When to Send the Kids Back After Being Sick

Updated on October 21, 2011
C.M. asks from Bartlett, IL
9 answers

My daughter has a cold and she's been sick for two days. She RARELY gets sick. I'm wondering when to send her back to be with other kids? She has a Halloween party tomorrow that she's so excited over. It's her only Halloween party this year (we homeschool so it's the Homeschool Halloween party) and I don't want her to miss but I'm also conscious of her getting other kids sick.

What's your general rule when it comes to colds?

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So What Happened?

Thanks moms! She only had a fever the first day so she's been fever-free for over 24 hours. She woke up today in good spirits and hardly sneezing or coughing so I did break down and give her some cold medicine and she had a great time at the party!

I'm super conscious about making other people sick because that's how things spread. Since her nose wasn't running and she wasn't coughing I just made sure she had clean hands and I kept an eye on her so she didn't get too wild.

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

I try to keep mine home if they have symptoms that make them more contagious (sneezing, very runny nose, bad cough) or a fever. But if they have been home a few days and are getting better I would let them go out for a bit. Maybe just do the party and nothing else much that day. I'm not one to stress over just a cold (but I am home so it isn't a huge deal to stay home with a sick kid if I have to).

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B.C.

answers from Dallas on

A minor cold? I'd send her. If she's got green snot or a fever within 24 hours, I'd keep her home. Just make sure that she's keeping her hands clean and not sneezing on anyone.

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J.K.

answers from Sacramento on

My rule of thumb is to keep them home for 24 hours from the last incidence of fever or vomiting. My son came home with a fever on Monday afternoon and I kept him home Tuesday, the fever went away by Tuesday but he developed a barking cough so I kept him home Wednesday. He seemed to have good energy and took it easy all day. I sent him to school today and he was fine.

I think even when they are fever free for 24 hours they can still be run down, so I usually take it case by case and kid by kid. Sometimes kids recover faster from an illness than others.

I'd take her to the party.

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M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

It sounds like you are being a super thoughtful mom, and as another mom, I appreciate it!

Here are my thoughts on the general subject: Never understood the 24 hours after a fever rule --- as most viruses are actually contagious for 5 days.

This is actually a pet peeve of mine -- when the "24 hour" rule is invoked, as a cold doesn't usually have a fever component -- and is certainly contagious. So while it's easier to send kids back to school quickly (which a lot of parents do when a kid has a cold but no fever) -- it definitely will be making other kids sick == and other families will have to deal with childcare, missed work days, etc -- so I'm superconcientious about sending a kid (yes even one with a "minor" cold) back to school too soon.

All that being said -- oh my goodness -- her only Halloween party this year? I would definitely hope that by the third day of her cold she is a lot better and can attend. But if she's got goopy green stuff, no way. Play it by ear the morning of. If not == Halloween is not for another week or so - take her to a pumpkin patch, or other events in town that are kid friendly for Halloween, and she will feel part of the festivities.

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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

My rule will be (not school-age yet) the same as my mom's was: The only things that are going to keep them home are fever or vomiting. I know at a daycare that I had my daughter at, their rule was that they couldn't come back until 24 hours after their fever had disappeared.

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L.K.

answers from Chicago on

If she has been fever free for 24 hours she can go. Happy Halloween :)

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M.B.

answers from Washington DC on

When you think she is no longer contagious as well as when you think she's able to cope well with a busy school day. IF there was a fever involved, you must wait 24 hours before sending her back to school.

M.L.

answers from Houston on

General rule is 24 hours after a fever, or a green, hacking cough/runny nose.

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D.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

We've always been told if they are fever free for 24hours. I also gauge it by their level of activity too though. Given this is a special situation though, I'd say let her go as long as no fever.

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