Toddler Constantly Sick--gets Better --Back to Daycare--sick Again?????? Help!!

Hi K. ,

I am going thru the same stuff as you .Its been 5 weeks only since i put my 2 year old in day care and she got three ear infection not to mention fever and continious cold.

I feel guilty and terrible and may be if the saga continious I will be on the verge of quitting my job .

Sounds like she has more kids than she is licensed for. She should be santizing the toys (a couple times a week), but most do it daily to every other day. I would consider interviewing and finding a new daycare. Children are constantly touching other kids and the toys they are playing with and the germs spread horribly. My son just got over pneumonia and it came from daycare...she may also need to crack down on the kids that are coming to daycare sick all the time as well, those parents should be held responsible for their sick children and keep them home when they are ill. Hang in there.

find somewhere else for your daughter the provider isnt cleaning to well or its something in her house that makes your daughter sick. see if other kids get sick like your daughter if not then your daughter is being affected by something in the house if she stays well at your house then hire someone you can trust to watch her at your house good luck

It would be hard to pin point the exact reason for your child's illnesses but the first thing that came to my mind would be allergies. If she's home, she's okay but if she's at daycare, she gets a cold? There may be something at the daycare that she's allergic to. As far as the number of children, hopefully she has help (you didn't mention any)because it seems like her provider-child ratio is way over allowed. She could be picking it up from other kids. Or your provider might not be getting things as clean as she should (or in some cases, too clean. It's proven that a super clean, disinfected house will lead to a sicker child. They can't build up immunities to things). I definitely think it's time to sit down with your provider and discuss the situation and find a solution. If she's not cooperative, find a new daycare. Good luck!

K.,
My son is 10 now and I can totally understand your frustration with all of the illnesses. My son has been in daycare since he was 8 weeks old so I am familiar with the phone calls and doctor visits. It does get better! Hang in there.

In the mean time, check on the laws and ask about how the provider disinfects toys and equipment. You have every right to ask those questions. Ask what the schedule is for disinfecting!

In the mean time you may want to start asking around about a different daycare...

Best of luck,
C.

I would question how the daycare person is cleaning. I am starting an in-home daycare with my sister and we are planning on having 8 kids between the 2 of us. She can have 12 kids for 1 person depending on how she is licensed and if they all come daily. I dont think she can have 4 under the age of 2, though, unless they have rotating schedules. I would consider switching if you think your daughter would get better care with someone else. You want to find someone who has a good policy for sick kids and one that cleans the toys regularly.

Honestly I think your provider has way too many kids! I run an inhome as well and my max is 5 including my son. We had one round of a cold this winter because the 5yr old goes to preschool but that's it. I have worked in daycares of "normal" larger sizes and I just did not like how they were run- my nephew goes to one of the better ones and he is still ALWAYS in need of a kleenex I feel so bad for him!
I guess my advice would be to find a new smaller inhome, maybe hire a mom to come over or a nanny??? I know it is insane finding care that you like but if it's really bothering you and your daughter that's what I would do.
Good Luck!!

First of all, is this home provider licensed by the state and is she the only provider there? If so she should not have more than 8 children at a time and no more than two children under the age of two (in the state of WI, I saw you were in MN). You might want to check up on that first of all. There is no way one person can properly care for 12 children, let alone 4 under the age of two. I have been a daycare provider for 6 years but have decided to be a SAHM until my youngest son starts school. He was constantly sick while in daycare. I mean sick to the point of being hospitalized a LOT! As soon as I stopped taking him to daycare he stopped getting sick. His asthma has become nearly nonexistant and he has only been to the dr for his regular checkups.
Ask your provider how often she sanitizes her toys and what she uses to sanitize them. The toys should be cleaned with a bleach solution EVERY DAY! As should everything else in her house that the children come into contact with. The table, the eating utensils, the door knobs, etc. If the children take a nap there no one should be sharing sheets or blankets under any circumstances and everything should be washed in hot water one a week (probably by the parents). If things don't clear up soon I would probably call the state licensing department and have them check it out. I probably wouldn't give them your name just tell them that you think something is up. Basically what you stated in your post just don't give any revealing information about yourself or your daughter and don't tell the provider. Sometimes they can get very biter when you call someone on them and they get in trouble. If she is licensed or if she's not she's probably in violation of rules and regulations, that equals fines and only 'X' amount of days to fix the problem. If she's not licensed she should caring for 3 or more children. Good luck! I know it's frustrating but it gets better with age.

