Another daycare question...

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2004

Hi Rebecca. I don't have any kids, so I can't be of much help there. If you're going to be nursing the baby through it, that'll help keep him/her healthier. You could always check with the pediatrician too to see if they have any suggestions. Sorry I'm not much help, I hope it all works out and they won't be out many sick days.

Just a side note, I'm from Phoenix too, but going to school in Texas. I'll be moving back after graduation this May though, I get homesick.... I miss AZ!

Good luck with everything!

dramaluvr · Oct 26, 2004

I posted this in the thread below but got no response so I decided to create a new one.
I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old who will be going to the daycare across the street from my school. My 4 year old started preschool last year, and he was sick on average about 3 times last winter. I've never had a baby in daycare, so this will be a first for my 1 year old. For those of you will small kids in full time, how often did they get sick? The attendance policy at my school is strict, and I'm wondering how much I will expect to miss? They both start full time in Feb, I'm sure next winter is when I'll have to deal with the illnesses, but mostly with the baby since my 4 year old has pretty much built up a lot of immunities already.
My husband will be able to use his vacation days (he gets 3w a year) if they are sick a lot, which is nice, but I'm just worried that my baby is going to be sick a lot in that setting. BTW, I will be nursing him through this too, I'm wondering if he will be sick less because of that. Would love to hear everyone's experiences with kids/daycare/illness. Thanks!
Rebecca

I have a 6 year old and a 21 month old. My 6 year old is in school and my other daughter in daycare. My curriculum in nursing school is we can only miss one class and then we lose 2 points to our grade if that one class is missed. Needless to say you don't want to miss at all. So far, my youngest has been in the hospital three days and my six year old has been out two days with strep throat. I have made it work though and have gotten to school. Luckily I have had a little help and my youngest was admitted to the hospital on a Friday and released on Sunday evening. My day care understands my youngest gets sick since she has asthma and gets respiratory problems on top of that and they sick a lot more when they are in day care. She seems to be fine during the summer when home, but when put in that setting she comes down with a ton of stuff. It has already started now and as you said winter is the worst of it all. All I can say is find friends and neighbors or family (mine are all 3000 miles away) who can help you when you get in a bind. I can't afford to miss school even when I feel extremely guilty with my kids being sick. I keep the bigger picture in mind that this is in the best interest of my children. Hang in there and pray for good health. That's what I do. - Angie

landonsles · Oct 26, 2004

I think it depends upon each individual child as to how sick he/she may get in a daycare setting. My first son (he's 8) was never sick as a child, except for the occassional cold. He has still never had an ear infection. He went to daycare part time from 6-10 months, and then again from 2 1/2 on. I was going to school at the time and never had to miss a day b/c he was sick. My second son (he's 2) has been another story. He was always sick as a baby and ended up having tubes in his ears at 6 months. He started daycare part time at 13 months old. He always seems to get whatever is going around, although it is getting better--he's not as sick as when he first started going there. I started nursing school in August, and I am praying that he doesn't get too bad (we have a VERY strict attendence policy--we get points off final grade if you are absent.) Also, my daycare just sent a letter home saying that if your child is sick, you have one hour to pick him up or they will call Child Protective Services. My husband is a retail manager--so it is next to impossible for him to miss work. Oh well--sorry to ramble on--but I think it really depends upon the child.

Leslie

rn undisclosed name · Oct 26, 2004

Last year my dd was 2 and went to the on campus daycare for the whole year (6 hours a week) and didn't get sick once. Actually a lot of the kids didn't sick there and I think the biggest reason is because they are extremely insistent that everybody washes their hands as soon as they walk in. So, I think hand washing makes a big difference. Unfortunately, a lot of daycares don't do this and I really think they should.

