Diarrhoea/childcare??

[whatalovelytub]

DS 16mo came down with a vomiting bug around 10 days ago.

This cleared up after a few days but he has been left with diarrhoea (around 5 episodes every 24 hrs- it's not watery and doesn't escape the nappy, but it's loose and is definitely not his 'normal').

My question is- should his childminder accept him back? He is fine in himself and eating and drinking well, very playful and smiley. He caught the bug from another child the cm I am pretty sure - but if he goes back could he still infect the others?

Thanks

Bump!

I think he will need to be completely symptom free for 48 hours.

I would say he was probably ok - when young children have tummy bugs it can sometimes make them a bit lactose intolerant temporarily, which gives them loose stools. I don't think he would still be infectious if the vomiting started 10 days ago, but I'm not medically trained so can't say for certain.

Thank you. Yes that's my feeling- that he's better but his digestive system has taken a bit of a battering and hasn't recovered itself yet..

What does the childminder say?

Haven't mentioned it to her yet.
I've taken 8 days off work so far, as I'm self-employed it's not really certain how much longer my boss is going to tolerate.

I wouldn't accept him back while he is still having diarrhoea. 48 hours clear of symptoms.

Yes he needs to be 48 hours clear. This is why these bugs get passed around.

He needs to be 48 hours clear from the last 'episode'. I've had major issues with my class of 5-6 year olds passing a bug around for the last three weeks (I've also had it twice - 25 weeks pregnant and stuck to the 48 hour rule) because parents have not been paying attention to this 'rule'.

Yes, I absolutely know that and have kept him off for the past couple of weeks no question.
What I'm talking about is a kind of post infection diarrhoea that- according to my friend the consultant who I chatted to this afternoon- can occasionally linger for weeks after a tummy bug. It can make it difficult for toddlers to digest various types of food, hence making the stool loose.
Doesn't sound like my cm is going to be sympathetic to this then

Hi op, I think he's fine to go back, like pp have said it often takes a while for bowel movements to return to normal. If it's not watery it shouldn't be a problem. I think you would know if he was still poorly due to tummy ache etc if he seems fine in himself I wouldn't be too concerned. Could it possibly be his teeth now causing the loose nappies?

Diarrhoea can easily last a week, if it's gone on longer than that then maybe take him to the doctor?

If you get a signed doctor's note stating he isn't infectious then the CM might be more likely to take him back contrary to her policies, but it's not certain.

nb its not cm being unfair- she has to way up risk to herself. her household & the health & safety of the other dc she looks after - your say so is not enough - you do need a medical letter at the least & than it is up to her to decide

I'm not saying don't ask her, just saying what her response may be and she has the wellbeing of her other children to look out for. I'd maybe get a drs note saying he isn't contagious etc.
I had a boy sent in and ended up with explosive diarrhoea in front of his class mates. Turned out he had had the bug, was 48 hours clear of sickness and had been having loose stools for 3-4 days. This triggered another bug and then I ended up with a further 4 off due to spreading it again.
It's just about playing it safe from the childminders pov.

Thing is, if the Cm catches it then she can’t work and you’re back in exactly the same situation. Except you’ve probably passed it on to the other kids, inconvenienced their families, given it to the cm’s kids and made her take more time off....

If you wouldn’t be happy with your child playing next to little Johnny who still has loose poos, then you shouldn’t send yours in until completely better either.