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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take DS out and about when he's off school because of sickness?

91 replies

cornflakegirl · 08/07/2011 09:06

DS1 (6) was not well after school on Wednesday - he was complaining of tummy ache, was quite hot, and fell asleep on the sofa for an hour. He threw up in the middle of the night. School have the standard 48 hours after D or V policy, so he's off school.

However, by yesterday morning he was fine. No more vomiting, eating fairly normally, although he didn't do anything too strenuous. Today, he's still not allowed into school - would it be unreasonable to take him to soft play or something so that he's not just stuck in the house?

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 08/07/2011 09:07

Yes you would BU.

StrandedHouseElf · 08/07/2011 09:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lollyheart · 08/07/2011 09:10

Yabu he still could be carrying the bug and spread it around, he might seem fine in himself buts it's 48 hours for a reason.

Hope he's better soonSmile

Original poster
cornflakegirl · 08/07/2011 09:11

It's a blanket rule. Are you telling me that all causes of vomiting mean that the child is contagious for 48 hours afterwards?

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 08/07/2011 09:15

No not all of them - but the fact is you can't tell, so that's why there is a strict rule.

TeamDamon · 08/07/2011 09:16

No, but how do you know that Ds's isn't?

purplepidjin · 08/07/2011 09:16

YABU, because that would teach him that vomiting = softplay and treats.

cjbartlett · 08/07/2011 09:19

Take him to the park where he can't infect other kids

FionaJT · 08/07/2011 09:20

Yes, YABU to risk spreading germs, and also making a rod for your own back making him think that having a day off school sick is fun. It has to be as boring as humanly possible, or you are asking for all sorts of trouble later!

meditrina · 08/07/2011 09:20

I wouldn't take him to soft play, because it's filled (in the school day) with younger children, and though well your DS is still under an infection control measure.

Could you think of alternatives - maybe a run around outside somewhere?

Original poster
cornflakegirl · 08/07/2011 09:20

He gets "treats" in the form of extra screen time anyway if he's at home. And why would I want to punish him for being ill?

I am fairly confident that DS isn't contagious. He threw up once and had no diarrhoea. It wasn't a virulent sickness bug.

OP posts:
HollyFP · 08/07/2011 09:21

Ugh am on the other end of this today, friend's baby picked up gastroentinitis on Monday from nursery but still brought him to play at our friend's house on Wednesday, and will be taking him to Sing & Sign today. I am keeping my DD away all day as I don't want to risk her catching it.
Tbh I am Angry the mum is being so unconcerned and selfish, does she not care about other people's kids at all?!
Same would apply here IMO

BimboNo5 · 08/07/2011 09:21

YWBVU, he could still be contagious and you could cause other children and families to become ill and cause them a huge upset and inconvenience. Dont be so selfish!

BimboNo5 · 08/07/2011 09:22

Its not a case of punishing him its a case of thinking of others not just your darling boy.

Original poster
cornflakegirl · 08/07/2011 09:23

Fiona - I don't feel the need to make being at home boring. He's off school because they won't let him go, not because he's malingering. And he loves school anyway.

meditrina - yeah, the younger kids thing is the thing that's making me ask the question, tbh. Park would be good, but it's miserable here today.

OP posts:
SwearyMary · 08/07/2011 09:24

YABU, some stomach bugs can make certain vulnerable people very poorly indeed. Just because your Son only vomited once means nothing, he could still be contagious.

I take it you are bored having to stay at home with your Son. Take him to the park, if you can dodge the showers!

Original poster
cornflakegirl · 08/07/2011 09:26

Bimbo - the punishment comment was in response to being told that ill children must on no account be allowed to enjoy themselves.

OP posts:
HollyFP · 08/07/2011 09:27

It's only for one more day FFS! Angry

Original poster
cornflakegirl · 08/07/2011 09:27

I'm not bored - I'm at work. It's not much fun for DH though (also has 1yo DS2 at home).

OP posts:
Original poster
cornflakegirl · 08/07/2011 09:28

Holly - I don't think I've said anything that necessitates you swearing at me?

OP posts:
HoneyNorwegianRidgebackdragon · 08/07/2011 09:28

If he's desperate to get out why not take a walk to your local store, let him choose something to make for lunch and a magazine and puzzle book?

You can be quick, keep him away from others and he can make lunch at home then do the mag in the afternoon.

You'd be unreasonable to go to the park or softplay, you can't say he's not contagious.

worraliberty · 08/07/2011 09:32

Even apart from spreading germs to other kids, it wont be good for him to expend too much energy after being ill.

He needs to get his body back to normal or risk nasty stomach cramps and dizziness.

Original poster
cornflakegirl · 08/07/2011 09:32

I make decisions whenever he's ill with non-vomiting bugs about when he seems to have recovered and to be unlikely to infect other people. Why should throwing up mean that I am unable to assess his wellness in the same way?

OP posts:
BimboNo5 · 08/07/2011 09:34

Are you an infection control expert?

mummytime · 08/07/2011 09:35

Sorry but my DS once had the following illness, policy at the time was only 24 hrs off after being sick.
Mon was sick a couple of times, and poorly. Tuesday fine, back to his old self. Wens went into school, by the evening was ill again, Thurs D and V, Fri D and V. Fortunately got better over the weekend.

I might take a child to the park, if it was raining like today. Nobody else around, germs unlikely to survive on surfaces for long. Soft play is totally irresponsible, all those surfaces are the ideal place to transfer germs.

BTW did you realise that people in the food industry can be off work for months as they may still be shedding germs for that long after an illness.

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