Sent home sick....again. Is this normal?

[Foxpants]

My daughter, 2, has been sent home sick from nursery today (bit of a temperature and touch of the trots but is now very happily playing in the kitchen with no apparent symptoms). This is fine and obviously sick children shouldn't be in nursery, but I've been told to stay away for a full 48 hours. This has happened more than once and she is currently missing around a quarter of her scheduled days. Is this 48-hour business a standard policy? (And if so, doesn't it slightly fly in the face of medical science, which suggests you are more infectious before you are symptomatic?) Also, is it normal for children to pick up lots of infections when they first start nursery? I am self-employed and have another baby on the way and it is making me question the viability of this as a childcare option. It wasn't something I'd even considered as, to date, she's been such a robust little thing.

Any help much appreciated.

[emmy5]

Hi, yes it's a bit of a standard thing - 48 hours away if they've had vomiting or diarrhoea. My nursery would send home if DC had just a temperature. They do pick up a lot when they first start - it does settle down a bit once their immunity builds up and they get a bit older and less likely to suck toys and things. Think a childminder would operate the same rules. Do you have a relative who could help when she's ill? I got through it by having my mum as a back up. Hope she gets better soon.

[onimolap]

It's standard policy - sorry, that doesn't help your predicament much, but it is what you have to live with for any setting away with your home.

I'm not sure that it flies in the face of medical science either - with the various D&V bugs, the children could easily have been infectious for several days before becoming symptomatic; but there is nothing that can be done about the incubation period.

Ray of hope: with more exposure over time to more germs, the rate/number of bouts of illness will drop. It happens almost inevitably when a child first goes into a mixed group - so if not now, then later (eg preschool or reception). As there isn't really a "best time", now may be as good as any.

Hope your DD is better soon.

[purepurple]

The exclusion period is decided by the local health authority, so is official, and not just a random number chosen by the nursery.

[CheeseandGherkins]

They're infectious for 48 hours after the last sick or runny poo, otherwise other children will also get ill and it's not nice.

[Foxpants]

Thanks for this. It's reassuring to know that a) it's normal and b) it may only be temporary, as I absolutely love the nursery itself.

[Poogles]

Was it actually the trots or just runnier than normal? DS who is 2.5 gets runnier (and smellier!) when he is teething. Luckily the nursery recognise this and don't send him home for 48 hours each time.