to be cross with childminders being overprotective when my boy is infectious?!

[MaeBee]

my ds has mild conjunctivitis. i checked the advice on the NHS website before taking him to a toddler group, and it said continue going to playgroups and schools. so i did. and i warned every parent coming in, cos my toddler is a big fan of little babies in particular and likes to kiss them, so i thought if i warned them then they could stop him rubbing his face on their babies if i hadn't got there first!
well, without exception all the parents were fine about it. but the childminders were all a bit arsey. they all tend to sit in one corner together and every time my ds went over there they just picked him up and put him away, not even letting him in that corner where some of the toys are.
in the end i left early, because he was feeling unwell and because i wasn't sure what to do. but now im feeling i should have been more confrontational. the other thing is, its a SureStart group,its free, set up in deprived areas to help parents. i don't have a problem at all with the childminders also using it, but i do if they start hogging an area and being mean to my kid.
am i being unreasonable?

I personally wouldn't take my child to groups like that if she had conjunctivitis, having had it myself which turned to a very serious infection being treated at hospital, I'm wary about this.
But I do understand your POV

yabu, if their mindees get conjunctivitis they will have to send them home which is a huge pita for their parents and possiblily they will not get paid. if i had been there i would have left with dd as i can't afford to take more time of work right now.

YABU. The "risks" you take with your own children are far different to those you take with children placed in your care.

sorry but if you DS has mild conjunctivitis I think you were being unreasonable by taking him.

As for the childminders - well it's their job to look after their mindees - and I'm sure that includes not knowingly let them get into contact with infectious conjunctivitis

FWIW - DS1's school, and DS2's nursery both send children home with it........

As a childminder, my policies state that children with infectious diseases should stay at home until the infection has been treated and gone. End of. If I was a cm in that situation, I think I would be doing the same thing. I'm quite suprised actually, that NHS Direct suggest that its OK for a child with a 'highly infectious' disease to mix with other children.

That might be the NHS advice but a lot of parents will be upset if a child with an infectious condition is knowingly allowed to mix with others. Me included! I've kept ds home from nursery before because he "only" has conjunctivitis even though nursery will happily take him. It's just not fair on other children in my opinion. I can understand why childminders might have been a bit huffy even if your fellow parents weren't- the other parents might actually have been a bit unhappy about it but because you're "one of them" felt a bit uncomfortable saying so.

So I think maybe YABU a little, I would have stayed at home as would have felt terribly guilty if my ds had passed conjunctivitis on to another child. I know its not really serious but it is unpleasant for all involved.

there is no mild conjunctivitis. It is very infectious no matter how much gunk is in the eye. Our kids are sent home straight away from nursery. You are definitely being unreasonable, you should never have taken him i'm afraid.

YOu are joking right?

errm if not then Yes...YABVeryU

I too am amazed at the advice from NHS Direct. I wouldn't take a child out with conjunctivitis and tbh I wouldn't be happy to see one at a group I attend either (and I'm not usually bothered by things like that!)

Very surprised that NHS say OK to keep going to nursery etc.

DH had it really badly once - I was away at the time and he was alone and he really struggle - he basically couldn't see for 2 days.

So - YABU I'm afraid.

Hmmmm, you are being a little tiny bit U by taking him there with conjunctivitus BUT I was really shocked when you said they were picking him up and moving him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Do they usually pick up peoples children and move them. I'd have stabbed anyone who picked up my kids and moved them (well not literally but in my head).

Is this a common occurance where you go.

Also don't forget when there are 6 of them an 1 of you they feel braver and probably do things they wouldn't have done had they been on their own.

can you link to the website that gave you such advice?

YABveryU. Your child has a highly infectious disease and loves kissing babies!!! Would you have wanted a contagious kid kissing your ds when he was a baby?

I would never take my dcs to a toddler group with conjunctivitis, it is so contagious.

Of course child minders are going to try and move your ds away, how cross would the parents be if their children come home from the cm with conjunctivitis???

incredibly the NHS advice is indeed there

"Unless there is an outbreak of infective conjunctivitis at your child's school, you will not have to keep your child at home. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) states that it is not advisable to exclude children from schools, or playgroups, if they have a mild, infectious illness, such as a cold or infective conjunctivitis."

!!!

Well yes I agree about colds - bit silly IMO to keep a child at home for a normal cold.

link here

Our kindergarten sends children home if they have conjuncivitus. It is very infectious. Surprised at the advice on NHS Direct.

I am pretty laid back about the diseases that children pass around, but I would not be happy if a mum brought a child with conjuncivitis with her.

I'm off work today, as DD has conjunctivitus. I wouldn't dream of sending her to nursery (or to a childminder) with conjuctivitus.

I wouldn't take her to a toddler group, either.

I'm also praying my other 2 don't catch it.

Sorry, but I think you are being unreasonable.

Well I've just looked at NHS Direct and I can't find anywhere that says, 'continue going to playgroups and school'

BTW, inside I am seething that you should think that the childminders were being arsey and 'hogging' an area of the playgroup. I'm sure every one of those mindees parents are very grateful that they take the time to take them to playgroups and protect them from highly infectious diseases!

Message withdrawn

Hmm, perhaps it would be ok for older children to go to school, where they do not have such close contact with other children. With a toddler though, they are always cuddling and touching each others faces. Not to mention sharing toys.

MML - look at my link - it's there at the bottom of the page !

Message withdrawn

Didn't look hard enough did I? Still think its unreasonable and irresponsible though! How could you think it was OK, if you were having to tell everyone wheny ou wlaked through the door!

LOL - well it took me a few minutes to find it too MM. I think it's daft too

Brace yourself OP! I'm linking this to the staff room!