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WWYD Child gets eye infection from nursery

16 replies

locksofflamingred · 18/02/2021 19:29

Hello mumsnetters,

Nursery were using powder paints on Monday. All lots of fun apparently and my 3yr old came out head to toe in green saying he'd turned into the Hulk. He needed a good scrub to get it off and my partner had to gently clean some out of the corner of his eye.
Over the next few days he's developed pink eye and now at nursery pick up his eye is producing green gunk and they've said he can't go back in tomorrow.
Bit of back-story he had gunky eyes for the first year of his life, we had to clean them everyday and the Dr said it was an overactive tear duct. He does tend to get pink eye and gunk with the slightest thing in his eye.

I'm frustrated that we're paying for a day of nursery where they won't let him in because of an activity they've provided. I understand they won't change their policy on discharge of the eyes, though it goes against NHS advice which is that you can continue going to school or work.

So, what would you do? I want to kick up a fuss, I'd really appreciate the day refunded but don't know if I'm being ridiculous?

For context I have two children at nursery and the youngest has only been in 50% of her sessions this year due to the usual nursery illnesses + covid bubble isolations which I was happy to keep her off for.

OP posts:
FelicityPike · 18/02/2021 19:32

I wouldn’t do anything to be honest.
You said yourself it has happened to him before, staff can’t stop him rubbing his own eyes!

FelicityPike · 18/02/2021 19:33

Maybe teach your son not to touch his eyes.

swashbucklecheer · 18/02/2021 19:35

I think it's just one of those things. You just have to suck it up. My ds got it every time he got a cold and rubbed his nose up towards his eyes. Not much you can do.

Ohalrightthen · 18/02/2021 19:37

Yeah, it really nursery's fault that your son is predisposed to eye infections. That's the risk you take sending him to mix with other kids.

Ohalrightthen · 18/02/2021 19:45

@Ohalrightthen

Yeah, it really nursery's fault that your son is predisposed to eye infections. That's the risk you take sending him to mix with other kids.
NOT their fault, even.
locksofflamingred · 18/02/2021 20:27

Thank you all for replying.
I'm finding my anxiety levels through the roof with everything going on and this just about tipped me over the edge today. It's just relentless at the moment. It's really helpful to get some outside input and perspective!

OP posts:
Pawsin · 20/02/2021 09:27

I think it was a bit poor that the nursery didn't at least give his face a wash after, leaving paint all over a 3 year olds face is no doubt going to end up in the eyes at some point. And that's not pleasant for anyone regardless of previous eye issues. I would just mention it to the staff, and ask them to be more cautious when getting the paints out with him in future (I'm a nursery nurse and would absolutely understand if a parent came to me and said that)

Cattitudes · 20/02/2021 09:33

Could you ask the nursery to keep some goggles there if they do a similar activity again? You could do activities at home with goggles on to get him used to them. Sounds like lots of fun.

itsgettingwierd · 20/02/2021 09:52

They are actually wrong.

If you have a funky eye and it's being treated there is no exclusion period.

I checked because I developed an infection I've ran afternoon at work (in school!) and wanted to make sure I could attend following day and if I couldn't they knew in advance!

SleepingStandingUp · 20/02/2021 09:57

I think at most you could ask if they're doing stuff like this that he wears goggles because he's prone to eye infections but really it doesn't sound like it's skills fault

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 20/02/2021 09:57

It’s a bit different as an adult or even an older child as you are better at managing your personal hygiene. Preschoolers are not as we know.

minniemango · 20/02/2021 11:00

@itsgettingwierd

They are actually wrong.

If you have a funky eye and it's being treated there is no exclusion period.

I checked because I developed an infection I've ran afternoon at work (in school!) and wanted to make sure I could attend following day and if I couldn't they knew in advance!

Childcare providers can set whatever exclusion policies they like.
Apple40 · 20/02/2021 14:55

@itsgettingwierd

They are actually wrong.

If you have a funky eye and it's being treated there is no exclusion period.

I checked because I developed an infection I've ran afternoon at work (in school!) and wanted to make sure I could attend following day and if I couldn't they knew in advance!

As a childminder I exclude for all eye infections until the infection is gone as they are so contagious and just spread through the setting. Plus most children need to be held down to administer any type of eye drops at this age something I am not prepared to do.
mummywantstobeslim · 10/03/2021 14:54

I used to work at a nursery and once had conjunctivitis. It happens. Just treat it, send him back and get over it.

jannier · 12/03/2021 18:08

@itsgettingwierd
Many non infectious to people capable of good hygiene practices our infectious with toddlers and babies becouse you know not to rub your eyes then touch someone's face. Not to pick up bunny and squidge your face in it before passing it to your neighbour you use tissues not your friends shirt, dont cough in your colleagues face etc....exactly why nursery staff who can't use ppe are asking for vaccines....so it's normal for early years to be excluded for 24 tob48 hours to allow infection to respond to treatment.

MeadowHay · 18/03/2021 16:47

I'm surprised they exclude for this tbh as our nursery don't. DD has had a few eye infections from there over the last couple of years.

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