How on Earth will it work with babies/toddlers going back to nurseries?!

[Reastie]

Because it’s impossible to social distance. Even more so than young school children. How would it ever work? Or will they just do it and assume the staff and children will get it.

I’m increasingly concerned about going back to work (I’m a teacher) and what will happen to Ds (baby). My childcare planned are vulnerable and unable to have him indefinitely. I have no nursery etc lined up because I had plans (which obviously now have struck difficulties). But even if I find a nursery that has space etc, I can’t imagine how they would manage to reopen logistically. Would they reduce numbers at the nursery at one time (so impossible to get a space then!), will parents with children under a certain age be able to choose being furloughed from work because of childcare problems, how on Earth will it work?!

It really isn't at all clear young children are significant spreaders.

Childminders will be lower risk - one adult, smaller number of children and only one baby, easy to keep parents outside the building, easier to keep everything clean.

But I would say out of all the settings To open first nurseries would make the most sense no? Not next week but once the U.K. is ready
No not really, he should the staff who are one of the lowest paid sector be put at risk? To enable other people to work. Children, babies have absolutely no idea about social distancing, certainly must learn side as than adults. How is opening a shop or a Restaurant any more of a risk to the staff. At least adults understand the idea of social distancing. I’ll be resigning if I feel it too big a risk. I’m not putting my health and my children’s at risk so people can more more productively from home.

It's far too early to be certain but there is some early evidence suggesting that not only do under 10s not often get serious illness from Covid-19 but that they also don't spread it anywhere as much as adults do so the risks even to the adults are smaller than you would think.

This clearly needs to be looked into much more though and lower risk obvioulsy doesn't mean no risk, especially for those vulnerable health wise.

I imagine we will have to stick to measures the same as the run up to the lockdown. In my setting we were EXTRA hygienic and parents had to use provided hand sanitiser before entering and leaving the setting . Drop offs and pick ups were a lot shorter and parents told not to hang around. Children with new coughs and temps had to be off for 2 weeks (I imagine they will have to stick by this for a while) and our monthly deep clean was done weekly instead. The problem is if nurseries dont reopen as normal, a lot of people can’t go back to work so I don’t know what the solution will be.

I saw nurseries in the leaked traffic light plan as one of the first to open and I did think it was odd. Maybe the ratios will be lowered - meaning people will only be able to book a certain number of slots a week? It might be due to the way funding works for private nurseries. A lot can't claim on insurance. Really don't know but watching for more info.

If an adult in a family had the virus but was asymptomatic, then they could pass the virus to their child.
Their child goes to nursery, passes the virus to the other children and staff. Many children all infected but asymptomatic, could result in high viral load to adults caring for them, who then become infected and have symptoms.
Children go home from nursery and spread it to parents who then get symptoms.

The mixing of children from different families in a confined area is going to spread the virus isn't it?

As a childcarer I am working with one family (both parents keyworkers), not my usual three families. That I think helps reduce the risk of spread. It is still possible for the children in my care, their parents and me to get the virus. If one of us gets infected then they infect 4 people. If it was a nursery one infected person could infect many more.

I can't see how children going to nurseries can be done without increasing risk of spread.

I’m on maternity, was due back at work at the end of this month, nursery closed due to COVID and was planning to wfh while juggling childcare... But now I’ve been furloughed. So I’m a bit unsure of what to do - should I let the nursery know I’ve been furloughed and might need to postpone the place while I’m not working/may face redundancy? Or will that spook them when my job could ‘come back’ any time (I’m not holding my breath)? But the nursery may not be open again by then anyway? Or are they in fact likely to open earlyish (eg late May/early June) to help get people back to work? Basically my head is about to explode

Their child goes to nursery, passes the virus to the other children and staff.

Based on the research available so far, the risk that an inflected child passes the virus to others appears very low. The risk for children under 10 is thought to be minimal. Of course, it is not yet a foregone conclusion but several studies from different countries (e.g. China, South Korea, Iceland) seem to show consistent results - young children do not spread virus to the same extent as adults do.

They'll have to get it. Most of us are going to get it. The government knows that. The idea is simply to delay this until the NHS can cope.

Anecdotally, my cousin and his wife (both NHS frontline) have both just recovered from covid, and their 3 year old asthmatic child has displayed no symptoms at all.

Children may not spread it as much as the virus may not be able replicate itself to the same extent. However if it can replicate at all, then it could spread.
Maybe it's similar to adults outdoors, the spread risk is reduced but is still possible.

