Starting your baby in daycare is an exciting milestone, but it often comes with a side effect—exposure to germs. Many parents feel prepared for illness in general, but they find it shocking to live through the frequency of illness.
“Sick again? …. Is this normal?”
It’s typical to see about 10-12 respiratory infections in a child’s first year of childcare. During respiratory season, generally, from fall to winter, it’s typical to see these infections back-to-back or every two weeks. Plus, respiratory infections don’t include all the other fun things like Hand, Foot, and Mouth, pink eye, or the tummy bug.
It’s not a sign that your daycare is unsanitary
Your baby encounters a wide range of germs they haven't been exposed to at home. This exposure is part of the process of developing immunity against common illnesses.
While it’s disheartening to see your little one sick, exposure to germs helps train their immune system to recognize and fight off infections.
Understanding sick policies
Most daycare centers have clear sick policies to help minimize the spread of illness and protect all children in their care. These policies often include guidelines on when a child should stay home due to illness.
Common considerations include:
Fever:Daycares typically require that children with a fever be kept home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.
Contagious Illnesses:Children with infectious illnesses like the flu, chickenpox, or strep throat are usually asked to formally notify the school and stay home until they are no longer contagious.
General malaise:Daycare sick policies may specify other symptoms that warrant keeping a child at home, such as vomiting, diarrhea, eye discharge, or a persistent cough.
Given the likelihood of your baby needing to stay home often due to illness, it's a good idea to have a backup care plan in place if you rely on daycare so you can work. You can also ask your current employer about flex-work options and other benefits they may offer in the context of caregiver / medical leave.
Starting daycare can be a hard parenting season for this reason. You’re not alone!