To complain to nursery about the parent who sent their child in, knowing she had conjunctivitis?

[westcoastmummy]

I am currenly seething as 14 month DS has horrible bacterial conjunctivitis in both eyes. When I was collecting DS from nursery last week I over heard a conversation between staff and a mother advising her not to bring her daughter in the following day. It turned out the daughter had conjunctivitis and was on antibiotic eyedrops. The mother was extremely annoyed that the nursery wouldn't take her daughter when she had the infection. I know it's a nightmare sorting alternative care when you're working but I think she's totally selfish. Am I being unreasonable to make a complaint?

[southmum]

Dont worry Curly, its unlikely our kids go to the same nursery

[Greeninkmama]

westcoast, I would definitely complain to the nursery. They obviously agree with you and might like another excuse to tell the other parent what the policy is. She should also know that her actions led to another child getting conjunctivitis.

[mutznutz]

I don't get how anyone can say 'school policies are shite'...they're all different and based on what's best for the school, taking into account Government guidelines.

[purepurple]

In a busy nursery we don't do inspections on the doorstep.
We rely on the parents respecting the policies regarding exclusion periods and sticking to them.
It is a juggling act for parents who use childcare. Which is more important, your child, your job or somebody else's child? It's not always as black and white as it seems.
I agree, children should be kept away from nursery if they could infect another child. Sometimes, they are not, especially at this time of year.

[southmum]

FFS its conjunctivitis not bleedin swine flu

Chandon - yes if I kept DS out of nursery for every mionor infectious illness I would most likley have my exit at work orchestrated for me. Unfortunately its happened. My firm are in the HR field so know how to do it with no comeback

[charliesmommy]

Considering how often the government chops and changes its guidelines, it amazes me that anyone actually takes any notice of them.

The only reason I can see for guidelines is an excuse for someone to get govt funding, produce some biased report, and it then gets touted around as being the right thing. Load of crap.

Conjunctivitus IS infectious, and is bloody painful too.

[mutznutz]

Well that is crap altinkum but that doesn't make 'school policies shite' in general....as I say, they're all so different.

Boys and girls are allowed long hair at my son's school.

[BALD]

reiterating HPA guidance to schools and childcare facilities

No exclusion needed for conjunctivitis so you are being unreasonable

[mutznutz]

Funny that BALD should post straight after my long hair comment

I'm under the impression official guidelines say 24hr exclusion until anti biotic drops are given?

I know my local school Nursery is stricter and their policy is until the eye stops oozing...which makes sense when you think about the child rubbing it and spreading the pus about (vomits a bit)

[scottishmummy]

maybe she had no alternative,had to bring in.maybe not able to get alternative care or day off work.as long as she takes the eyedrops it will clear up

[roadkillbunny]

It is a difficult one, the nursery should have sent the child home as soon as they realised she had conjunctivitis, for some children it can be very serious. In my dd's class no child with any kind of eye issue that could possibly be conjunctivitis is allowed in the school, we have to keep them home and see how it develops, take them to the doc to make sure before they can come back to school, if they have it they can't come into school until it is completely clear as we have a little girl in the class who has so little sight she is registered blind, for her 'just' conjunctivitis would take the last little bits of her sight, nothing is more important then allowing a 6 year old little girl the chance to have a little bit of sight for as long as possible.
In a nursery setting you don't know if you maybe endangering a child by taking your child with an infection into nursery, infection control policies are there for a reason for some children it is not 'just' a small infection.

[Bobbiesmum]

I've not read the whole thread so apologise if this has already been said but the HPA advice is that a child does NOT need to be excluded from nursery for conjunctivitis (or for things like ringworm or hand foot and mouth for that matter).
As a doctor I advise parents of this so YABU

[snowmummy]

Kids don't need to be excluded for conjunctivitus as long as its being treated. My son was allowed in as soon as he had the eyedrops for it.

[Northernlurker]

The nursery took action - what more do you want? Tbh I sympathise with the mother though - I was told by our GP with dd1 that she could go back to nursery once she had started treatment and nursery were happy with that. I see the government advice supports that position. Your child's illness could be co-incidental. You could make a complaint but you will look rather unpleasant and unreasonable imo.

[mutznutz]

So the parents who would send their child to school with conjunctivities rather than take a day off work...what would you do if your were combing your child's hair before you left and discovered head lice? That's a 'minor' thing too?

[Northernlurker]

I would whisk them upstairs, wash said hair, condition and then comb with my nitty gritty till I couldn't find anymore live beasties. Then I would go to work.

What do you expect me to do - take a whole day off in order to douse her head with chemicals, fret and ignore my responsibilities?

[Northernlurker]

Oh and I wouldn't send child in with untreated conjunctivitis - that would be cruel.

[scottishmummy]

my kids attended nursery with conjunctivitis, staff applied eyedrops.doesnt need exclusion and not worth a day off work for

[mutznutz]

I don't know Northern it was a genuine question though...not something I've ever really thought about.

[southmum]

Id send him in and treat him as soon as I could and let the other parents know.

Once one kid has them they will all get it (if not already). Tis one of those things.

[mutznutz]

You wouldn't treat him before sending him in, Southmum?

[scottishmummy]

wouldn't take day off work if discovered headlice.dont be daft.apply 10min treatment and go nursery

[Mummy2Bookie]

I think children can attend nursery with conjunctivitis along as they re being treated.