But surely when lockdown lifts we are looking to spread it to some extent otherwise we would all just have to stay inside forever. Comparing restaurants and nurseries is not really relevant as nurseries are essential to allow parents to work, but restaurants are clearly not and should, sadly for their employees, be one of the last things to reopen.

Eek I hadn't considered this but now I am worried! I return to work next month after maternity leave, and was planning on sending my 1 year old to nursery. I am a key worker working for the NHS so I have no choice but to return to work! I wonder if my 1 year old will be better off with grandparents than nursery 🙄

I think we all have to get it eventually. Just a matter of time. Though if many childcare staff get it at the same time, is that helpful? Maybe some will be asymptomatic and keep working, others have mild symptoms but be off work - are there enough staff to cover for those off sick? Some may become seriously ill, some may die.

There is no easy way out... I think we all have to get it, children and adults, so many of us create anti-bodies and with luck those anti-bodies can protect us getting it again for a while.

My husband and I are childminders. I am not looking forward to everything opening up again, because our daughter suffers from asthma and the longer I can keep her isolated, the happier I'll be. Once the children do come back, there is no chance of social distancing, we won't wear masks, because the children would be upset about it. There will just be lots of cleaning, hand washing and stripping off at the end of the day.

I'm still at work in a baby/toddler unit. We are still open and co ti ue to be open 5 days ranging from 7 am and 7pm.

You're right babies and toddlers dont do social distancing and it would be hard for the ti understand so as it stands I still bounce babies on my knee, snuggle down for stories and do my usual routine and care but we are doing a lot more cleaning we are aware of not having too many toddlers in the same room etc.

I had assumed to an extent that, as with any activity post lockdown, there is a risk that there will be some who are infected with the virus?

The lockdown is only in place to slow the spread as I understand it? So chances are quite significant numbers will catch the virus at some point until such time as there is a vaccine.

I’m not sure that the government have been very clear with their messaging on this and so it seems a lot of people think that the aim of lockdown is to stop everyone getting it ever? Unless that is the aim in which case I’ve misunderstood and in that scenario I can’t see that we could reopen pretty much anything which doesn’t seem sustainable.

I'm a nanny and work for 4 families in total. I've been off for the last 2 weeks (easter) and before that I was with just 1 child since lockdown. Social distancing is impossible eith children that small, they would be confused if I suddenly stopped cuddling them, not to mention nappy changes etc..
This week I'm back with that same child and will also restart with another family.
It is really hard to know what to do for the best but this is my job, my job can't be done from home and I can't live my life at home for the next year (realistically thinking about a vaccine)
The virus terrifies me and I pray I don't catch it but from what I understand, a high percentage may get it.

Social distancing is impossible in a nursery setting. So options I guess would be 1 parent give up work.
Both work part time.
Hire a nanny
Or risk and use the nursery.

Unless there is a solution?! I really can't think of another solution, I wish there was!

So, on the assumption nurseries will reopen, and my childcare that was planned is no longer an option because of being vulnerable, when they do return and I return from mat leave I’ll have to find a nursery for immediate start probably without even being able to really look around the nursery. And most will be full I imagine anyway, and be less likely to have space with likely staff absences from illness over the coming months. Gah, this is going to be very tricky. Maybe I’ll just try the tactic of not thinking about it until I’m there.

Childminders and nanny-shares would help the virus to spread more slowly as opposed to big nurseries. I wonder if there is any potential for speeding up the process of enabling people to qualify and register as child minders? There will be a fair few people who will be out of work and who would be able to do a good job as a child minder.

@user1477391263 it tkes a while to register to be a childminder. You have to pass a course on child development, all adults who live with you need to be DBS checked, you need a full health declaration from a gp and then you need a inspection visit/grilling from Ofsted. You also have to be invest heavily in making adjustments to your home and buying expensive resources.
Then there is just the basic training on safeguarding and first aid you would need to pass before you could open.
These are just the bare minimum things you need to open as a childminder.
We are a professional workforce, not an after thought!!

Trust me, there are loads of nannies out of work at the moment. If people are on mat leave and you have another friend in a similar boat, you can set up a nanny share fairly quickly. Equally, childminders are a good option when they are allowed to open. But a nanny share can continue through this (provided everyone is sensible)
It is such a stressful time for all. I hope you all sort stuff out.
Get on childcare.co.uk. :)