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Original poster

How much should nannies know about dealing with a sick child?

33 replies

MGMidget · 13/11/2009 10:49

Just wondered what's realistic to expect from a nanny who has a first aid certificate and childcare diploma when it comes to applying some common sense regarding illness?

My son developed a high temp yesterday (now we suspect swine flu) - he was out for the day at a 'playdate' with other nannies and toddlers. She called me when she got home towards the end of the day to report his high temp (nearly 40 degrees) and said she couldn't wake him. When I got home I found him somewhat overdressed (i.e. could have been stripped down to nappy but instead had a couple of layers of clothes on) temp still rising, no calpol given. Further questioning established he had 'felt hot' when at his playdate but she hadn't thought to test his temperature or be concerned. Possibly having too much fun chinwagging with the other nannies I wonder? She mentioned in passing he had started shaking badly in the middle of the day (when hot) (possibly febrile convulsions I wonder?) and also mentioned he had almost been sick and had runny diahorrea. Now I'm wondering why she didn't think to ask the host nanny for a thermometer to check his temp or why she kept him at the playdate with other toddlers when he had runny diahorrea. And wasn't the fact that he was shaking a bit concerning? Or indeed why she hadn't stripped him down to his nappy, and made other attempts to lower his very high temp when she discovered it.

So I wondered what do nannies learn on the childcare diplomas and first aid courses about toddler signs of illness and how to deal with them? Also what do they learn about isolating sick children from others to reduce risk of transmission of illness?

I'm concerned not only at my own nanny's ignorance (or disinterest) but also that of the other nannies at the playdate. I don't think a nursery would have let things carry on like that for several hours without batting an eyelid. And if I was a parent of one of the other children present I would have been concerned that an obviously sick child was allowed to mix with my children and not taken home when the symptoms started. Any nannies out there who can give me their thoughts? And any mums with nannies who have had similar or better experiences with their nannies?

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Blondeshavemorefun · 17/11/2009 11:13

glad is on anti's and seems on the mend

if was a tonsil illness then poor things thraot must have been really sore

LadyG · 16/11/2009 22:06

Glad he is on the mend. And I would definitely have expected her to have kept him home checked his temperature and given Calpol or baby Nurofen if appropriate if she had noticed he was 'hot' shaking or had runny diarrhoea. I think dreadful though it is to do these things you will have to have a serious chat with her. Am also surprised none of the other nannies noticed he was unwell.

AtheneNoctua · 16/11/2009 20:30

Sounds terrible. But, glad he is on the mend.

Original poster
MGMidget · 16/11/2009 17:30

Quick update for those asking how my son is. Well Sat was a bad night. On Sunday we had to keep an all-night vigil as we were so worried about his breathing. However, we still don't know if its swine flu or just a bad cold. I nearly started him on the Tamiflu but hubby not keen and I did some research and found out it doesn't help with asthma symptoms. Temp has kept going up - was 41 at one point but on Sunday we had to take him to A&E because of breathing and high temp worries. Ironically I think half the children in there had the same sort of thing. However, they have given some antibiotics as they spotted bacterial infection on his tonsils so it may turn out that he just had a bad cold plus bacterial tonsilitis! Since he started on the antibiotics his temp is much better and now he seems to be returning to his mischievous self again. Still bad cold, cough and no appetite however. He has hardly eaten anything for a couple of days (and was vomiting before that). We did get a swab done so I will eventually find out if it was swine flu and can let you know.

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Blondeshavemorefun · 15/11/2009 12:40

very true athene - there is no such course

though a prod with a stick could be helpful

sarah293 · 15/11/2009 09:21

This reply has been deleted

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madusa · 15/11/2009 08:38

how is your little boy today?

I am shocked at your nanny's behaviour.

Even my 5 yr old knows that if someone is ill, one of the first things you do is check their temperature.

SmileyMylee · 14/11/2009 22:10

Your nannies' behaviour was totally unacceptable.

In a similar circumstance my previous nanny, took my child's temperature every 30 minutes, gave calpol, called me, stripped child to nappy and sponged down and finally called an ambulance when the febrile convulsion started.

