Sending vomiting kids to school / nursery.

[prideofaberdeen]

It's been a bad year for bugs, D&V has been pretty rife. I've had chats with two different mums in the last few weeks who told me they'd sent their kids to school and nursery, after they'd vomited the night before. Both kids then developed full-on D&V and needed to be collected after an hour or so. It makes me so mad!

I know that vomiting isn't always because of a bug, both of them said "I know it was naughty to send them in but, oops). There are 24hr / 48rules for a reason. I also think it's relevant that in these cases, the parents are not in zero hours / precarious employment, and though obviously I may never know exactly what's going on, as far as I know one day off would not have left them on the breadline or losing their job. I totally get having a day off for childcare is not easy, but sometimes there really is no option.
So, would you have judged these parents as I did? (Dons hard hat!!!!)

@Fermerswife

Were you aware that working parents already have rights to time off, introduced 18 years ago? Reports last year suggested that nearly half working parents are unaware of their existing rights.
www.mirror.co.uk/money/your-boss-give-you-time-11095013.amp

Just to touch on a few other points mentioned:
Yes, absolutely SAHPs do send in sick children. One freely admitted to me that she sends her kids in to nursery because she can’t cope when they’re ill.
Parents send sick children in to parties, they go out for the evening and leave them with babysitters. There’s an attitude amongst some that life goes on and kids will have to adapt to them rather than the other way around. They have little enough thought for their own children, never mind anyone else’s.

As a childminder, I don’t get this nonsense so much because I’m strict about illness, particularly D&V. I have given notice in the past to parents who won’t follow my sickness policy. We rarely get illnesses passed on as a result.
If everyone were to do their level best to stick to the rules, the nurseries would see less illness, too.

Just because your own child vomits once and then is fine does not mean that everyone else will be so lucky. Tummy bugs can be passed on in those 48 hours (as happened with us), even if your child appears well - that’s why you’re asked to keep them away.

Thanks for the link to that article will have to read up.

DT2 has asthma when he has the tail end of a cold / cough. One day after school he got into such a violent coughing fit he puked his lunch up. I took him to school the next day as it was the cough that made him sick.
Just like I did for DT2 when he threw up an ice cream sundae because he thought it was a grand idea to go on the trampoline directly afterwards.

(having said that, we've been on lockdown for a week as they have both had D&V but not at the same time. Presumably DT1, once over it, may have been contagious still as DT2 didn't get it for 2 days after DT1 was back at school)

if you have a job where you are forced to send your child in sick or go in sick yourself, it is not workable. Or it would not be for me. I deserve better treatment as do you and as do our respective children. People change jobs all the time for lots of reasons and not just parents either

As it happens dhs boss is crap. Most of this shit falls on me . However , sometimes it is down to him not being assertive enough and I can't and won't do it all

But I am bolshy like that. If they were to fire me theyd have a fight on their hands

if you have a job where you are forced to send your child in sick or go in sick yourself, it is not workable. Or it would not be for me. I deserve better treatment as do you and as do our respective children. People change jobs all the time for lots of reasons and not just parents either

Not that easy when you are in a crappy, badly paid job but little other options. Hell yes I deserve better, but I can't magic it up out of my arse, can I?

No but you can look

And I'm in a crappy badly paid job, too, but they are OK with things like that (just as well. Deal breaker for me). Just waiting for the bully for you comment but just saying that other options do exist. You just need to keep trying

And actually it is illegal to fire someone for taking time off to care for a dependent, which includes an elderly relative. Employers don't have to pay you but they certainly can't sack you for it.

It is a shame there is so much misdirected anger. Anger that should be directed to unscrupulous employers

I just use common sense.

dD was sick the other week once overnight. We kept her off next day but contacted School & asked what we should do the following day if she was not sick again - they said send her in.

I actually think it was delayed travel sickness - if that exists - as we’ve had similar occurrences before.

DS was a little sick yesterday. But the wee bigger had helped himself to some chocolate without my knowledge and then was running about, play fighting with his sister. He then wolfed down his dinner. He’s at nursery today.

If it was a genuine sickness bug then definitely I would follow 48 hours