Poorly child

Ok seeing this from both points of view, agree with outraged that cm may well be better equipped to identify whether a child is really ill or just has cold, but tbh when most kids are under the weather, they need their mums (or dads). I had similar situation last week, mindee was poorly and hangy, not really ill, but just not himself. I texted his mum when he became inconsolable and we agreed to try Calpol (which she had supplied, consent forms in place etc as cm can't just give meds to children without parental consent!). He rallied a bit then dipped later so then mum came to collect. In the time in between she phoned a couple of times to check on him and I txt her regular updates. It's called working in partnership with parents and using common sense. Here endeth the bun fight - first time I've actually tried to kill a thread!

I have used 2 childminders in the last 7 yrs to kook after my dd and they have both been happy to give calpol if she needed it, I have only ever been called by one of them once when dd was very poorly and of course I collected her more or less straight away.

I do have some sympathy with the parent in the op post, I am a nurse and a single parent and if I leave work I would have to find cover for my patients as I can't just leave them.

I do think there's a big difference between using a childminder or a nanny. The expectations are quite different. When a child is sick is they should be at home and having other children to look after at the same time is different depending on whether they are siblings or not. I see a nanny as a replacement parent but a childminder as a childcarer. I wish I could afford a nanny!

AllDirections No I'm not the child's mother

It sounds like a cold or teething to me, but I'm not a doctor.

'In cases where a parent is not prepared to accept such a policy, then the parent should seek alternate forms of childcare. '

Absolutely agree with that. I don't know what the OP's policy states, I think someone did ask up thread, but she hasn't answered yet. I agree if the parent agreed to pick-up when the child has a cold, they should do so.

I am suprised by the views on this thread. I am suprised by the massive difference between childminders and nannies on this issue. There was a thread yesterday about nannies looking after sick children and the general view was, if they're not sick enough to be in hospital, then the nanny is OK to look after them.

I knew childminders had to exclude for things like D&V, but I didn't know that they would require a parent to return immediately from work for a cold/lack of appetite/minor temperature etc.

I think the stuff about 'what if it isn't a cold' etc is hogwash quite honestly. Unless the child's parent is a doctor, medically speaking, there is no reason they would be better off with a parent than a first-aid trained childcare professional. If the child takes a turn for the worse, call an ambulance, they won't come slower because you're a childminder. Chances are though, that it is a cold or teething and that they won't 'take a turn for the worse'.

I guess the conclusion is, if you need someone to look after your child when they're sick, don't use a childminder. Fair enough. Anything that makes the expense of a nanny seem worth it, is good in my book.

This isn't just a cold though is it? The child is ill.

Are you the child's mother Outraged?

There is a big difference between a grizzly child and one who is feeling really poorly. Even if the parent is a cardiac surgeon, mid heart transplant, there should be some procedures in place in the event of a child taking ill while in the care of a childcare provider where the provider's policy states that the provider will not be able to provide care for a child who is ill. In cases where a parent is not prepared to accept such a policy, then the parent should seek alternate forms of childcare.

don't be so silly outraged no one is suggesting that - but the child sounds quite ill. i think we all know what a common cold looks like but this child has been unwell all day, very grizzly and has had dry nappies.
just a thought, and god forbid, but there are other infections that can display those kinds of symptoms and it is not the cms decision to make as to whether the child requires medical attention. the parent should collect the child when asked or make appropriate arrangements for someone else to.

So now parents should be called whenever a child has a cold, because what if it isn't a cold?! Really alldirections? Really? Whenever a child has a cold, incase it isn't a cold? Should we take them to the doctors everytime they have cold, incase it isn't a cold?

You're right Reet how does the OP (or the parent) know that it's just a cold? The OP did the right thing and the parent now has to take responsibility.

but it's not the childminders decision to make as you whether it's even a cold - what if there was something more serious going on and the childminder didn't ask the parent to collect? a child should not be in someone else's care when ill - say the child suddenly took a turn for the worse - the childminder is then negligent in her care, who's responsibility is it? responsibility for a sick child should always be with the parent.

