by Jen Thorpe

Created on: September 10, 2008

We all know how miserable we feel as we struggle through a work day when we are sick, and should be resting at home. Now, imagine how much more difficult it is for a small child, or infant, to try and do the same thing! Sick children should not be dropped off at their day care centers on days they are too sick to be there. As a former day care teacher, I can attest that many parents have a hard time trying to figure out what, exactly, constitutes being "too sick for day care". Many day care centers will provide parents with a list of symptoms that indicate that a child is too sick to come to day care that day. For those of you whose day care centers did not provide you with a handy list, I will give you a good one to use.

The following symptoms mean your child is too sick for day care.

*Body temperature of 100 (F) or higher.

Normal human body temperature is 98.8 (F). A higher body temperatures means your child is running a fever. A fever could indicate anything from a cold, to an infection, all of which are going to be contagious to everyone who interacts with your child that day. A high fever can quickly become dangerous in an infant or very young child, much faster than it would in adults. Few day care workers will have the proper nursing experience to recognize precisely when your child will need to be rushed to the hospital due to excessively high fever. If your child feels especially warm, check his or her temperature. If it turns out your child has a fever, don't take the risk. Keep your child home from day care that day. In my experience, some parents will choose to dodge this rule, and dose their child, (or infant), with aspirin moments before dropping them off at day care. This is a bad plan. Realize that as soon as the aspirin wears off, your child's fever will return, he or she will be miserable, and you will be receiving a call from the day care center to come and pick up your child anyway.

*Vomiting

If your child has vomited this morning, or anytime last night starting with after dinner, then your child is too sick for day care today. Flu bugs tend to last twenty four hours, and sometimes last more. The flu is something else that is contagious to anyone who encounters the child with the flu, especially if the child vomits in the classroom. Let your child stay home until they get through twenty four hours without throwing up. Some parents will bring their small child into day care if the child vomited last night, but "seems fine" this morning. Realize

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