How sick do your DC have to be before keeping them off nursery/pre-school?

[MegBusset]

Probably a stupid question but I'm asking because I'm a pre-school novice (DS has only been going since last week). Yesterday he developed a chesty cough, had a slight temp last night which went down with Calpol. Today he still has a cough but otherwise seems more or less OK, perhaps 90% rather than 100%.

He is supposed to go to pre-school tomorrow morning, I'm not sure what (if any) level of illness it's acceptable to send him in with. If he seems fine in himself but still has the cough is it OK to send him? Or should I keep him home if he is coughing?

And generally do people send their DC in if they have a non-serious cold/runny nose etc?

[Coldtits]

Temperature keeps mine off, rash keeps mine off, vomit in last 24 hours keeps mine off, lethargy keeps mine off. Snot, coughs and sneezing doesn't.

[nailpolish]

if runny nose but happy and running about - send
if listless and coughing and sad - stay at home

[Goober]

If they pass the mirror test, off they go!

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

If I kept my DS off every time he had a cold and cough he wouldn't go to school in the winter. I keep him off if he has a high temperature or he has been sick or has a runny bum. Aside from that he goes on the understanding that I will ring the school at lunchtime to see if he is ok - if not I will go and get him.

[MegBusset]

What's the mirror test?

He's only in for a half-day, and it would be easy for me to go and get him if he's poorly. The only thing is, he's still settling in and last time he went in he cried when I left, I'm not sure if the cough might make the crying worse (or vice versa)... but then as he's settling in I don't want him to miss a session if possible...

[willowthewispa]

Temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea, anything infectious, listless and unhappy or generally unable to join in = should stay at home.

Cough, runny nose, mild cold but otherwise happy = fine to send in.

There's nothing staff at nurseries and pre-schools hate more than having a child dosed up with Calpol dropped off in the morning who becomes miserable as soon as it wears off.

[MegBusset]

Thanks, I will see how he is in the morning, then. He hasn't needed Calpol today, but then we have just been playing quietly at home all day.

[Goober]

The mirror test: Hold a mirror in front of child to check they are breathing, if Yes, they are alive, they go!

[ABetaDad]

Agree with willowthewispa and keep off for a further 24 hours after the symptoms stop being apparent to allow energy levels to recover.