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Original poster

Parents insisting you cm a child with contagious illness who is very poorly

60 replies

rainbow71 · 12/10/2007 13:00

I currently cm for 3 under 5's one of which has just come down with chicken pox. The parents insist I look after him even though he has high temp and is not eating and barely drinking. I have said no as I feel it's against the best interest of the child and would mean me keeping in the other children (they have had this illness already)and they have threatened ending the contract without notice if I do not have him. I would be interested to know what other cm's would do in this situation. I have said I am happy for him to come back when the spots have crusted over and his temp is back to normal.

OP posts:
Original poster
rainbow71 · 12/10/2007 13:21

Hi, Yes I have a contagious illness policy stating the child is to be kept away from the cm setting until 24 hous after the symptoms have ended and the parents have signed this. They said they are saving their hols to go away for a month and feel very strongly they will find other childcare if I don't look after him as they feel very let down. I have explained that one of my other parents is pregnant and is not happy about me cm him whilst he is ill. They said I looked after my dd when she had CP so why couldn't I look after their ds. I explained my dd was in her own home with her mum and was a lot older and did not have a temp, continued to eat and drink etc. They have basically said if I don't change my mind they will terminate contract immediately and not pay the notice period. I am very upset as my mindee is very happy and settled here and loves the other children. I have seen him though and he is very itchy and just wants to sit and cuddle his mum (he's only just 2 yrs old).

OP posts:
millie76 · 12/10/2007 13:19

That really is appalling. My CM wouldnt take either of my DCs when they had chickenpox, and I wouldnt have asked her to either. Her policy stated that she would take them when the scabs had crusted over, which she did.

Don't feel bad about not taking the mindee. You have your other mindees to think about, and a child that is too unwell to eat and has a temperature needs to be at home.

LoveMyGirls · 12/10/2007 13:14

They will still have to pay you for the notice period and in this case if they refuse to pay I would definately take them to court over the money.

You are self employed it is up to you to say wether you are prepared to look after a sick child or not.

CarGirl · 12/10/2007 13:14

If all your other mindees have had cp then I would say once his temperature has subsided and he is eating and drinking you will have him. At the moment he is clearly too unwell for you to have him.

My cm had dd2 for the day when she had cp but she had no other children that day and she wasn't "ill" with it either. Can't believe a parent would be happy to leave a child with a carer when in that state

LoveMyGirls · 12/10/2007 13:12

Call her bluff, she won't find anyone else that will care for him while he is contagious and tbh if she does take him out of your care then she isn't the type of parent i'd like to have a long term working relationship with anyway as if she will do this to you this time what else is she prepared to do?

ChasingSquirrels · 12/10/2007 13:10

no, no, no (as a parent not a cm). Their sick child is not your responsibility. Would also ask what your contract says, presumably that he can't come, if so and they end contract without notice they are in breach and you can sue (although I am sure this isn't the route you want to go).
Poor little boy.

MaureenMLove · 12/10/2007 13:07

My policy says that I will not take children with infectious diseases or high temp and not eating. (Written in much better terms, obviously!) How can you be expected to give all the children you mind, the attention they need, if you are looking after a sick child.

HOWEVER, in the case of CP, I have asked that parents advise me first and I will then speak to other parents to see if they mind. As long as the child is OK in themselves and doesn't need constant attention, then thats fine.

Ultimately, if she's signed a contract, with a notice period included, she can cancel without notice, but she'll still have to pay you the notice.

Madness that she has the nerve to insist you look after him tbh.

diplodocus · 12/10/2007 13:04

I'm not a CM, but as a parent who uses a cm I'm disgusted by their attitude. Of course you can't take him - not fair on anyone. Using a CM doesn't mean you can abdicate all parental responsibility. Hope you manage to sort it out.

Carmenere · 12/10/2007 13:04

God they must be under a seriuos amount of pressure at work not to be able to take time off to mind their child. That is shocking. Sorry no advice but I think you are right, the little fellow should be at home until he is a bit better.

lemonaid · 12/10/2007 13:01

What does your official policy say?

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