Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

Cailen is going thru teething, as I've whined on here many times, and he also has had this cough and congestion thing that no matter how many times I call Dr. Cavanaugh,, he assures me that its nothing serious...

Cailen's 2 teachers at daycare know him very well, and only call me when he has a high fever (or even 101 to let me know) and if he has diarrhea all day. Otherwise, they don't overeact with any of his symptoms. They know I am on top of things, and I always explain to them exactly what he is going through.

But the center hired this new woman. She seems very sweet - she is older - and is sort of like a big jewish grandma. I can tell she is going to be sweet, but a pain in the a$$.

I dropped him off on Fri - and I was concerned because both his teachers called out, and it was this grandma woman and this no-personality woman. I gave them the run down, and also told them that DH would be picking him up. I was a bit concerned about everything (as I posted)

DH picked him up (late - so he was in the late room with a different teacher) - DH told me that Cailen was very happy and giggly with this new teacher, and she gushed out how good he is. she made no mention to him seeming sick...

Cailen has his 4 month visit today (he's 19 weeks, but dr. wasn't available until this week.) It's at 12:00. I have to be at work for something at 3. I figured instead of dropping him off at daycare, getting him, then dropping him off again, I would drop him off in the afternoon, so I called his room to let the teacher know he would be in later. I tell her, and then she tells me H____ (older grandma lady) wants to speak to me...

She sounds very concerned - How's Cailen? I'm like - he's fine, he is getting his shots today, thats why he's going to dr... She asks me - "Does he have strep?" I say, no - not that I know of...



She tells me Cailen was VERY sick on Friday - he was very congested and warm. I told her that he has been to the dr. about that, and he's fine, but if there was a concern, I usually get called. She then says, "Let me know if he has strep, because then I'll get a culture."

I finally ask her, "What makes you think he might have strep???"

She then says, "Oh - its just that I was sick one of the days I was here, and my throat was bothering me, so I'm hoping that it wasnt strep..."



Why the HELL is she working with babies if she thinks she might have strep???????

Not for nothing, but daycare is for parents who can not afford to take time off work. If their child gets sick, that is really a difficult situation for them!!! Why would she jeapordize a child's health??? SHE should call in!!!

I didn't explode. I said - well, he was fine all weekend.

He was fine - we went to planting fields, to a restaurant... all over the place. The only thing I noticed was him sleeping excessively, but now I can hardly lift him he's so heavy and he cant fit into even more clothing, so I think it was a growth spurt. No fever. He didnt even cry about his gums this weekend. Just that damn cough...

BUT - how would I know if he DID have strep???

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

I would definitely be upset about that and even mention the conversation to the administration.

If she has an inkling that she may have strep, she should not be around ANY kids.

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

- My ped said it is very uncommon for babies that age to get strep.

I do agree that is she wasn't feeling well, she should have called in. Maybe being new to the job she didn't think she could?

I hope DS is ok!!

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

Let me a say a word on behalf of this woman. My daughter works in a daycare and it is not that easy to call in sick. They are required by the State to have a certain ratio and, if others are out, they HAVE to come in. My daughter went to work with pneumonia. She took her anitbiotics and was fine. She has seen other workers forced to come in when they were not feeling well because they were needed. Don't come down on her too hard. She's, probably, just being cautious. Of course, you wouldn't know if your child had strep unless he was checked. However, you know your child better than anyone and you would, probably, know if he was that sick. What she may consider very sick, you would not. She, really, does not know your child as the other teachers do and she just wants to make sure that he is fine.

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

I wouldbe so annoyed that I would call the daycare to complain. First off, if he were warm on Fri, it should have been mentioned at pick up...not Mon morning. Secondly, if she was sick, she should not be there and she should get her rear to her doc for a strep test...not wait to see if any of the babies test pos for it.

Strep in babies is very rare, but mention it to doc.

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

It's not a matter of looking "bad" or not getting paid. If you have worked in a daycare, then you know what goes on behind the scenes. My daughter is a floater, for the most part, and, even when she doesn't feel well, she has given these children excellent care. I know anyone who sends their child to daycare pays $$$ and I understand that they think that workers should stay home when they are not feeling well. That's just not feasible. Any daycare is a hotbed of germs. Children get each other sick, they get workers sick and workers get each other sick. That's just the way it is. You may not even know you are contagious until it is too late. If you called out everytime you weren't feeling well, you wouldn't have a job. Parents may see daycares as a place that cares for their children and should take any and all precautions at all times. In reality, this is a business and, as in all businesses, there is a bottom line. You can get as upset as you want, say what you want and talk to anyone you want and it will not change a thing. It may make it a little harder on this woman, but, in reality, it won't make one bit of difference.

As for my daughter, once she started taking the anitbiotics, she was fine. She didn't infect anyone and she did her job exceptionally well. She is dedicated to these children and while others may look at working in a daycare as "hell", she does not. She is on her feet for 10 hours a day and has not one complaint. She makes sure these children have everything they need. This is the type of person you want caring for your child. So, if you're going to complain about someone like her coming to work when she is not feeling well, then you can't complain when you are stuck with the ones who are only there because they want a job and couldn't care less about the children.

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)

IMO the daycare workers should have to follow the same policy as the daycare itself. You need to be fever free for 24 hours in my child's daycare. You need to be on an antibiotic 24 hours before they'll let you back.

Having a scratchy throat doesn't mean she has strep.

I would bring it to the director's attention (via email, if possible). All I would say is:

H mentioned to me that Cailen was "very sick", hot & congested at the daycare on Friday. In the future, please use the contact numbers in his file to contact either me or my husband.

H also mentioned that she wondering if it was strep because she had a sore throat. I spoke to my pediatrician who informed me that it was very rare that infants contract strep. (Dr. C told me the same thing about babies & strep)

I hope that if H has strep, you would post the contamination warning (IF THEY DO THAT - mine does).

eta. I would be angry that no one contacted me of the possiblity of strep & that he was sick more than anything else.

Message edited 8/13/2007 9:51:35 AM.

Re: Daycare question - am I overreacting??? Long (as posts like these typically are...)