Mindee with possible Conjunctivitis, due to go to soft play - WWYD????

[looneytune]

Told mum yesterday that mindees eye was runny but apart from that, clear. Well it's obvious she must have woken up full of gunk as the eyelashes have thick dried up stuff on the eye that was runny yesterday. Her eye looks a bit red, I'm thinking conjunctivitis.

Supposed to be going to soft play this morning, I presume best to not go? Also, should I send home? I'm so confused now as we all know it IS contagious but the Health Authority now say no need to exclude. My own policies still show to stay away.

WWYD?

I'm off to school, be back around 9.15ish

How old is the child? If very young sticky eye can be due to tear ducts that are not fully opened (this is common) whereaas conjunctivitis is an actual infection which obviously could be contageous.

Nearly 2 years old. I'm just concerned as last time someone had it, everyone got it. I have my own 5 month old baby that she can't help but kiss and cuddle all of the time so will have to be careful just in case but I'm more worried about the other under 1 year old I have. The problem I have is if I let her stay and it is that, other parents may have a go as in my POLICIES it says exclude (had this before, parent having a go).

Oh, I don't know. If going to soft play, I'm leaving in 20 mins

looney,i would definatly send mindee home.
you have enough experience to know if it is conjunctivitis so use your judgment and go from there.
If it were me they would sent home!

as it says it in your policies, i would exclude this time. but possibly look at changing the policy if you dont need to exclude iyswim

If the Health Authority is really saying no need to keep children off I think that's ridiculous - we had one Y3 child sent in with conjunctivitis last Friday & we now have four with it - it spreads really quickly.

I wouldn't go and I would send her home.

As a parent who uses a childminder, I would be a bit miffed if my dd picked up conjunctivitis because the child wasn't sent home. It would mean that I then needed to take time of work if my own dd got it.

2 yrs is too old for ducts not yet formed. I think you have to send her home. If you don't, then I would think that you would be obligated to take all the mindee when they catch it cause it wouldn't be fair to let this stay, and then send the others home after they pick it up from her.

Not to mention, YOU could pick it up and then (I'm assuming) you would be in violation of your own policies by continuing to work.

DD had pink eye once when she was at a childminder, and I was asked to not bring her back til it was gone. I went to the GP and she told me that most parents bring their kids in for eye drops so that they can get back to work.

Thanks everyone. I'm waiting to get hold of mindee's dad but spoken to mum and she understands need to send home but it was a bit of a awkward conversation but other mum was absolutely not wanting her dd to get it so I have to honour my policies! I hate all this stuff!

Anyway, dad is probably going to take her to the Drs. If the Dr says it's viral and NOT contagious then I presume she's ok to come back? Although I think I'd like to see that in writing to cover me?

i would stick by my policies and ahve said sorry but they cant come, if they know your policies(and they will!) they should have at least called you this morn to discuss!

Good move - I wouldn't expose the child to any other kids till it's cleared up. And yes, she needs to go home.

I have an absolute send home policy with regards CJ, regardless to whether it is viral or bacterial. This is because a couple of years ago I had CJ, was very close to being admitted to hospital and could potentially have lost my sight in that eye so I'm very wary of caring for children with it.

Thanks everyone and poor you HP.

I feel in an awkward situation now as had text asking who i've got tomorrow in case those parents don't mind. As it happens I have same mindee as the one today so that mum is NOT happy to mix, however, it wouldn't have mattered anyway as if me and/or my 5 month old baby get it and then I have to close and then everyone is without my childcare until we're clear....plus I loose money!!

I'm quite upset about this as the parent who wanted her to stay today, was very anti mixing when her own dd was only a baby as was also quite protective.

I don't want it to be about what certain parents think, I want it to be about my policies and that it's the same no matter what....does that make sense?

It's times like this I hate this job!!! grrrr

Aww.. Sometimes easier to remind parents with small notes that children with conjunctivitus are not to attend (as and when it comes into your provision), to clarify i ask for Dr's note before i can take a parents word that its just something else.
Occasinally you get some parents who will try to push the kids on you no matter what.

As you said, if you catch it, you than have to let every other parent down as well as infect yourself and possibly your family.

Best to exclude.

I exclude children with conjunctivitus (sp?) too. It is in my policies.

I do gentle reminders to parents every so often - my most recent one was to all parents about keeping children with sickness and the other home for 48 hrs AFTER last event.