CM Club - Baby with High Temp.........am I right????

[looneytune]

Hello

Both sibling mindees have colds atm, baby has been dribbly, had runny nose and awful cough for quite some time. Just got her up from nap and as soon as I gave her a kiss on her forehead, I knew she had a temp as she was BURNING HOT. Took temp and it's 39.9 (102.2) so I've phoned mum and I've given medicine (yes, I'm a bad childminder for trying to make her feel better rather than wait until I have a form signed!!!)

Anyway.....she's ok in herself but very very flushed and off her food. Hopefully the medicine will make her feel better but I'm thinking ahead to tomorrow........unless baby is EXTREMELY bad (and I mean extremely), she'll get dropped off as normal tomorrow unless I say something. I am right about not accepting children with temperatures aren't I? Obviously can't send home now as parents leaving in next 10 mins anyway and will be here by 6.30. If she has a temp tomorrow, should I send home? Presuming yes but we all know what a bloomin softie I am - I need you guys to give me the strength!!!

Thoughts please.....

but no sister in fife!

Hope you're alright LT, you are right, mum is out of order, don't be frightened to stand up for yourself!

Has she collected them yet?

SpooKAYsamuels - thanks mate, it was much easier thinking it but not so easy face to face. She asked if I'd have baby tomorrow if she's ok and I said I will have her ONLY if she's fine and that if she's dropped off and not ok, I will send home again. I said I felt bad for today but that I had made it clear last night and was trying to avoid making her do unneccesary trips.

dustystar - yes, arrived at 4.30 as arranged

I've told mum baby would probably have been fine if just indoors all day but that tooing and frooing on school runs was getting her in a right state. I said 'is the Dr really not concerned about this cough, can't they do something' and she said 'well actually, this cough is different' and gave me the impression that she may get it checked out again and she even said baby was really coughing this morning - WTF, why did she bring her then??!!! I explained that poor baby hasn't eaten a thing today but had all her bottle, probably coz feels crap in her chest and wants a nice drink.

So, mum is hoping to bring baby tomorrow but will decide based on baby's cough in the morning.

Her temp only got to 100F today so not as bad but that wasn't the point.

Just eating my sarnie now. Made it at lunch but then couldn't stomach it as mum called after!

Whats the bet that she turns up with baby tomorrow regardless?

If you've had other problems with this family as has been mentioned then perhaps you should seriously consider giving notice. A temperature of 100 might not be dangerous but the porr baby must have felt really poorly

Message withdrawn

lisalisa - if it was only the shoe thing and not the massive list of things since I've been with this family then I'd be fine about the shoes. I don't want to go into details here but a lot of people on here do know the history, including non-childminders who were horrified about how these parents treated their au pair (who's now left them I might add )

Looney ((((hugs)))) sorry I only just got a chance to log on today. You need to get rid of this woman - she's making your life difficult and it doesn't need to be. She is totally taking advantage of you!

And for everyone else... I've met Looney and she's just as lovely as you all think she is - far too nice for her own good .

Oh gosh You've just turned me into a gibbering wreck!! Dh has had many tears from me today and then I cry because someone is nice - I think I need help!!!

Seriously though, that's so kind and really touching And yes, I'm thinking of getting rid of these parents, you'd think they'd have learnt their lesson after loosing au pair and then begging her back - errrr, too late!!! But....it's so hard, I adore these girls and have had the 2 yr old with me since Feb 06 and baby has been with me since she was a tiny 7 week old who was 5 weeks prem and she's now 9 months! It really makes it hard. Ds thinks of them like his sisters, we work well and well, it's all great, just the parents let it down!!

I'm not entirely sure how I blundered into this thread, but I've been sucked in now and am interested. Apologies for barging in (and I REALLY have no knowledge about this, so treat me gently).

From a business point of view can you print out the sickness policy and give it to the mum along with a daily checklist of things she needs to bring?

It does seem like she's not putting much thought into anything and has also completely forgotten that you are a business and not her dogsbody.

Your newsletter idea sounds a great one. Do you think parents really know or understand the OFSTED regulations and how they affect the way you childmind?. Also do you think they really understand the implications of forgetting food/clothes/drink? I get the impressions that most parents are "phew, childcare sorted" and don't get much farther than that in understanding what you do.

arfishy - hello. All parents are given copies of the policies when they sign up and they keep them at home, plus they are on my website. I actually checked not that long ago that the parents had their copy of the policies still (as been with me 1 yr 8 months) as was amending some and wondered if they wanted the whole pack again or just the amendments, she said they still have the stuff at home. Also, I've told them time and time again why I have to send home sick plus refered to the sickness policy again and she was arguing with me because she was basically not wanting to come home from work. Wasn't at all worried about her 9 month old having a temp of 40C (102/103C). The thing about food, milk, socks, shoes etc. is that yes, parents are quite often in a rush so yes, I see things can be forgotten. If only that was all I had a problem with with this family. Also, that's not what I've been getting at on here really, it's about the sickness side and being bullied because I want to stick to policy. My own fault for helping them out too much in the past Also, they have a list of items needed on the back of the contract plus I've done a newsletter in the past reminding everyone to make sure they have these items. Anyway, I'm updating my sickness policy and also am going to be finishing my newsletter off by the end of the weekend Oh.....and I've thrown OFSTED regs at them loads - they don't give a shit monkeys I'm afraid.

. What a complete nightmare.

If I get a call from my nanny to say DD is sick (and she's nearly 5) I still jump in a taxi and come home. If I leave work I don't get paid, but DD is still more important.

Poor little thing. I hope you manage to resolve things, but at least in the meantime she's got somebody who cares looking after her.

Exactly. I just don't get these people, they just don't appear to care about anything other than work!! And yes, the fact that I know they are happy with me and have been through a lot of changes in the last couple of months, I feel that it's in the children's interest for me to give them another chance. Anyway, mum arrived with just the toddler today and was taking the day off work so think she got the message . She was smiling as normal so I'm going to try and forget what happened however will be a lot firmer from now on!!!

wow!!that is a shock, wonder how she managers spending being a proper mum for the day!..what a novelty eh

I really thought she'd send her anyway - maybe you managed to wake up her conscience

I know

Guess what........mum collected older dd and......she said she knew baby wasn't well today as not smiled once all day, bottom lip etc! Went to see her in the car and she looked AWFUL, poor love, but I got a HUGE big smile when she saw us so that warmed my heart. Mum very chatty and smiley and although no apology, I feel much better. See....how would that baby have been on lots of school runs? If she was that ill at home all day!!!!!

So glad I was firm yesterday!!! It's thanks to you lovely MNetters for reassuring me I was right