would you complain to nursery?

[goosey123]

Dropped dd1 (3.9) off at nursery this morning. She had been ill at weekend with high temps but better tuesday and wednesday. This morning she was fine until leaving the house, but then was saying she was too tired for nursery and wanted to stay home (unusual).

I dropped her off and spoke to one of staff and said she wasn't herself, and could they call me if she didn't pick up. I rang at lunch, couldn't speak to any of the staff in her room, but asked the receptionist to find out how she was. They said she wasn't quite herself and tired, and was having a rest (most unusual), and they would call if she needed picking up.

I phoned dp and asked him to go and get her a bit earlier than usual. He got her home at 5, checked her temp and it was 39.6

Would you have expected a nursery to have picked this up? I know I am mostly cross with myself and feel guilty for not checking her temp before I sent her etc.. But I would have expected someone to have noticed if a child had this high a temp. I'm not sure whether to say anything or not.

Thanks (may not post again for while as computer playing up, but hope to be able to read any replies!)

oops, meant to post this in child health, not sure how to move it, but don't know if that really matters?!

Well you could complain, but to be frank, I dont understand why you sent your child in when you knew she was not herself and had been ill. They are childcare providers, not nurses. Yes they probably should have noticed the high temp, but then again, if she had just been sleeping then thye may not have realised, and maybe she hadnt been as hot before but the stress of going back out when not properly recovered made her relapse. Sorry to be harsh, its just I know how hard they work and how much they have to do, if you sent your child to me (cm) id have been really pee'd off with you.

TBH, and it probably isn't what you want to hear, I agree with woahthrere. I would concentrate on getting to the bottom of what ails her rather than worrying about complaining to the nursery.

As you say she was better the last two days , so I dont think you were sending an ill or knowingly infectious child. Like you I would be a bit miffed they didnt pick up on her having a temp, 39 is high and quite noticeable without actually using a thermometer. Im not sure how I would apprach it with them though.

Hope she gets better soon

I agree with submarine, like you say she was better and said she just felt tired, which if you have kids you know that this is a common thing.

These comments are a bit harsh. Even if your child is showing signs of being poorly, it's still very hard to establish how bad they are.

It is the nursery staff's responsibility to monitor and report anything unusual and they should've picked up on it, especially as this is what you requested. They are not nurses but they responsible for your child's care and health, just like you are when they are in your care.

Did you say anything in the end Goosey?

They should have picked this up, it's their job to look after your child. I would be asking why they didn't pick it up.

I think seeing as you had asked them to keep an eye on her then yes, they knew she wasn't herself and was acting differently.

I work in a day nursery (not claiming to be the font of all nursery knowledge, just giving my viewpoint)
In nursery, especially in the preschool room, we are loath to send children home, as we are often met with hostility from parents at the inconvenience of having to collect their child.
You didn't mention asking nursery to monitor your DDs temperature, and if she was just resting on cushions, not having a cuddle, there would be little reason to disturb her to check her temperature.
Usually, if a DC is borderline ill and a parent brings them in, they will want a decent reason to leave whatever they were doing that day that meant they needed nursery. A child who's "a bit off colour" rarely warrants sending home (with all the parental annoyance that entails), and even a temperature of 39 usually only warrants a calpol permission call.
You could explain to nursery next time DD is ill that you want her temperature checking, and to call you if it goes over a certain level so you can take her home. Or keep her off until she's definitely well.

Yes exactly why didn't they make the call and give calpol. They should have known she had a temp especially as the op mentioned it in the morning .Surely as a nursery worker you have kept an extra eye on her?

I would have checked her temperature, but I'm the kind of nursery worker that gives lots of cuddles so would have noticed she felt warm.
The point I'm trying to make is that it's not unusual for an older nursery child who doesn't want a cuddle to have an unnoticed temperature, the OP didn't check her temperature in the morning either so she can't have looked flushed or anything.
Also, current medical advice is to allow moderate temperature and only give calpol if a child is clearly uncomfortable or in pain, as the raised temperature helps fight the illness.
In the OP, she asked for a call if DD's condition got worse, and this appears not to be the case, she was off colour at drop-off and remained so. Perhaps the nursery felt as the mum dropped her off in that condition and considered her well enough, calling her to say she was just as bad would be pointless.
I would steer clear of platitudinous phrases such as "keep an eye out" and give specific instructions such as "check temperature at lunchtime and call me at 12 to let me know how she is", that way nursery staff know what is expected.

Well the temp could have come on in the afternoon I expect the mum would have noticed in the morning if she felt hot. Surely if is a child is unwell you would feel the child's forehead you can usually get an idea if the child has a temp. It's common sense.

We are not allowed to give calpol unless it has been prescribed by a GP.

I don't know really

I might be a bit miffed it is was really obvious she was unwell, but I guess it could be easy enough to miss.

Having said that, ds's lovely nursery called me to get him on Friday as he had a bit of a temp, so obviously some nurseries would notice!

U didn't notice - why should they?

The dad did notice though frankie when he picked up.

They told you on the phone she wasn't herself and having a sleep. So regardless of temp, you knew she wasn't well.

I think this 50/50.

And it could be like the temp my 3yr old had the other week - only came on late afternoon. My boy had an ear infection following this flu-bug - so it might be worth getting your daughter checked out at the Dr's.

Our nursery do monitor temps if a child is not well.

Thanks for replies.

I did ring nursery on Friday and asked to speak to her key worker. I told her I felt very angry that her dad had found dd sitting in corner looking very unwell with such a high temperature. She handled the call extremely well, and as a parent herself, was very understanding. To be fair to her, no - one had passed on my concerns about dd in the morning, and no-one had told her I had rung at lunch. She had felt dd mid afternoon, and she hadn't felt like she had a temperature.

I know these things come on suddenly, and I am fully aware I had to make a quick decision first thing (in my defence, on a child who had eaten 2 weetabix, emptied a tube of toothpaste down a sink, and rolled on floor with sister before crying to say how tired she felt). I got it wrong this time. I know how hard it is to assess them, and how fast they go off, I was just shocked no-one had noticed how ill she was at 5pm, as when I saw her after calpol she was compeltely lethargic, glassy eyed and flushed.

But she is much better today. And I am much calmer....

glad she's better goosey and I'm pleased you had a positive talk about it.

sparetime your comments are interesting to read and good things to bear in mind I think. Thanks for sharing those.

Can I just add in response to one of your comments that it's really important to bring a child's high temperature down because it can cause a fit.

Glad she is better goosed.

greensmurf I did say a "moderate temperature" is no longer treated with calpol, I quite agree that a high temperature needs bringing down.

Your child could have been slightly under the weather (of which you were aware) but spiked a temperature within that last half an hour of being at the nursery. How would you know?