I would have loved to have her in that same program this year. Not only is it a LOT cheaper I just like it a lot. But she is in a regular daycare program. I too am hoping she doesn't get sick a lot. I don't put a whole lot of stock in that nursing thing though. I know some may disagree with me. But I nursed dd a lot longer than I did ds and she has been way sicker than my ds ever was. I think a lot of it depends on other factors than just nursing. All you can do is make sure you have a good back up system for those times when they do get sick. I'm not sure what our actual policy is but I've kind of gone in with the attitude I can't miss anything and dh knows he might have to take some time off work.

manna, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2004

My kids have both been in daycare since they were 8 weeks old. Starting out, they had lots of minor colds and sniffles... an occasional stomach virus or two. Whatever was going around - they caught it. Not very often did they come down with something major enough to have to sit a day out of daycare, though. My 3yo spent less time sick than my older son (I'm thinking/hoping this was because he was breastfed, but as you can tell it seems to be really subjective). Their little immune systems are pretty strong now, thankfully. :)

Find a daycare where they take care to sanitize toys/playthings, tables, wash hands regularly, etc - maybe that'll cut down on the infection transmission risk (or at least make us moms feel a little better about it, right)?

Do you have any other family/friends/relatives locally that you can use as "back up" in case something comes up with the kids having to miss daycare?

eirthjona · Oct 27, 2004

Twice I have taken my dd to class with me and some other mums have taken their child in to lectures with them. most are quiet and don't make a nusence in the class. Our lecturers understand that sometimes you can't put your child in daycare. I would find our which lecturers don't mind if you occationaly bring in a sick baby.

PhoenixGirl · Oct 27, 2004

Do you have any other family/friends/relatives locally that you can use as "back up" in case something comes up with the kids having to miss daycare?

Well, my husband (like I said before) will have 3w of sick leave that he'll save, and he can work from home. But the working from home thing is not easy for him if he would have to take care of the baby since he does a lot of conference calling, so better for him to take sick/vacation days. But I'm just having this fear that my baby will be sick so much. I keep thinking, what will we do? I suppose we could split who is home with them depending on when or how bad they are sick. I'm just hoping if they do get sick it's the average once or twice a year thing, and not all the time.

My older son I'm less worried about because he's already been exposed to so much, it's my baby that has only had a few colds so far (he's one next month) and will probably get many more. Oh those dreaded tummy bugs! I hate those and know he will get some, and probably bring them home to me :uhoh3: because I'm so prone to them. Then what will *I* do when I'm sick?!

I wish I had other family/friends to rely on. My friends either work or stay home with their own kids and I'm not sure if I'd be able to take my sick baby to one of their houses since it would then expose their kids. My sis is a possibility, but she also has a job. Although she says she's always willing to help out, not sure if I would want her to use her sick days for MY kid, especially when she's got her own kid.

I guess I will make do, just as you all do. And hopefully won't have to miss school once it starts! Prereqs seems so easy compared to whats to come.

See, I'm a worrywart also if you guys haven't picked up on that yet, lol.

Rebecca

purplekath · Oct 27, 2004

Rebecca, you'll learn what you can miss and what you cannot. Babies do get sick a LOT, but you'll learn to prioritise. In any given semester, there are certain lectures you simply CANNOT miss without causing yourself a problem. Pharm, A&P etc. And clinical days are generally not good to miss.

Other lectures you can miss in an emergency - you'll work out what those ones are.

One way to handle it is to agree with your dh that he takes his leave for those "essential" times where you HAVE to be there, and you miss the lectures you can afford to miss.

For tutorials, you can often arrange with your tutor to attend another session if you have to miss the one your assigned. And if you can't do that, send them an apologetic email and ask for advice on what to study to make up that missed time - most times they will email you the overheads they used, the activity they did and some assigned reading, which you can do at home.

Also, cultivate a network. Other mums in nursing school are often good - swap childcare (give as much as you get) for those illnesses that are big enough to keep them out of daycare but that do not stop them running around and being happy. For more serious illnesses, then maybe grandmas, aunties and close friends may be happy to let your little ones lay on their couch and watch videos for the day.