Thinking of changing from nursery to childminder: Advice needed.

[ChunkysMum]

Currently 9mo DD is in a lovely nursery and has been since she was 7mo.

DD gets excited as we approach the nursery and the staff are very caring and friendly.

The problem is that, with the strictness of their sickness rules, DD has not been allowed into nursery more often than she has been allowed in.

She has a cough and occasionally coughs until she vomits. We are then called to pick her up and she's got to be off for 48hours. Also if she has a temperature they give Calpol & call us to collect her. By the time we get there she is very happy and playing but still has to go home. We are really really struggling with work due to this as we have no family local.

As well as DD being settled, the nursery is also conveniently situated and there is no risk of her not being able to go in as a carer is sick or on holiday etc.

Nursery is v. expensive and it's really difficult to be paying £800 per month (midlands) for a full-time place when DDs in for less than half the time.

What should I do?

Thing is I'm a cm and I have the same rules. It's to protect myself and other mindees and there are strict guidelines to follow (48 hours from d& v for example).

I have done both and at your daughters age I much preferred the child minder. She really is like a second mum and looks after them when they are mildly ill without a second thought. If you can find a good one I would go for it.

Btw the cough/ vomit thing wouldn't bother me but it's not always clear what the cause is.

I should say- my child minder also won't take children if they have had v and d! She will with the cold and bringing up a bit of mucus because they have the cold.

Yes childminders won't have her if shes ill either

It gets better after a while as their immune system develops

I'm a cm and would also exclude for any vomit, if it was just a cough/cold that's different. My general rule is if they can't join in with activities as normal they are not well enough to be at my house.

I completely get the D & V rule. It's the mild cough/cold illnesses where she's a bit 'off' that are causing the problems.

DD seems to have this at least every other week and almost always gets a temperature with it. Although she's fine if she has calppol, she is still sent home.

I'm finding it really difficult to cope back at work with having to juggle getting time off to care for her. DD had a fever yesterday (38*C) so we were called to get her. It was down by the time we got there but I couldn't risk being called away tomorrow so drove DD to my parents last night (2+ hours away) and now I will not be with her until Friday. I feel like an awful mum and miss her terribly.

I would go speak to the doctor and see if you can get something prescribed for her cough, they nursery should accept anything prescribed with her name on, that will help ease her throat so she won't cough so much (as and when she needs it) I would also have a meeting with the manager and explain the situation and see if you together you can make a care plan regarding this situation e,g, un prompted sickness (meaning no coughing) she goes home, prompted sickness by coughing she stays at nursery. The nursery by now must now be able to make the connection.