever they were doing at work and come get their child or for them to make arrangements to send someone else.

[TaylorTots]

I'm actually really happy with my illness policy as it is When I have had illness policy abuse in the past I just term. There is no warnings or anything. It works well for me and I don't want to change it.

However, I do suck at wording things in text to parents - which is what I needed help with. You guys phrase things SO much better than I do!

[TaylorTots]

I give parents 45 minutes to retrieve their child.

I live in a smaller community that doesn't experience many traffic issues and none of my parents work farther than 15 minutes away so 45 is my MAX allowable time for them to either close up whatever they were doing at work and come get their child or for them to make arrangements to send someone else.

I figure 1 hour should do because if these parents take 35 minutes to commute and grandparents are 45 minutes away, that allows time for a phone call/traffic/etc.

It's such a hard call with this family - I know how it can be hard when you have no family around to help and can't get free - I used to pre-k teach and DH traveled (and we lived 1.5 hours from ANY family, had no local friends) so when kids were sick I was often up a creek -- DH being 2 hours away or more and me not being able to leave 12 preschoolers without a sub of some kind.

[Cradle2crayons]

Thanks ladies. I texted DCM with "Hey DCM, I just wanted to give you a head's up that DCG has a rising temperature accompanying her runny nose and cough. It is 99.5 at this point in time. I will keep you informed on if she needs to be picked up. I got another report from a parent today of another daycare child being diagnosed with strep last night. Have a nice Wednesday!"

She replied: "I almost kept her home today too. I put sub in system so once sub comes I will be able to leave." (Teacher @ school 35 minutes away).



I guess my other question is what is reasonable for pickup time once I tell DCM that DCG has to be picked up? I know she has a 35 minute commute on top of waiting for a sub (which she already requested). My other DCFs have at least one parent or relative that works/lives locally so they can pick up within 20-30 minutes. This one always stretches from 1-2 hours from the pick up call but I know that they don't have any local relatives (45 minutes away) and they both have a work commute.

great job!!

My parents commute an hour each way, so I give them an hour give or take. I know the waitress mom has to transfer her tables, etc. Another mom actually works 1.5 hours away but dad works 45 minutes away so he's the illness picker upper. Their dr is in our small town though.

I also give a heads up as soon as I can.

[TaylorTots]

She just picked up - I suggested she make a doctor appointment when she texted me that she had a sub and was leaving work. She was hurrying with DCG out the door so she could make it to the appt she made.

If I were a gambler I would bet a days worth of diaper changes that she has strep.

I will only have 2 DCKs tomorrow at this rate...wow.