chickenpox and mindees

[trunkybun]

Hi There, I've not been on here before, just wanted to pick a few brains regarding exclusion and chickenpox. My DS has been developing chickenpox over the past 2 days. As soon as I was sure that that's what it was I phoned my full time mindees parents (on Sunday) to explain the situation and to say that I would not be able to take their 2 children (aged 10months and 2 yrs) for the next few days and possibly for the week. Today the mum phoned to say that she is really struggling to find alternate care and that she would be willing to risk her children getting the infection anyway. I can see where she is coming from, and if it was just the older child I would probably be fine with it, I just feel that the baby might feel really poorly, and that of course I then will potentially be caring for both her poorly children in a few weeks time. Any thoughts/advice greatly appreciated.

Hiya
My dd1 developed chickenpox and mindee had not had them yet, at the time he was 17 mths old and mum was pg. I phoned straight away and said i could not take him, then dd2 went on to get them anyway so chances are he had prob already had the virus in him but i didn't want to be responsible for actually making him unwell IYKWIM.
My dd2 was only just turned 1 and she got them quite badly so wouldn't wish it on any child!
Some parents are totally fine about their child catching it but for me, i'm sure we have some responsibility to not passing on infectious diseases(?)
Could be wrong but i thought it was all part of the "illness in a child" policy ?
AND also because poorly kids are a bloody nightmare

I had this problem. My DS developed chicken pox and i decided to let the parents choose if their children attended or not. The most infectious time is 2 weeks before spots come out so chances are the mindees had been infected anyway. I carried on childminding and eventually ended up with 3 babies under 4 all with chicken pox! Not as bad as it sounds as they just slept and watched tv!!!

Id say that as long as you are happy then continue to childmind but make it clear to parent that if her child goes down with chicken pox and is really not well with it (some children are fine and just spotty IYKWIM!) then you will ask her to stay home!

Yep, They may have already been infected as they were here Friday, and most guidance I have read states that children can be infectious 2-3 days before the rash, but I am definately not happy about knowingly putting anyones children in situations where they could come to harm! However this mum has a knack of making me feel very guilty when I have been unable to take her children (only once previously in 7 months) as her employers are very unsympathetic towards her asking for time off for parenting issues. I have never refused to take the children when they have had coughs/ colds/ chest/ear infections etc. as I appreciate how difficult it is for her. I just feel that this is too risky! also there is the issue of trying to care properly for my own child whilst he is unwell.

if thats how you feel then you need to stick to your guns and say you cant have her child as your child is unwell (presumably your time off is unpaid?) BUT you also have a decision to make about when her child contracts chicken pox. Technically you have to refuse her child till all spots are scabbed over (decision here is will you also not be paid for child being away seeing as they probably contracted from your child?)

Its good of you to appreciate that her work commitments make it difficult for her to get time off, but she should also appreciate your situation. Like you say, you child comes first and if he need you how can you look after others properly? Its a difficuly one. I think that only you know the relationship that you have with this parent and so only you can make the decision. I know with all of my families, when dd had chicken pox they were all happy to bring their kids and I was happy to have them. I think only one contracted it and she stayed at home with mum! Good luck!

No way!!

My two (2.5, 5) haven't caught cp yet and dread when they do. I told my new parent (well startd Aug 06!) this and she was like okay then won't see you for that month then LOL hurray a parent that understands, but once again still not got it.

I believe that with illness if the child is tired,and unwell the less children around the quicker the recovery. I know it will mean I loss of income but whats more important to me it's my children's health.

If her kids do get it I would not refuse to have them as everyone else would be immune and I would feel bad knowing it originated here She will not be paying me for any days I do not mind her children, which is another issue, as I am really going to miss the revenue Not looking forward to the phone call tomorrow!!

My mindee only stayed at home with mum, because she was unwell with it. I would have had her if she wanted me too. I think its one of the pit falls to being a childminder. It sounds like a great idea to be a cm and for me it was primarily so that I could be there for my dd at all times, but there are times when it gets in the way, like now for you! I think you just have to expect to loose a bit of money. Like Rubybees says, altimately, your kids are the important people here.

do you not know any childminders who could cover for you with this mindee? I am in a network of 5 childminders (we are just friends ) and we tend to cover each other incase of emergencies or illness etc.

I do have people lined up for emergencies, but really only for if I break an arm or something and they hold on to the children until the parents can pick them up. They are mostly full otherwise and would exceed their OFSTED limits if they had them for any length of time. Also they would not be willing to work for the same rate that I do (and provide all food and nappies etc) I have told the mum that I will see how my boy is tomorrow and let her know sometime during the day, he has not been too bad today but spots haven't blistered and become super itchy yet, so we shall see!! if he is up at 5am tomorrow like he has been the last 2 mornings I wont be in a fit state to look after anyones children anyway!! off to bed now to mull it all over
thanks for all the advice!

i would try and get help from another cm incase they are free, but to parent if you really dont want the children catching it, i would say definate no, and that you have spoken to ofsted/childcare co ordinator (even if you havent)and said you are not to take children in when you/your own have such an infectious disease..they wont like it and children may already have it, but tell her you cannot put them at risk as if they caught it she would have to keep them off at full pay, this way she is not paying you as its your ds thats ill.hth?