Suspected diarrhea at nursery

[Motherofflower]

I've had my 1 year old in nursery for 3 full days for the last few weeks. Since last week they've been commenting about her having loose stools at handover. She's not had loose stools at home but I did say I'd keep an eye on her. 2 days she has been at nursery this week and they've commented on the loose stools again. I've reiterated she has been fine at home and stools have been solid but again Ill keep an eye on her. Her stools have been solid at home.

She has been in for 2 full days so far this week and each time they've commented on loose stools and the 2nd day they said they were close to sending her home. Then the day after I got a call from nursery saying they'd forgot to mention it at handover but they suspect she may have diarrhea and to not have in her in the next day if she has loose stool. I said she'd had solid stools (x2) all day today but if she has a loose one I will call to say she isn't coming in. They said thank you for letting us know and ended the phone conversation.

My daughter had been fine all through the night and no loose stools. Got her ready for nursery this morning and when staff came to do handover they'd said they'd told me she shouldn't be in today. I reiterated what had been said on the phone and that she had been fine and Id be calling if she wasnt well. Staff got a little defensive and said my daughter should be at home but they've talked about it and she can come in but one loose stool and she will have to be sent home but they said that whoever spoke to me on the phone said not for her to come in. I said okay and I just felt like it was a cold reception.

She's been in all day today from 8am and it was half 2 in the afternoon when they called to say she'd had a loose stool and to come and collect her. Now I've already been in touch with the GP because I know she doesn't have diarrhea so I'd contacted them this morning and I need to get a stool sample and they can confirm if she does have diarrhea or not and they can put a letter together for the nursery. I'd done this this morning when my daughter is at nursery because I had a gut feeling they'd be sending her home.

Her Dad had to go and pick her up from nursery as he works closer and he said staff were very cold and said they had told me on the phone not to bring her in. I'm quite annoyed that they lied what had been said on the phone. I feel like crap because it's made me feel like I've took my daughter in without caring for her welfare.

I should be hearing back about it from the GP soon but she is due to go back to nursery next week and I feel uncomfortable as I do most of the drop offs. Usually I've been quite happy and lovely with staff but now I feel like a bad parent

Any advice?

I wonder if it’s a case of they’re leaving the stool in the nappy and she’s urinating on it causing it to appear loose.
this happened with my son.

I'd take some time stapped pics of her solid poos at home and send them in. I'd also ask if they are sure they are talking about the right child as it's very strange.

Not intentionally leaving it… but not realising she needs changed.
I don’t think staff intentionally leave kids soiled. Certainly wasn’t the case in my sons place anyway.

I’d be asking them to save a nappy or be taking pics. What is loose to them? At 1 they’re still exploring new foods / textures / digestive system is immature. Are they insinuating she has norovirus? Maybe her poo is just softer than other kids?

I did look into her diet and she has had a lot of fruit the last few days and it can loosen the poo. I just don't think it's diarrhea because I've worked in care for over 10 years and know when it is or not. Regardless I'm keeping a diary and documenting everything just in case.

Sounds like a potential misunderstanding on the phone.

Staff member says “she has loose stools today. She can’t come in tomorrow if she has loose stools”

You thought she meant she couldn’t come in if she had more loose stools. Whereas she thought she was explaining the rule “she can’t come in if she has loose stools” meaning that therefore because she has loose stools, she can’t come in.

Don't be gross.

I would question what they mean by loose stools and ask for a picture. Loose stools doesn’t necessarily mean diarrhoea. She could have constipation, could be overflow, diet, anything.

Sounds like they just want to send her home to be honest. I’d ask them outright if they are concerned about her being infectious because you haven’t noticed this at all at home. And as it’s ongoing you’re worried it might be a food allergy or something the nursery is giving her that’s upsetting her. Could also be anxiety or excitement?

I would make a point of saying how odd it is that this only happens at nursery and not at home.

‘Loose stools’ are pretty common in young kids, there’s a big difference between softer poos as a result of diet (lots of fruit can do this for example), individual digestive system, etc and diarrhoea.

Cynic in me says perhaps they are over ratios and trying to send kids home or manage staffing that way. It seems odd that they are fine at home and loose there, but even if they are looser than solid, it’s not necessarily a sign of any illness, consistency changes quite a lot with young kids based on new things in their diet, etc.

I get that but when I explained she hasn't had loose stools but if she does ill ring to say she isn't coming in, she didn't repeat and say no she can't come in at all. If she had said that then I would have kept her off. It probably was a misunderstanding but just the coldness from staff doesn't make me feel good lol

We had this with our DD. It was really stressful, but basically I agreed to take her to the GP and they diagnosed toddler diarrhoea and offered to write a letter to nursery if needed. We didn’t end up needing the letter, just explained the diagnosis. It resolved around the time we potty trained her.