I personally would not be able to trust your nanny again. If she is looking after a child she needs to know about dealing with childhood illnesses and act appropriately. It sounds as if she put her own social life first.

navyeyelasH · 14/11/2009 13:43

I never say this on these threads but if I were you I would have to have serois harsh words with my nanny. God forbid but what if he had a time sensitive illness (menengitis/appendicites etc) and she left it all day to get it sorted.

I have no nanny qualifications but do have first aid. But to be honest at 10 years old I would have known feeling hot warrants a temp check and a dose of calpol.

As an aside are you giving him any neurofen as that can be given with calpol (2 hours apart) and is apparently mroe effective at reducing a temp. If you do mix calpol and nurofen make sure you read the labels on both and don't just take my word for it as these things do change often! I'm sure you know but a coll flannel often works wonders as does opening a wondow but coveing DC with a thin cotton sheet.

Hope he feels better soon.

AtheneNoctua · 14/11/2009 12:53

Do you think there is a common sense course? I always regarded common sense as something everyone should possess without having to go on a course. Maybe a big ol' stick could knock some sense into her?

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/11/2009 11:58

think i read that op nanny is 19

nothing wrong with that (we were all 19 once) but she obviously needs a refresher course in first aid/common sense

AtheneNoctua · 14/11/2009 11:32

My 6 year old would know to check his temp.

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/11/2009 23:13

agree - the average professional nanny would check temp and probably give calpol and see how is after 30mins

certianly wouldnt continue playing at friends house - very weird none of your nannys friends didnt say go home/check temp/give medicine/strip etc

frakkinaround · 13/11/2009 21:08

I had SF - it was hideous. Your poor, poor DS. I didn't take Tamiflu (or whatever the French equivalent is) and if you are coping without it then I'd be inclined to avoid the side effects if it was my own child.

I thought of this thread this afternoon. I had an unwell sounding charge with an unusual nappy - first thing I did was check his temp (which was normal so I suspect teething) but did make me wonder why your nanny didn't check the temp! It struck me that it's one of the first things I do if I think a child is ill.

thenewbornnanny · 13/11/2009 18:07

Agree with what others have said. Common sense above all else would have suggested that as soon as she realized he was poorly he should be taken home ASAP. She obviously didn't want her social life/"playdate" interrupted, which is unacceptable. It's bad enough she ignored the diarrhea, but the fever and shaking, which could have been a febrile convulsion, is just scary!!!!! I'm not a qualified nanny. I've been doing this for 12 years, and I know that if my charge had displayed all of those symptoms I would probably have taken him to A and E, especially with the potential FC and also not being able to wake him!!!! Poor mite sounds really unwell.

I would hold off on the Tamiflu. It's side effects are often as bad as the swine flu to start with and if you can control his fever with Calpol, get lots of fluids in him, have him rest/sleep lots you might find that's just as effective. I hope he's feeling better soon.

AtheneNoctua · 13/11/2009 18:07

If you want a GPO referral and are willing to pay for it, try Dr. E-med.

The thing with tamiflu is that it is most effective if taken very early. So, if you are going to use it, you should use it immediately. If you wait until things look bad it will be too late to be of much use.

I had what I think was probably swine flu over the summer. I took tamiflu at the first hint of it. I was still miserable. The worst part was not being able to breath. If I were in your place, I think I would give my 2 year old the tamiflu. But, of course, that is easy for me to say since I'm not in your shoes.

Oh, and I didn't have any side effects to the tami flu. But, maybe it is different for a grown up.

Original poster
MGMidget · 13/11/2009 16:10

Just wanted to add that I will be having a chat with our nanny when she is next in. I suggested she didn't come in today in case he had swine flu so she's at home. Everyone's comments are very useful in giving me an idea of how I should tackle this.

