Daycare can be a lifesaver for parents who need to work while raising a child. But as parents know, most public places can be a place where children pick up illnesses from other children.
The number one way to prevent the spread of illness at your Orlando daycare is to know when your child is contagious and keep them at home while they are sick. While you’ll still be busy or need to work, consider calling in a family member, friend or babysitter to watch your child for the day. Sending them into daycare will only put other children and the staff at risk, continuing the illness.
Instead of taking your child to daycare when they are ill only to have them sent home again, there are some things you should consider.
The First Signs of Illness
The first few days of any illness, even before symptoms begin to show, is when your child is at their most contagious. By the time your child becomes obviously ill, they may have already spread it to their friends at daycare. If your child starts showing symptoms, it is important to make sure they remain at home for the day to fight off the illness.
Automatically Stay Home If…
According to the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education, you should keep your child home from daycare if they are showing symptoms including:
- A fever above 101 degrees
- Hepatitis A virus, until one week after beginning of illness
- Measles, until four days after the start of the rash
- Mumps, until nine days after gland swelling
- Persistent crying or irritability
- Pinkeye or conjunctivitis
- Stomach pain for more than two hours
- Trouble breathing and severe wheezing
- Vomiting two or more times in 24-hour period
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to keep them home, so they do not spread it to the other children at the daycare center. You know your child better than anyone, so if their symptoms are not better in a reasonable amount of time, then it is important for them to see a doctor.
Healthy kids are happy kids! At Kids & Company we strive to keep our Orlando childcare locations illness-free. By following these tips, you can help keep your family healthy.
Kids & Company offers so much more than the typical Orlando daycare. Free hot meals, free afternoon transportation, after school care until 7:00 pm, and we even have the option for Saturday and night care at our Curry Ford location. If you have any questions about our programs, including infant care, childcare, VPK, or after school programs give us a call at (407) 227-1015.