Childminder - sickness

[Jane1204]

I am a childminder. What do I say to a parent who asks me to do everything I can for her one year old to stop getting ill?. The child was ill two months ago ( nothing serious, was prescribed antibiotics by the GP), and had croup cough last week after she came back from holiday. None of the other children in my care had it or have contracted it.

Remind them off your sickness policy’s. Children shouldn’t come in with XYZ to stop spread and what rules you have with hand washing and food prep, cleaning of toys etc not much else you can do.

So I have reminded them of my hygiene policy which outlines cleaning, handwashing, not sharing cups , towels etc. They then came back and asked me to anything I can to prevent the child from falling ill. They asked me to stop other children from kissing their child, which I assured them I will do. At the same time, little children don't always understand social distancing and I cannot guarantee that other children will not have physical contact with their child. I am thinking of emailing to say that I can't give any guarantees, and if they are concerned, then may be a childminder who doesn't have other children might be best for them. ? The child has been with me for two month and they are really lovely to look after. The parents have been on the anxious side from the beginning.

Sounds like a nanny would be the best for them if they worry like that. Kids will spread germs not much you can do about it more than you are already.

They will struggle with anything other than a dedicated nanny.

Unfortunately, in any sort of childcare setting children will pass on germs to each other.

I really don’t think anything you say or do will help until they come to terms with the fact that this is just completely normal.

I am assuming the child is quite young and so their immune system is building up.

'I always do everything I can to stop the children becoming ill'.

Not much else you can say.

Children will always get ill they can have it now or have a nanny until they start school and then they be off with every disease known to mankind in the first few years. That’s just how it is.

Yes the child was born last year during lockdown and is a first child. The parents make me very nervous as they are so protective and anxious about anything happening to their child. The child loves children and is very happy when she is here. Being a parent myself I understand them but at the same time I don't know how to deal with them. Thank you so much for your replies.

I think the parents are being overly anxious. We use a childminder. She's great. Regardless, our children always get ill every few weeks when in childcare. It's just way it goes! And if one of my children gets ill, inevitably the other one does too 😷 i can't keep them apart, no matter how many times I ask the 5 year old not to sneeze in the 9 month old's direction 😅 Maybe a nanny is best for the family while their baby is young.