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Original poster
MGMidget · 13/11/2009 15:46

Thanks for the comments. My son is 2. We had a bad night, his temperature goes up and down (had to wake him up to give him more calpol) and the cough was very bad in the night. He just requested 'cuddles' and wanted to be held. He's full of mucus poor chap. I was hoping to get him swabbed (we have swabs for a swine flu test for a lab in London at home left from a previous incident) and tested through a private lab. Happy to pay for it just so we know how long we may have to incubate him for and also whether we can avoid him having the swine flu jab. However, it seems we have to have a doctor send a referral note or they won't test. Doesn't look like there's much hope with the GP as they won't call me back. Not sure whether he might have a chest infection but can't really take him to the surgery so it would have been nice if a doctor had called back to talk to me!
I'm wondering whether to crack open the Tamiflu (we have a pack left from the last swine flu scare when we decided not to give it to him as he seemed to be coping OK). Anyone given their little one's Tamiflu and if so did they get halucinations, vomiting etc? He seems to have stopped vommiting and diahorrea for the moment so I'm rather hoping it doesn't come back. I'm just wondering if the Tamiflu is worse than the illness. On the other hand I don't know if the symptoms get worse after a couple of days and then its too late to take the Tamiflu. Oh what to do?!!! It could just be another of the many viruses that circulate in winter.

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LouIsAWeetbixKid · 13/11/2009 15:07

As a nannyI am quite concerned with her lack of basic home nursing skills/first aid knowledge. In all honesty though, unless a person has donea first aid course or learnt through some other means,most people have no idea what to do when someone is ill or injured. It is not taught at school anymore. Parents do not pass down the information to their children.
Your nanny should renew her certificate ASAP and possible do some reading on childhood illnesses and basic treatment.

nannyl · 13/11/2009 14:44

am shocked to read that post.

I would know how to deal with a sick child, and would have made an effort to reduce his temperature and to go home.

Im sure all my nanny friends would do the same too.

So sorry to hear that your nanny didnt.

I think you were unlucky and that all of that IS covered on our courses etc... it certaily was for me, but regardless of it being on the course, (it was) i certainly didnt learn it on the course... i would call it more general knowledge

AtheneNoctua · 13/11/2009 13:50

Incidentally, I once picked DD up from the childminder who said shee seemed unwell. When I asked if she had a fever the childminder said she didn't have a thermometer in the house. And I was mildly annoyed about this because I thought it was her job to have one and keep on top of this.

Generally speaking, she was a fab childminder and we love her. But, this one incident did kind of bother me. But, she would definitley not have missed that whole cascade of symptoms your nanny (and all her nanny friends) missed.

Also,I had/have a nanny who once had to take DS to the hospital in emergency with a mild concussion. She was fantastic. Has not a single nanny "qulaification".

Some people are just plain stupid. And no amount of nanny training is really going to fix that.

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/11/2009 13:47

your poor ds midget - how is he now?

i am very that your nanny did nothing no calpol,stripping clothes, taking temp,going home

unfortunally not all nurserys ring parents/send home though many do

your nanny behaved in a very unprofessional manner and tbh i would be very concerned about her lack of care and would be wary in trusting her judgement in the future

AtheneNoctua · 13/11/2009 13:45

Next time I saw this nanny, I would go tap on her head and see if there was hollow echoing sound. Poor thing appears to have no brain and should definitely ring the NHS about that!

moaningminniewhingesagain · 13/11/2009 13:28

I don't have a nanny, but I would expect, as a minimum, that they would reduce the clothing, give calpol, and ring me. And leave the playgroup/come home as soon as runny poo noticed.

If they couldn't contact me I would expect them to contact the Dr or NHSDirect for advice in the meantime.

I would be very concerned that she doesn't sound suitable to be in sole charge if she is unable to deal with common childhood ailments in an adequate fashion. And a fever and runny poo are both common problems IMHO.

frakkinaround · 13/11/2009 13:13

v v worrying in my book. A nanny should def know how to deal with a child that sick and have the sense to have at least taken him home and checked temp. She should have been taught what to do on both her diploma and first aid courses.

I know I'm overcautious when it comes to child health as I had to whisk one to hospital with suspected meningitis once but the fact she did nothing is not good. Nannies need to be up to date with their first aid knowledge because you never know when a child will get sick but failing that common sense would do. Sadly it sounds like your nanny has neither.