I definately think you should start looking for a new daycare. That is too many children especially the young ones. Unfortunately, a new daycare means new germs. Some kids just are sick. I worked in a daycare setting and my youngest was always sick. I probably took her to the doctor two times a month. I quit my job in December of 2005 and we went to the doctor one time the entire year of 2006. My doctor actually thought we left his clinic. She has been so healthy since I've become a SAHM. Hang in there but definately look for another daycare. I would also call the County just to check what she is licensed for.

I am a lioensed in-home provider in MN and she has too many kids if she is by herself. There is a license that allows for 12 kids, but only 2 can be under 2 (1 under 1). Here are all of the limitations: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/9502/0367.html
I would definitely look for a new provider.

Hi K.,
It sounds like there are too many kids at your daughters daycare. I am a licensed daycare provider and my Max is 10 kids. I am allowed 2 under tweleve month, 3 total under 2 and then 3 preschoolers and the rest have to be school age, 5 or over. Six is the most I will take and I only do that 2 days a week and six is alot to attend to and keep track of. I also wash the toys as best I can after someone has been sick. I think I would start looking around for something else. If she isn't staying in the guidlines of children in care she probably isn't following some of the other rules that the county has for home daycares.

I agree with the others that the number of kids she has seems really high. I know (from working in a center in Dane County, WI) that you are allowed 8 kids to 1 worker...and if there is any under 2 years old then they count as 2 kids. So 4 infants = the limit. I would say start looking for something else...but also be sure that you let her know why you are leaving. My oldest went to an inhome daycare before my youngest was born and didn't have more then 4 to 5 colds in a year...and nothing worse.
Good luck!!
Jess

I see you are from MN...well licensing allows for 12 kids at once, but only 2 can be under 24 mos...unless she has a variance in place, but they are not as likely to grant those for infant and toddler spots, especially when overall enrollment is that high...so first of all, I would be checking on that.....ask to see her license (mine makes me post it in my entryway...many licensors want it in the daycare area, but it should be visible...you shouldn't really have to ask to see it I think, it should be there anyways).....but it does sound like you are feeling and seeing red flags...I always tell parents to go with their gut...it means something!

Kids do get sick more in home care situations...and as a provider, I know I am the bad guy alot of times in making parents follow the 24 hour rule with illness, etc...but I do it for myself and my 12 yr old daughter too...lots of handwashing and disinfecting..we go thru alot of bleach around here! But prevention IS the key....we have had a much better year around here than some in the past!

I would have a conversation with your provider...can't hurt to discuss some things in a non-confrontational way...but remember, she may be doing all the right things and kids are still gonna get sick...they pick it up at the grocery store and McDonalds (OMG those ball crawls and junk are the worst things on the planet for spreading germs...how often do you think all those surfaces are cleaned...ish!)and everywhere else they go...please don't blame it all on daycare. I follow all the rules, go above and beyond and clean (my hands look hideous from cleaning)..and kids still get sick.....just maybe not quite as much I hope....my little corner of the world...I do what I can......

Consider too if its a runny nose, itchy thorat, cough sneezy thing...could be allergy to something at dc home? pet dander from there or on another child coming in there??? certain plants or dust or who knows what they are coming into contact with there that they are not at home?????

Good luck!

Our pediatrician says that kids by the age of 10 all have the same number of illnesses- but those kids who go to daycare early in life, experience them all in their first few years, but will have less later. He told us every toddler averages 10-12 viruses per year.

I have to agree with everyone else! She does seem to have too many children! How clean is she keeping all surfaces of her home? I personally would look somewhere else for care! If you are not comfortable, that is all that matters, because you are MOM!
As a day care provider, I sometimes get offended that parents are constantly blaming day care for their child being sick! I personally clean and clean and clean everyday! Naptime is not rest time for me! Just remember that if your child is sick to keep them out for 24 hours after the fever breaks or diarhea stops! Otherwise, you are just as responsible for spreading the germs!

Sounds like your "mommy-radar" is going off. You are right that in any daycare setting kids are more apt to get illnesses, but what you are going through seems a bit excessive. I would wonder if your provider is disinfecting things daily. I think I would be looking for a new daycare situation if I was in your shoes. Sorry.
L.

Sounds to me like you're better off looking for another inhome daycare. I'm told that state requires 1 attendant for every 4 infants and 1 attendant for every 7 toddlers...12 to 1 is not following state regulations and you can be certain that care is not adequate enough! And if she's not following state regulations, I doubt she may be following other rules and standards. I have to agree with the other moms...start looking elsewhere...