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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Childminders Club: Conjuntivitis - what to do about mindees?

18 replies

HellyBelly · 15/03/2006 11:43

Hi again

Further to my thread yesterday, Dr has confirmed Ds has conjunctivitis and ear infection. When I asked what she thought about mindees coming she said:

If a child had this and went to nursery, they would not be allowed in and they shouldn't be at a childminder's. I confirmed that my policy is to exclude children with it but of course I can't kick my own son out! She suggested that I inform all parents there is a risk of spreading as it's highly contagious and that their own child would have to be excluded if they then caught it as otherwise she said it would just keep going round in circles.

My policy says that they don't have to pay if my child is ill and theirs can't come but they normally have to pay if their child is ill. Do you think I should stick by this as I would have given them the option of not risking it spread? or would you offer them the choice to come and also to not pay if their child catches it???

I know what to say as the Dr has explained it which helps but it's the money side I'm not sure what to do. Some people think I'd be soft to not charge as they had the choice in the first place. Please help me decide!

OP posts:

Booh · 15/03/2006 12:01

I really really wouldn't have mindees as it really is highly contagious. But you can have them again after your DS has had treatment.

As for the money, if thye are not coming as you DS is ill then do not charge them. I think that it is better that you lose one days money then upset parents by mindees possibly getting ill, and them having to miss work etc etc.

Sometimes you have to do these things just to keep people happy - if that makes sense!

And I am sure that the ofsted guidelines say that you can not put children at risk of infections illnesses.

Jensmum · 15/03/2006 12:03

Did the dr say how long it would take to clear up?

I'd stick with the policy in place if you don't they may expect you to look after their sick children as you've let them in when your ds is poorly.

Original poster

HellyBelly · 15/03/2006 12:09

Dr didn't say how long (just that all kids are different and said drops will help).

I actually want everyone to say not to let them in as I'd prefer to loose the money than risk spreading infection. Problem is the mums seem to want their kids to come anyway (even possibly babies mum). If it was a mindee I'd of course say no but these parents want to risk their kids catching it!! :(

I have a mindee here at the moment, should I get her collected then? Her mum was like oh, she's had it before and I'd prefer she came than have to take another day off work.

If I don't send her home and she catches it, I HAVE to exclude her but as I feel responsible, should I refund the day(s) money or stick with my policy?

Sorry, it's the parents wanting them to come that's making it hard.

OP posts:

Booh · 15/03/2006 13:12

I really do think that you should exclude them. Don't send the mindee that you have today home, just tell mum that you can't have her tomorrow.

Otherwise by this time next week you be sending them all home ill! Don't worry too much about the parents, better they miss one day this week then a few days next week and having to do docs trips etc etc. Its just one of those things parents must see when they use a childminder

HappyMumof2 · 15/03/2006 13:17

dd has woken up with this this morning too. My mindee had it Monday.

I saw the GP this morning and he has given her drops. You have to give them 4 times a day for a week, or until the tube is finished.

He did say to me, it's very infectious and she should not go to playgroup - although I had thought 24 hours??

Not sure about your mindees, sorry, although I would just be guided by the parents. If they want their children to come to you, then they are putting their children at risk of catching it and will have to take time off if they are ill - I wouldn't feel guilty - you've made it clear you will have to exclude them if they get it - there's nothing else you can do.

Original poster

HellyBelly · 15/03/2006 13:31

cheers. will speak to both babies parents and say not to come until next week. today's mindee may well have started this off anyway??? mum said (just now on phone) that she already had itchy eyes and I've noticed A crust of something (could just be normal sleep) near her eyelash. so i've re-confirmed that if her dd gets it, she will have to be excluded but i'm happy for her to come if she wants her to. she was fine with this.

thanks for advice :)

OP posts:

Original poster

HellyBelly · 16/03/2006 09:21

Great, just read on a website that viral conjunctivitis (which we think ds has - Dr said thought so too) can last between 2 days - 2 weeks and that the eye drops do nothing for it, only bacterial :( I've cancelled all but one mindee til the end of the week but I'm wondering if I should speak to parents again and say may not be able to come next week either? :( TBH, ds is only suffering at the end and beginning of each day ATM. He gets a bit gooey in the last hour or 2 before bedtime and then wakes up with it but so far, touch wood, he's ok the rest of the time, just sore.

I hate not knowing what to do for the best!!

OP posts:

Original poster

HellyBelly · 16/03/2006 09:35

Happymumof2 - for next week would you just say it's up to them if mindees come or not but basically they have to be excluded if they get it??

OP posts:

HappyMumof2 · 16/03/2006 12:41

yes I would say it's the choice but according to your policy you have to exclude them if they get it. Not sure if that's what others would do though?

HandbagAddiction · 16/03/2006 12:55

If it helps, at dd's nursery, children with conjunctivitus are allowed back once the eyes have stopped ooozing and drops/ointment has been given for 48 hours.

HappyMumof2 · 16/03/2006 13:01

are they looking any better today HB? dd started on the drops 24 hours ago and there's already some improvement, although I'm hardly getting any in!

Normsnockers · 16/03/2006 13:06

At ds's nursery, child is excluded until 23 hours after they started on antibiotics or whateve the treatment is.

There is some a problem though over whether antibiotics work for all sorts of conjunctivitis.

Normsnockers · 16/03/2006 13:06

At ds's nursery, child is excluded until 24 hours after they started on antibiotics or whateve the treatment is.

There is some a problem though over whether antibiotics work for all sorts of conjunctivitis.

Normsnockers · 16/03/2006 13:07

At ds's nursery, child is excluded until 24 hours after they started on antibiotics or whatever the treatment is.

There is some a problem though over whether antibiotics work for all sorts of conjunctivitis.

Normsnockers · 16/03/2006 13:07

Whoops, sorry about the posting mixup.

HappyMumof2 · 16/03/2006 19:00

spoke too soon dd's eyes look worse than ever.........

Original poster

HellyBelly · 16/03/2006 19:19

Me again . This is such a difficult one as ds's eyes are only gooey at the very end of the day when he's really tired and first thing in the morning when wakes up - fine once cleaned. That's so far anyway!

I've had mindee 1 (same age as ds) again today and she's not due back til Monday and between me and her mum, we've agreed that unless he gets worse, we'll just see them on Monday (she knows that she has to be excluded if mindee gets it). The other 2 mindees I've cancelled for today and tomorrow are babies 6 & 7 months old (luckily 4th mindee is on long holiday). I told them not to come after speaking with the Dr and them telling me it's really not worth risking as it can spread really easy and otherwise I will just have ill children for ages. I'll see how he is tomorrow and contact the babies parents to keep them up to date but I think (as long as it's still as mild as it is) I will just tell them it's up to them but they'd have to be excluded if they get it.

Ds was given drops but we were told this wouldn't do anything to clear it as his is viral not bacterial - I've learnt a lot this week

Anyway, going back to policies, I may review mine as I just went by some others I researched before I started. What do you mumsnet childminders do about conjunctivitis? If you exclude, when do you allow them back? Do you have different policies for different types of conjunctivitis?

Thanks for all your help :)

OP posts:

Original poster

HellyBelly · 16/03/2006 19:22

Happymumof2 (or should I say notsohappymumof2?? :() Hope your dd's clear up soon! I feel really lucky as although ds's eyes look sore, some people are clearing their lo's eyes every 10 mins :( Hope ds's don't get any worse, it's bad enough with his ear infection and his terrible behaviour to go with it!!

OP posts:

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