What Would You Do? - Mesa,AZ

I do not believe for one second that the doctor did not say to bring the child in. I called the doctor when my daughter had a rash and they said they can not tell with a rash until they see it to know the origin. Due to liability anything of question the doctor will want to see the child. I personally would refuse the child to be around the other children until they have a doctors note clearing him, tell the parents that is not personal, because that is what majority of daycares request.

Are you serious! What parent would not take their child to the doctor. My Son had the same thing, and it was hives from eating nuts. I took him to the ER casue I was so worried. He had to be on an antibiotic and a prescrption antihistamine. That is terrible. I would make them take him to doctor, or even get someone else involved. That sounds like a child neglect case, not taking him to the doctor. How sad.

I would definatley send the child home and let them know that he can not return untill he has doctors release. They will probably get mad but it would be somewhat your fault if all the other children get sick and you let him stay. If it wasn't theirs they would probably not want their child around another sick child that you kept there. They should appreciate your concern for the child and all others, however being a daycare provider I know most parents only care if it could affect their own child, but yet when theirs is sick it is a big finacial and time burden to take time off for doctors. Good luck!!!

not knowing what the rash is or if it is contagious would worry me even more. I think you should just tell them that he cant come back until they get the ok from the doctor and tell them that there is other kids around him and you dont know what it is and are afraid of it being contagious. Good Luck!

www.janetesho.freelife.com

As a physician, I feel that you should never let any child attend daycare without a note from the doctor stating that the rash is not contagious and the child is okay to attend. There a many rashes that ARE contagious and can cause serious illness, especially if any of the other children in daycare are immunocompromised.

It is beyond explanation as to the ignorance of some parents. By all means...Send the child home until you get a note from a doctor saying he is well. If there is no compliance, call the CPS (child protective service)_ and tell them of this issue.
You don't know if the rash could be caused by food allergies, staph, or measles/chickenpox. If it is the later, others will be affected. Sounds as if it may be the same virus as your child had 2 weeks ago to me...Hope both of your children are doing well, and that the others in your care will be too...

Blessings,
C.

Hi Janelle- I would agree that no doctor would diagnose over the phone. They will always want to see a rash because it could from a number of things and could be more annoying to the child than you know. My daycare provider with my daughter does not allow children in with rashes unless they have been seen by a doctor.

I work for CPS and have seen a lot of medical neglect by parents, so my suggestion is to tell you to refuse care of the child and tell the parents that you will not accept him back until you have a note from the doctor stating he is not contagious. If you're really uncomfortable with the parents decision, you can call CPS and report it anonymously. 1-888-SOS-CHILD. If you are the care provider you have every right to refuse care. It's your business and you want it to run smoothly and not lose other children because of another parent's choices.

ABSOLUTELY.
Apart from a possible misdiagnosis, the parents should have taken him in from day one!
You also have a responsibility to the other children who are interacting with him, if it turns out to be something more serious - (heaven forbid) it cuts down the infection factor if he's not attending day care.
Also, I, as a Mom would want to know my child was safe when she was at daycare, & incidents such as this were addressed to the satisfaction & safety of everyone involved. HTH

I would hold the same policy as a large day care of school. If he showed up looking like that at a facility they would not allow him to stay correct? I know it has to be hard on you being a small day care but you have other little ones and yourself to worry about! Besides that I would think the parents would be a reck not knowing what cause the rash. My son had a bad rash all over his body when he was very young, I called the doctor and described it and they made me rush him in right away, turned out to be an alergy to the detergent we used (dreft no less!) but the doctor commented she wanted to make sure it was not strep. Make sure that they do go to the doctor and they present you a note that he is either ok to go to school and is healthy/not contagious or that he is allowed back in school on a specific date. Good Luck!

Please check for an external staph infection. My daughter had something like this it ended up really bad & she needed to be on heavy antibiotics.

you most definatley have to refuse to take him in until the rash has been cleared and the doctor says its not contagious. no doctor is going to write that unless he is certain. there is a possibility that he may have caught strep form your son and that his is just worse. and that it will spread to all the children in your care. and since you are responsible for them you need to look out for their wellbeing. that and you are running a business if you care for children and you could be sued by other parents if their ckids get sick and its something serious. if his parents arent responsible enough maybe by you refusing to take him it wll bacfk them into a corner and make them take care ofhim

Hi Janelle,
It is too bad that the parents don't take this as serious as you do. I am sure the rash makes him uncomfortable. An oatmeal bath may releave his discomfort some as well, but anyway, back to the problem.

Yes, in my view you should deny this child care. Rashes occur for several different reasons. It may be something this kid ate, strep as you mention, or some type of mytes. Google mytes and rash and I am sure you will get some amazing graphics.

Janelle,

You need to tell the parents that the child can't return to daycare until he has seen a Dr. and they can't say he's not contagious. Tell the parents that it is for the safety of all the children in the daycare and that you don't want to possibly pass something around constantly. This has to be a difficult situation and I do wish you luck. Ask the parents to get a Dr's note also.

L.

Hi Janelle,

I also run a home daycare and I would not allow the child to return until the child has been seen by a doctor and that they have a doctor's note stating that the child is not contagious and is safe to return to daycare. It's not fair to expose the other children in your care to this and I would think that these parent's would expect the same thing if it was the other way around. It sounds like to me you have more than accomodating and if they get upset, so be it!! They aren't going to find anyone else to care for their child that would treat this situation any differently.

The childcare owner/director should be dealing with them. Have she talk to them?

I agree with other moms who say definitely refuse to take the child back into your home until he has been officially cleared - in writing - by a doctor by whom he has been SEEN.

I don't agree, however, with writing these parents off as neglectful or siccing the state on them. You don't know their circumstances. Perhaps they make too much to qualify for state health benefits but don't have health insurance through their employers and don't know what else to do but drop their son in your capable hands while they're trying to put food on the table. There could be a number of unknown scenarios. Besides, CPS can be more trouble than they're worth. I happen to know they can be invasive and downright vicious to families who are legitimately doing their best and totally gloss over situations where the children should most definitely be removed from the home. You just never know whether you're going to get a caring, "above and beyond" social worker whose concern is supporting and preserving the family unit or one overworked and underpaid whose interest lies in tearing it apart.

My heart goes out to you in this difficult position as well as to the sick little boy.

~ R.

I would tell them to come back with a doctors note- thats ridiculous. Something could be really wrong and you don't want to expose the other children to something. As a side note- my daughters name is also Cadence.

I agree with all the other posters - child not allowed back without clearance from the doctor.

What I would also do if I were you, Janelle, is come up with established policies and procedures to cover these kinds of situations with the parents beforehand. Have then sign this agreement when they enroll the child and give them a copy. That way, situations like this don't occur over and over again. I'm sure if you use Google, you can find some sample childcare p&p's to use as a template.

Good luck, and I sure hope the other children don't come down with rashes!

I whole-heartedly believe you should deny these parents further services until the child has a Dr. note, and/or the rash is gone. You must look out for all the children, including him. Best of luck to you.