My baby began daycare on Monday. This weekend, I developed a runny nose and was sneezing a lot. My baby appears to be fine for the time being, but I’m considering keeping him out of daycare in case he spreads whatever virus I have before he develops symptoms. My spouse feels it’s fine to send the baby to daycare because he’s not feverish, coughing, or sneezing. This is an uncharted area for me. What would you do?
I would 100% send them
It happens to me very frequently; if the infant is healthy, it is best to send them to daycare. If they are sick, kids should stay at home; however, if they are not sick and are staying at home with a sick mother, it makes recovery more difficult for the mother.
That’s considerate of you, but I wouldn’t. There will be many occasions when your child will be sick and unable to attend daycare. This may affect your work plans or other commitments. I would not squander a healthy day by keeping them home. If you’re unwell enough, you might wish to take the time to recover without having to care for the infant.
No symptoms, send to daycare
No way. Children arrive at my daycare with coughs, runny noses, and other symptoms.
When I arrived, every single child had a runny nose, and they all seemed to have a persistent cough during the first six months of daycare.
Yes, it’s the worst. The approach appears to be “let them get sick” rather than patrolling coughs and runny noses.
I believe it would be impossible, as it would require one-on-one treatment to alleviate illness. Even still, as soon as they can move and put objects (i.e. everything) in their mouths, disease strikes.
My daughter’s daycare has a 24-hour fever rule; if there is no fever after 24 hours, the infant can be sent to daycare, even with chickenpox. It’s ridiculous, and everyone just sends their kids to daycare, even if they still have a runny nose, etc. On the positive side, those children have a strong immune system at around 3 years old.
Yeah, I find it really wild. I understand that as adults, we go to work with a cough or runny nose, but we can wash our hands, cover our faces, and so on. Limiting the spread.
Send him.
Others will make him sick. He will make others sick…
My younger sibling attended barely 60% of the time. The remaining 40% of her time was spent sick.
It’s the daycare lifestyle.
The first year of daycare is difficult; the baby was sick almost constantly for the first few months, and I have never been sicker in my life.