Asking a cm to give calpol is also not good. Schools don't give it. Many cms won't to cover their own backs as much as anything - we are open to all sorts of allegations if anything goes wrong - i do give calpol as a last resort if a temp is very high if i have written permission but i would not give it for a cold - if a child needs pain relief, that child should not be with me.

it is totally unfair on a child and on the childminder for a parent not to make arrangements to collect. even if the parent is in a high powered job which makes it difficult to get away - there are sometimes two parents and other family members/friends who could collect. saying i can't come and collect is simply not good enough.
Fwiw, outraged - none of my parents have or ever have had jobs where they can't get away - most of them work from home and a few don't even work at all.... but i still have at times waited up to 2 hours for a sick child to be collected in the mean time myself, my own dc and any other mindees in the house have been exposed to whatever the ill one has... very unfair.

Op YANBU.

I'm not a childminder but I do have a child who attends nursery and if they rang me to say she was illdI'd trust their judgement.

Btw. Dh and I tag team to cover illnesses picked up from childcare. If less parents sent their child in then dh and I wouldn't have taken so much damn leave already

The child is 14 months old. They have days where they don't eat much and grizzle all day!

If the child is screaming in pain rather than doing the teething/cold grizzle, then I agree that a parent should come home and the OP should call NHS direct or if the parent cannot get there quickly take her to A&E.

The fact that the OP is posting on mumsnet about her annoyance at the mother suggests the child is not screaming in pain.

Have you/ did you give the child some medicine? Calpol or kids neurophen? Its obv not ideal and if my cm had rung to say dd (at that age) was crying and not well I would of course gotton out of work asap and collected her. That said I would have expected the cm to of given some medicine first to see if that helped.

The child has not stopped crying and is not eating. Those are not minor symptoms like a runny nose...non stop crying indicates pain and the child needs to see a doctor.

Children who are as sick as the OP describes do not belong in care with another person and other children

This

Neo I don't consider the symptoms the OP describes as emergency pick-up symptoms. I've been asked to pick up immediately, but it wasn't for a cold.

Outraged do you even HAVE children? If you do surely you've had a call from school asking you to collect immediately? Children who are as sick as the OP describes do not belong in care with another person and other children. Regardless of the parent's job!

Parent's who work usually have emergency adults who can collect in their stead.

....and if for some work reason you couldn't collect straight away, would you expect your childminder to understand that?

If I phoned my charges parents and told them they needed to collect they would also come home asap. The difference is, I wouldn't do that if one of them had a cold (even an achey, thick head cold).

If you keep your own child out of school for a cold, I'm surprised you haven't had the attendance compliance officers on your back.

But there is a cold as in lots of sneezing and a snotty nose and then there is a full blown cold that gives you a thick head and makes you all achy and feel terrible. It sounds like this child has the full blown variety.

If my childminder thought my child was ill enough to phone me at work then I'd trust her judgement and collect the child asap. I trust my childminder 100%

alliwant I don't think there are many parents who want to leave their sick child in childcare, but it is not always possible to leave immediately and collect.

If the mum is a teacher for example, she can't just leave her class and come home because her DC has a cold....

or if she is a judge or lawyer and in court....

or a doctor in the middle of seeing a patient....

Some people have demanding jobs, which is why they use professional childcarers who can deal with illnesses/accidents etc. Perhaps these parents are better off with a nanny, but I'm not sure it's a good advert for childminders.

There are downsides to all forms of childcare. One of the downsides of using a nusery or childminder is that they are unable to look after a child who is ill.

I am suprised that a cold is considered serious enough to call the parents home from work. I imagine if schools and nurseries used that policy they would be half empty from September to March.

I am confused that you seem unable to understand that a parent cannot drop everything at work to rush home when there isn't a serious problem.

I respect your right to run your childcare business as you see fit.

I hope we can discuss issues of this nature without resorting to personal insults.

OP, I agree with you 100%. If the child is ill, even if not with a raised temp or D&V then he or she should be at home. A cold can make someone feel bloody awful and home is the best place.

I suggest you firstly ignore peculiar opinions on this thread, then have a look at your Exclusion policy regarding illnesses and then be firmer next time you need to ring a parent for them to fetch their poorly child. You are a childcare provider not a nurse. If mum was too busy to collect, then dad could have (if all is well there) or the emergency contact person.

Hope you are ok.

(BTW, it boggles my mind that someone would rather leave their child in childcare than collect them if they were ill.)

sorry about spelling - on phone