Was this reasonable of nursery?

[lunavista]

Nursery called me to pick up child as they had a temperature of 37 and he's not 'quite himself' .

I think that's unreasonable as that's not considered a high temperature?

I had made them aware that baby had a bit of a cold but was recovering. When I brought him home he was absolutely fine! Didn't have a temperature at all ( checked, just below 37).

I think babies are allowed to be a bit under the weather and their job is to accommodate that with in reason. AIBU?

I suspect their child to staff ratio was under what is should be. I sometimes got calls to pick-up DS due to some illness that miraculously disappeared as soon as he was collected. They knew I was working from home so it was an easy call to make knowing I’d be there in under 10 minutes.

@Bex000

I would prefer that they called and I checked on him rather than not call and risk him deteriorating!

Oh I agree! They did message me with how well he was doing and they know to give us a curtsy call to let us know if he seems unwell so we can make a decision whether to take him home. But imagine we were miles away, what would they have done then? Surely these things need to be with in reason. I don't want my child to suffer either and if he's truest unwell I would want him at home with me. But a mild cold is just, to my mind, not that big of a deal and quite common in the setting and in that cohort.

In my family we all have fairly consistent not ill temperature. Lowest is 35.9, highest is 37.2 (different people). So there is a range of Normal body temperature, and IME little kids can run a bit hot, especially after a nap.

@Eightiesfan

I suspect their child to staff ratio was under what is should be. I sometimes got calls to pick-up DS due to some illness that miraculously disappeared as soon as he was collected. They knew I was working from home so it was an easy call to make knowing I’d be there in under 10 minutes.

Do you know what, that's exactly my thought.

@JellyMouldJnr

In pre-covid times I would agree with you, but I have seen a lot of kids who have tested positive for Covid whose only symptoms were a slight temp and/or being under the weather. I think its fair to say he should not be at nursery.

They did say covid is the reason for a call to pick up for temps beyond 37.8 but by their own admittance it was only 37. Also we test every week, extremely unlikely it's covid.

So they took it right after his nap, when you would expect a child to be warm covered in a blanket. 37 is normal body temp anyway, they took you for a mug. He was probably still sleepy and a grump from being woken up.

Sending home for a temp of 37 is ridiculous.

We have often sent in a DC who is a bit under the weather but fine in themselves with a message of "They seem fine, but if they're not themselves and you think they just need a day on the sofa, just let us know" - we're wfh and can be there in 10 minutes. So, given our nursery has pretty much never called us, if they asked us to collect because of the DC wasn't themselves I would take it seriously and reckon they were feeling properly ill even if the thermometer wasn't showing anything (which is of course possible).

If you don't have that trust and that relationship yet, I'd be suspicious about ratios.

You have a very low opinion of nursery staff. Hopefully they wouldn't pretend a child was sick because their staff ratios were wrong. When I worked in a nursery if a staff member was sick we got bank staff in. Yes it cost money to get them in, but the children's safety always came first.

I think if your child has a cold you shouldn't send them in.

Are you going to say anything to the nursery?

@YellowLemonz

I feel that they just don't want a baby under the weather and a bit out of sorts but that's the job.

You've said they've said he wasn't himself, and that he was fine when home but then said he is under the weather and abit out of sorts so you know he's not right.

I don't think it's their job to look after poorly kids as that's not what nursery's are for.

This.

Why would you want your child at nursery if they are under their weather? It’s not the nursery’s job to look after a sick child. That’s YOUR job.

*the weather.

@Somethingsnappy

Are you going to say anything to the nursery?

Thank you. I spoke to the manager who apologised and said they shouldn't have called for pickup as the temperature was normal. So that's helpful.

37 is not a temperature that's literally normal body temperature.
I'm 37.2 right now, my DS is normally 37 /facepalm

Anything above 37.5 is a low temperature. Normal temp ranges up to 37.5.

Also I would expect to be reimbursed for the lost hours if they have said it's their error.

@DixonD

*the weather.

Because they weren't I'll. under the weather with a common cold is normal for babies. That is where they pick this illnesses anyway, by that logic you could only send completely healthy babies and that's just practically not true even in that nursery itself.

I am not asking them to look after a medically I'll child. But thank you for highlighting what my parental duties are, that's helpful.

@NotMyselfWithoutCoffee

37 is not a temperature that's literally normal body temperature. I'm 37.2 right now, my DS is normally 37 /facepalm

Anything above 37.5 is a low temperature. Normal temp ranges up to 37.5.

Agree

@NotMyselfWithoutCoffee

Also I would expect to be reimbursed for the lost hours if they have said it's their error.

Exactly how I feel. We do pay for a service after all. It's not like they are doing us a favour I.e as a family meme bet would for example.

School did this to my daughter in November last year, also for a temp of 37, she wasn't off, ill, coughing or anything so she missed a full day of school for a perfectly normal temperature.

That's ridiculous and glad you rang the manager. I totally understand if they're clearly unwell but he obviously wasn't. Whatever their reason for wanting him at home and not there is not fair on him or you, especially if you're working, busy etc.

I get this with dds special needs school. I get they have to be extra careful but the amount of times I've travelled over 1.5 hours to get her and she's sitting there laughing and smiling and not a bother on her. It's very stressful all round.

They'll be complaining if you keep them off too much. You just can't win.

I genuinely am in shock by the people who would keep their child at home when they have a (mild) cold. Fair enough if they're coughing up their lungs so to speak by all means they should be at home. Same for stomach bugs/fever etc. They should most definitely recover at home but a very mild cold??? ... Seriously. If I had done that the first two years of my kid's life, he never would have been in the damn nursery. Babies/toddlers get under the weather ALL the time, it's not possible to keep them at home when they're a bit "under the weather" every single time.

Doubt an employer would be too impressed with that either when someone takes the day off each time their child has a case of the sniffles.

@MillaRennt

I genuinely am in shock by the people who would keep their child at home when they have a (mild) cold. Fair enough if they're coughing up their lungs so to speak by all means they should be at home. Same for stomach bugs/fever etc. They should most definitely recover at home but a very mild cold??? ... Seriously. If I had done that the first two years of my kid's life, he never would have been in the damn nursery. Babies/toddlers get under the weather ALL the time, it's not possible to keep them at home when they're a bit "under the weather" every single time.

Doubt an employer would be too impressed with that either when someone takes the day off each time their child has a case of the sniffles.

If less people sent in their children with colds, children would get less colds. I'm sure my employer wouldn't like me taking 3 weeks off every time my child has a cold either but he was in hospital for that length of time with bronchiolitis he got from RSV. It's not a mild cold for every child, and the fact people think it's okay means I can't send my child to nursery.

@hugr So you expect people to keep their child at home every time when their only symptom is a runny nose for example? 🥴 Again, there would be no children in nurseries if they would be that strict.

@hugr

It's not other people's fault that the system is messed up though. End of the day people have to work and can't take time off for every sniffle or they will lose their jobs.
My DS has something at least twice a month.

Sick children in nursery is the biggest bug bare. I appreciate 37 is a normal temperature but 37.8 is a mild fever. Sick children in nursery often need 1-2-1 staffing as they become upset and need cuddles. How woyld you feel if the nursery said ok we will look after your sick child but you have to pay the extra to enable the 1-2-1 care. The bursey have a duty of care towards other staff and children. I totally get what you are saying re your child didn't seem unwell to you but maybe your child was feeling under the weather and just needed mummy cuddles