Sending child to nursery with hand, foot and mouth when you are on maternity leave with baby

[Cuppateaandbiccie]

Just that really, AIBU to send my toddler to nursery whilst on maternity leave with my 5 month old? The nursery policy is there is no exclusion for HFM but they should be kept off if they are not eating/drinking, have a temperature or are not well enough in themselves to play/engage. If they are fine in themselves am I ok to send them, even though they don’t ‘need’ to go in that I’m not going to work?
YABU - don’t send them
YANBU - ok to send them
Thank you!

I had HFM when DD was little. She was fine, I have never been so ill, and I’m someone that doesn’t routinely get ill. Was bedridden for the best part of 3 weeks and DH was working away. Took me about 3 months to shake it off completely.

I personally wouldn’t send them in if you have any way not to.

Of course yabu what if it passes onto someone immunocompromised. Of course the NHS says to send them in the guidelines are long as theyre not near death to send them in for most things its to keep parents in work.

Most parents have to work and can’t take endless days off each time their toddler is sick, which is realistically every few weeks in Winter. Even if not working, it’s really not selfish and entitled to send your child in for days you’ve paid a lot of money for, in accordance with nursery and NHS guidelines. If pregnant or immunocompromised people are worried about catching it then the onus is on them to find an alternative to nursery surely as the vast majority of children will be infectious before showing symptoms. Sorry but I wouldn’t feel guilty at all sending my child in even in OPs situation. I caught it from my son when I was pregnant and the doctors said it’s highly unlikely to cause issues in most cases.

If you had to go to work, I would 100% send her in. But if you have the option not to, leave it a few days.

Nursery workers will recognize HFM immediately and send your child back, sharpish.

I know it sucks, but part of being a working parent of a little kid is having a plan in place as to how you cope with when they can't go to nursery.

And you can't send a kid to nursery if you know they are ill.

No it isn’t. The gov/NHS guidance says to keep them off even with a cold if they have a temp with it. Impetigo is pretty common and generally not serious, and they have to stay off school for that as well. If they treat HFM less seriously than a cold with a temp, and impetigo, I’d assume that that is because statistically there is very little risk.

Not if they work at one of the many many nurseries who allow children in with it.

You can if they don't have a temp, aren't vomiting and otherwise feel fine. Especially if nursery policy and NHS guidelines say so.

I wouldn't send m child in to infect others when keeping them at home would be a non issue. I know some children who have been very ill with HFM. there is not need to spread the germs in this situation.

the OP is at home on mat leave and doesn't have to take any time off from work.

It's also not contagious at the point when the blisters appear so why is the OP selfish for sending a child in with an illness that's not affecting the overall wellbeing of the child and will not affect others?

It's fine to follow the policy and send the child in if well enough. HF&M is so infectious there is no point trying to reduce infection via contact control, it will not work.

The children are most contagious for a few days before the spots appear anyway. So if they've been to nursery before it's already been there and potentially passed about. I wouldn't send them if they're feeling unwell but if they're well in themselves then yes I would.

Please don't - it seems to spread quite easily, and can be really bad in adults (it was the start of a long period of illness for me a few years back - I wouldn't wish it on anyone).

Think of other parents! HFM is absolutely awful and some kids get it really bad. YABVU to send them in. You are off anyway! And it clears soon. Be responsible and show consideration to your community.

Depends on how much you care about the other parents and their kids really. You’re at home. You could easily take care of both the kids at home & minimise the impact. You don’t have to follow the nurseries (frankly stupid) policy.

There is no requirement to isolate children with HFM as it will already have spread before they started showing symptoms. As long as they’re well in themselves you are fine to send them in!

It’s not nursery policy, it’s national public health policy! They are infectious well before the symptoms appear so it will already have spread.

We had it really bad so I sympathise. But they are MOST infectious in the 3-5 days BEFORE any symptoms appear and they are STILL infectious for WEEKS after all symptoms disappear. So if one baby in that nursery has it, they will all have it. It's why the NHS policy says send them in. It's pointless to keep him home.

Also, for many babies the only symptom will be a runny nose, lower appetite and a few spots on their bottom, which some parents will think is a nappy rash, so they won't even realize they have it.