Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum.

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum.

Nurseries

Sickness at nursery!

17 replies

Pinkmazza · 16/01/2007 19:45

Hi all,
This is the first time I have ever posted on here though I have been a 'floater' for a couple of years now...
I don't really know why I have never posted, I suppose I always felt like I would be intruding as you all seem so close but have decided to be part of it!
I am a married mum of 2. DS is 7 and DD is 3 and at full time nursery.
I was horrified today when I picker her up to hear that there are 2 children in her room with tonsilitis!!
When I comfronted the manager, I was told that as long as they are on antibiotics, they can be at nursery...
Am I wrong to think this is wrong? I pay £42 a day and my DS is being sorrounded by illnesses?

Thanks for reading, look forward to your responses.
Maria xxxx (grin)

OP posts:

Report

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/01/2007 19:49

ARe you aware that tonsilitis isnt infectious?

Katymac · 16/01/2007 19:51

And remember that when your child is ill he will still be allowed to come........

D&V is infectious and you will have to keep him off for 72hrs after the last episode of it - but tonsillitus/colds/general unwell is helping to build you your sons immunity

gooseegg · 16/01/2007 20:00

Well I have been in bed with tonsillitis all day and probably will be tomorrow too. It makes you feel fluey and horrid. A nursery, school or workplace would be the last place I would want to be.
At 40 I still want my mum when I'm feeling like this!
Am I a wuss?

DumbledoresGirl · 16/01/2007 20:07

I am never happy about this either and my ds3 only goes to a playgroup. He just got over a cold over Christmas, went back to playgroup, encountered someone with a cough and now has it too. It makes me cross that parents send in ill children, but I know I am being illogical because I would too as long as it wasn't sickness, diarrhoea or a temperature. I think you just have to accept it. Personally, if I worked, I would send my child to a childminder as I would assume they would encounter less bugs in that environment.

But what I really wanted to say was hello Pinkmazza! Don't hold back thinking we are all close to each other. I don't really know anyone here except by talking to them through the computer. You are very welcome!

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/01/2007 20:17

Yes, goosegg

I used to get tonsilitis about once a month at least as a child. Its no big deal.

funnypeculiar · 16/01/2007 20:18

Don't have anything to say other than hello pinkmazza!

DizzyBint · 16/01/2007 20:20

i used t actually like getting tonsilitis as a child, stayed in bed all day eating jelly and ice cream.

drosophila · 16/01/2007 20:24

I started a very similar thread today. DD is currently getting a cold about once a week and it comes to a point when you can't keep going like that cos you can't work. She is spending less and less time at Nursery and I simply don't know what to do.

Most people's advice on the other thread was to accept it and get on with it. I wonder if Nurseries have appropriate policies for dealing with illnesses. I would love to hear from Nursery workers on this one.

Pinkmazza · 16/01/2007 20:28

Thank you so much for your welcome messages!
Made me smile!

It's DD that is at nursery by the way, was typing too quickly..

I suppose my point is, I wouldn't dream of sending DD to nursery with tonsilitis!! She has been off a few times and, as gooseegg said, it would surely be the last place she would want to be.... get well soon by the way you poor thing.

My DS was hospitalised with a severe case of tonsilitis when he was 3 so I know it can vary in degrees of seriousness but I can't help but think these kids shouldn't be there.. Also, if DD gets it, I will still have to pay even though she won't be there...

OP posts:

Pinkmazza · 16/01/2007 20:31

Me too drosophila!

I have been trying to find the policy on Ofsted but can't...
The nursery nurse today told me that Ofsted allow kids to be at nursery if on antibiotics.. I am not so sure..
When I told her I always take time off work to look after my DD when poorly, she replied not all parents have that luxury!!!
It's not a bloody luxury, I loose my holiday entitlement for this!!!

My personal opinion is that children should not be allowed in unless they are fit and well.

