AIBU to keep DD off school to avoid virus?

[Thirteencats]

There's a very nasty and seemingly contagious vomiting bug going round DD's school. 6 kids were sent home from just one year group today. DD says there were 20 kids missing from her after school activity today - all juniors.

One kid in DD's class had to go to hospital earlier in the week when they couldn't get his temperature down. Other mums in our school year chat group are saying they've never seen their children this poorly before.

I'm wondering about keeping DD home for rest of the week to avoid her getting ill. Especially as its half term next week and we have commitments this weekend that would let people down if we had to back out suddenly. But those things are minor really, the main thing is that this illness sounds horrible and is spreading very quickly and I'd rather DD avoid it.

AIBU to consider it?

We normally are very strict with attendance and DD had 100% attendance last year. Just trying to weigh up risks and benefits.

She's 9 and DH works from home so childcare wouldn't be an issue

They've more than likely already been exposed to it so keeping off likely won't make a difference I wouldn't have thought

This is something I’d do to be honest.

YABU

Yeah go for it. Best to avoid if possible.

I would definitely keep her off. When my son was in junior school one mum sent her son in because he had only been sick "just once". They had to shut the entire school down in the end for a deep clean. We started on the 22nd of December and finally finished being ill on the 28th (two children and two adults). I cooked the Christmas dinner and froze it down 😂

Well you know what the rules are: you can only allow your child to miss school if either: they're too ill to go in or you have advance permission from the school. Direct from the government website. If you choose to break them, you choose to break them.

Yeah I would keep them off. They might already have it and will be off anyway but if there’s any way to avoid wrecking half term, do it.

I would, just get her to do some reading or studying at home. If she gets sick she won't be able to learn anyway

I don’t do vomiting bugs so YANBU. If she gets it, the whole family will get it.

I think I would in these specific circumstances.

Normal coughs and colds - no. Catch them and build resilience, was my feeling.

But something out of the ordinary which is making children very unwell, then I think I would.

I would call the school tomorrow and say she has a higher than normal temperature, so to be on the safe side and possibly spread something to other children, you will keep her off for the final two days.

Yeah I would. Especially as she doesn't have loads of sick days for minor stuff anyway and Friday is the last day of term so probably less learning anyway.

For this, yes I would.

bit like in the pandemic I not sending my child to school Incase they get COVID but I will take them shopping and to coffee shops and other areas full of people

It's stressing me out just reading that post. I would 100% keep her home in this scenario - missing two days of school is better than taking a high risk that the whole family will be violently ill.

Don't be ridiculous, OP. We're all exposed to viruses all the time - that's how we build up our immune systems.
She needs to be in school. That's it - and it's way more important than half term (which at least will give her time to recover, if she does catch it).

Oh, and your husband can't look after her at home if he's supposed to be working!

She will have already been exposed.

I would.

Keep her home. I spent Saturday night hugging the toilet. You know it's bad when the freezing tile floor is a relief. It only lasted 12 hours but I was sick 10 times and have lost half a stone. LO then had it the next eve. Sick in the car and sick in the bed. We had the washing machine running for two days straight. Utter carnage.

For years on end we've had Christmas ruined by d&v, funnily enough there was none in 2020 or 2021, was an absolute delight to keep my kids off for the week before the last couple of years.

Go for it. No doubt she'll start vomiting on Friday!

It would never ever occur to me to keep a child off school because there was something going round.

I’d keep her off yes. But I’d lie and say she has been sick so you don’t get in trouble.

No. Terrible message to send. Probably exposed to it now anyway.

Well the mixed replies are reassuring me that I'm not being unreasonable to consider it.

I'm leaning towards calling in sick for her tomorrow. She does have a cough /sore throat that we wouldn't normally keep her off for, but would work as an excuse without being a lie.

I am normally all for building up the immune system and soldiering on but I really don't want us all catching a vomiting bug if we can avoid it.

And yes, good chance DD has already been exposed to it. I guess we'll see

Do it ! It will continue to spread

Oh I feel for you. Hope everyone is feeling better now.