Nursery Policies

[mamalovesminky]

My child had a temperature last night but it went down this morning so DH dropped her off to nursery with a bottle of Calpol to be administered by staff in case it rose again.

They asked DH if it was prescribed by the doctor or bought. He said it was bought.

A few hours later, the nursery staff range me to say her temperature had risen but they couldn't administer the Calpol as it wasn't prescribed. I said it WAS prescribed - the doctor gave prescribed it a few weeks ago when she had chicken pox.

They said that's not the info they had received from daddy so they couldn't administer and I had to come and collect her. I said that daddy wouldn't know as she's with me when she's not at nursery but they said they HAD to take the word of whoever drops her off (even if the person who drops her off is not the person with the correct info).

AIBU to think this is madness? I'm obviously more than happy to take time off from work and collect her from nursery if she really does need to be at home but if DH had said the Calpol was prescribed, they would have administered it, her temperature would have gone down and she would not have had to be dragged away from nursery in tears.

She loves her 2 days a week at nursery and it is really not nice to see your child upset completely unnecessarily IMHO. What do others think?

[bottleofbeer]

Oh the irony. I just gave me son an antihistamine and he asked me if I was sure it was the right stuff. I said "of course, what? don't you trust me?"

He said "no, remember the time you gave me a spoonful of calamine lotion instead of calpol?"

[TarkaTheOtter]

[LimitedEditionLady]

At out nursery we the parents sign the calpol in so its sort of permission form and tell them when they last had some on the form and you cant leave any unless the form has been signed and the calpol stays at reception.i think its a good system.

[Zzzzmarchhare]

My point re the GPs wasn't that they wouldn't prescribe calpol if needed more that I wouldn't take DS to see the GP because he had a slight temp or was teething- I'd buy calpol and give it to him. That's the reason it is available over the counter- because it is a mild analgesic which can be used at parent/ carers discression. If DS was ill enough to need the GP he would not be in nursery.

I think a sensible policy at nursery will make parents more likely to be honest how and not send children actually ill to nursery with D&V or really ill.

[newyearnewattitude]

At my nursery they have their own supply of calpol and you sign a form each year giving permission for one dose to be given if child has a temperature. They then call you when they have given it to let you know if its worked or not... They will happily apply suncream which they provide too and its s big chain sited on a hospital so plenty of medical help nearby if needed and more importantly they use common sense!

[Theas18]

www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-giving-medication-children-registered-childcare


Have a look at that leaflet, it may be helpful

[chelsbells]

I work in a nursery and we get high temperatures fairly often, teething, bugs etc. I'm surprised to see that many of your children's nurseries don't supply Calpol for a temperature..! For us, parents sign off to say if they have a temp they are all Calpol, plus a courtesy call before we give it. The child is monitored and if the temp comes down, they stay, if it doesn't, then they go home.
It can be a pain when you can see a child really just needs to be at home resting, but sometimes the Calpol does its job and they're fine then! I'd be annoyed at having to take them home - YANBU - however the nursery need to consider their polices!

[BlackholesAndRevelations]

I'm curious to know why your dh wouldn't know what had been prescribed for your child. Would you not tell him? Would he not ask?

[WeleaseWodger]

Common sense - prescribed FOR the condition she CURRENTLY has.
Just because a doctor prescribed a generic pain killer for another ailment weeks ago. They can't administer drugs that a doctor didn't specifically prescribed FOR that condition!

[Guiltismymaster]

YANBU
Our nursery gives our DS their calpol according to the dosage on the bottle if he has a temperature and call me to let me know (I have signed to say it's ok)
As long as he is otherwise happy and OK and his temperature doesn't get too high, he stays there.
I'm really pleased that they take the initiative. They will also take his clothes off and regularly give him water to cool him down.

[coraltoes]

such mollycoddlers here. Some kids run a temp when teething, it doesnt mean they are ill per se. Our nusery administers 1 dose calpol, if temp rises, doesnt abate or other symptoms persist they will send home. If all fine other than a bit hot they will medicate WITH parental consent.

not every child has a temp for the same reasons.

[coraltoes]

newyearnewattitude- i think we may be using the same chain, or at least one with the same common sense

[maja00]

If a child has a slight temperature with teething but isn't unwell then they don't need to be administered calpol anyway.

[maja00]

NICE guidelines are that paracetamol should not be administered just to reduce temperature as it doesn't reduce the risk of febrile convulsions so is unnecessary. I think nurseries who are keeping their own supply of unprescribed calpol and administering it for temperature are on dodgy ground personally.

[coraltoes]

maja00 then they also dont need to be sent home "sick"...

[maja00]

Where I work a perfectly well child who was joining in normally wouldn't be send home.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

How about Calpol for the discomfort of teething?

A looong time ago I started a thread - possibly an AIBU - asking if it was appropriate to offer baby DS2 some Calpol to help with his teething. The answer was a resounding and unanimous "dear God, woman, you're leaving your baby in pain - give him the drugs" which made me a bit . People kept saying "you'd take paracetamol if you had toothache/a headache, so ffs give the poor child some Calpol!" Only I don't take painkillers until I'm keeling over so it hadn't occurred to me.

[WidowWadman]

Wow. We don't even have to send Calpol in - nursery keep their own, and will ring us, to ask for consent. If child obviously unwell, we of course need to collect, but not if it's just a teething temp or similar.

[numbum]

Our local pharmacy has a scheme where they give calpol and nurofen for free, to stop you going to the GP for it. It's a great thing

[coraltoes]

maja you're just telling me to never use your nursery...

I expect my childcare to be able to care for my child. If she is ill and unable to play there is no way i send her in, nor do i hesitate in picking her up. If she has a cold or teething the distraction of play keeps her happier than being home. If she has an ear infection, the same applies (she gets them from time to time with no real symptoms until they pop other than a temp). So you would send home a happy playing child if she had a temp? without trying to see if it can be lowered by stripping her off or giving nurofen/calpol?

NICE guidelines also conflict with what GPs have often told me when DD does have a temp. They reccommend regular calpol/ nurofen to keep it down. Just as they reccommend paracetamol for adult running a temp (i had one not long ago)

[maja00]

No, a happy playing child with a temperature doesn't need medication or to be sent home.

What a surprise that GPs aren't up to date.

[Groovee]

A temperature is a sign of an infection be it viral or bacterial. You'd soon moan if the nursery had to close because all staff members were off sick. This happened once to us and the parent who moaned the loudest was the one who constantly battled to get us to bend the rules to suit her.

[coraltoes]

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/treating-high-temperature-children.aspx#close

odd how the NHS site also suggests paracetamol for a fever...

[maja00]

It says treat discomfort and fever - "if your child is distressed and uncomfortable"

If a child is distressed and uncomfortable then they definitely should not be at nursery. They are ill and will make the other children and staff ill.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

numbum Fri 26-Jul-13 13:35:05
Our local pharmacy has a scheme where they give calpol and nurofen for free, to stop you going to the GP for it. It's a great thing

What's with the shocked face? Many pharmacies do it. It's called the minor ailment scheme where you can go see the pharmacist for things like diarrhoea and vomiting, conjunctivitis, hayfever etc.

Or do you think it's appropriate to see your GP to get calpol?