OP posts:

drosophila · 17/01/2007 08:11

Well I am a civil servant but even here I start to worry about taking time off especially as I am in a new team. So far they have been understanding. I am a part timer so any time off seems to have a disproportionate impact on my work.

Bozza · 17/01/2007 08:23

DD had tonsilitis in April. I kept her off nursery the first few days, when she was poorly. In fact, as she was only 1 at the time, it wasn't until I took her to the doctor that I realised what was wrong with her. I was guessing at an ear infection. But the course of antibiotics was for two weeks, so she went back before the course was complete.

Pinkmazza · 17/01/2007 09:49

Bozza, I don't have a problem with children going back whilst still on antibiotics, as you said, 2 weeks is a very long time...
My prob is they haven't had time away from nursery.. my DD was complaining of a headache this morning... I can see it all coming a mile away!

OP posts:

twinklebob · 21/01/2007 18:43

Hi I am new to this site so hello all my new friends!!!

I am a manager of a day nursery so I have a bit of insight in this.

Last year we were given a government directive through our local council stating that, we as carers / teachers etc, are NOT permitted to administer any medication unless it is prescribed and we have seen the original bottle / packet with the GP's details and administration information and only then at the end of the course, usually the pen-ultimate day.This rule is due to a NN once giving a child Calpol and it masked the systems of meningitis, which was not picked up as soon as it could have been.

We are not allowed to administer any unprescribed medication at all. For illnessess such as excema, ear infections or non-contagious diseases, we can give antibiotics only if accompanied by a letter from the GP to state that the child is well enough to attend nursery. ie we can apply cream for a child with severe excema.

In our nursery, if a child has a high temperature, sickness or upset tummy or is obviously very unwell, we will inform the parent and ask them to colect the child. If a child is simply showing signs of being under the weather and really not 'themselves' we will inform the parent and then leave it to them to decide whether or not to pick up, this way we have done what we can for the child.

In regards to colds, coughs, toncillitis etc, in our opinion the parent knows their child, if they choose to leave the child with us, they can, but in the event of that child needing medication (usually when the morning dose of Calpol has worn off!) we would put the above system into practice.

For the record, my boyfriend and i have 9 kids between us aged 17 to 3 so i do understand and have been in the situation of 'are they / arent they well enough to go' myself many times.

If a child is in a nursery is unwell the parents has to think of the following points...if my childs spreads their illness to others, it can re-occur again, and as carers we can also become ill which will obviously effect the running of the nursery, possibly in severe cases, we may have to bring in supply staff which will mean that the child will not be cared for by its familiar keyworker.

Hope that helps in any way!!
Twinkle.

Pinkmazza · 23/01/2007 11:54

Hi twinklebob!!! Welcome!!

How great that we have a nursery manager amongst us!

I'm sure you will be asked questions all the time now, hope you don't mind!

Thank you, that was very helpful indeed!

As it turned out, my DD got tonsilitis the day after I posted on here!!!!

She is on antibiotics and after a bad end to last week and weekend, she has finally turned a corner!

Again, welcome!

OP posts:

twinklebob · 23/01/2007 21:53

Glad to be of assistance!!!

I am actually just starting a degree in Chidhood and Youth Studies...so any queries anybody has re nursery's will help me with my study cuz i'll have to think!!!

Thanx for your greetings Pinkmazza!
Twinklebob X

derbydougal · 01/02/2007 14:35

The cause of Tonsilitis can be viral or bacterial. Viral tonsilitis is obviously contagious, however its hard to know which type you have without proper diagnosis. My DS caught the viral type from a playgroup and the only reason I knew this was because I caught it off him a few days later. Having suffered with bacterial tonsilitis in the past many times, I can say that the viral form made me feel much more unwell (on a par with proper flu). My DS was very unwell with it - v high fever, vomiting, refusal to eat for days and very, very miserable! IMO I think its best to keep children at home with tonsilitis unless you are sure completely sure its the bacterial kind.

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.