"Diarrhea issues" what do I do?

[Motherofflower]

My 1 year old girl has been at her nursery for nearly a year and we've never had issues.

Last week was stressful because they kept handing over she was having loose bowels. The next day on the day she wasnt in they called to say they were concerned she had diarrhea and if she continues to have loose bowels dont bring her in. I said she'd had no loose stools at home and she had been fine but if she has a loose bowel before tomorrow I'd call to say she wasnt coming in. They said okay and that was the end of the phone call.

Next day I took my daughter in and staff told me she wasn't supposed to come in. I said I hadn't been told that. They said they'd spoke to each other and they'd have her in but if she has one loose stool she'll have to be collected.

After I dropped her off at 8am I rang the GP and it was arranged I'd get a stool sample to see if she had diarrhea and the GP would put a letter together for the nursery.

It was fine until 3pm and the nursery called to say she had a loose bowel. Dad picked her up and for some reason staff repeated that they had told me not to drop her off. They were quite cold and Dad felt uncomfortable.

Across the weekend our daughter has been fine and her stools have been regular and ive kept a diary. Monday came and the results came back she didn't have diarrhea. Monday and Tuesday she was in nursery full days and handover on Tuesday they mentioned her bowels were loose. I repeated she had been fine at home.

She went back Thursday and no issues. However they called again at 3pm to say she had x3 watery bowels so can I collect her. I went to collect her and gave them the letter from the GP. I said it's not diarrhea because shes been fine at home and even the GP confirmed it wasn't diarrhea. I explained it must be an intolerance to something. Teacher replied and said "I wouldn't know". I said to please take the GP letter so nursery are well informed. She took it but Im not really sure what to do.

Has anyone else had this issue? Im thinking it's a food intolerance but it feels like the nursery dont want to listen. Do I ask GP for a letter again or do I need to have a proper conversation with the nursery? Im not really sure what to do. I do work but I can't keep getting out of work is nursery keep calling to have her picked up.

They can't diagnose the difference between diarrhoea from a virus and diarrhoea from a food intolerance.

She's been there a year and this has only just become an issue, maybe she'll get over her new digestive issues and it will become a nonissue, or maybe you'll need to go down the route of checking for food intolerances - but that's on you. Nursery can only follow their policies for loose stool.

Ask them to save the next nappy that contains a loose stool wrapped up for you because you want to get it tested. Give them a nappy sack and a big ziplock bag or something and if they get difficult, tell them you won’t collect early unless they can show you what the problem is.

They will either do it and you will be in a better position to investigate what’s going on with your child’s digestion, or they won’t and you’ll know they are lying and have some other reason for wanting to send a child home.

Agree that you should ask the nursery to save the nappies with the loose stools so you can get it tested. This may put a stop to all the calls sending her home if they exaggerating the loose stools. And there is a massive difference between loose stools and actual diarrhoea. They should only be sending home if it's actual diarrhoea.

Grim but as others have suggested I would insist that they save the nappy. Then you’ll either know that it’s something to make another GP appointment over or if they’re just trying it on because they’re over ratio due to staff absence which unfortunately does happen in some nurseries.

Please try not to medicalise bowel issues in this hot weather…see a health professional only if it doesn’t clear up.

I had this issue with my DS at nursery. Turned out he was lactose intolerant. Once they understood - and we had a medical letter confirming it - they didn’t raise it as an issue any more.