Sending a sick kid to school -- how do you decide? (Update: she stayed home)

[Barb D]

DD6 was coughing all night, has a very runny nose, and a 99.3 temp. She feels lousy, and my Mommy instincts say to keep her home. BUT I really need to be at work today, DH has a hard time getting off for sick kids, and Grandma had the nerve to go to Florida to visit her other grandchildren. DH will take off if he has to, but he's concerned that she'll get worse and he'll have to take off tomorrow, too. He thinks she should just go today. According to the school system, she could go to school today.

What would you do?

 

[Twinkles6892]

Keep her home.

 

[lisajl]

My son has the same thing and he is staying home today. I fortunately have today off, had some minor surgery already this morning.
So, I'm calling the doctor to get my son just in case it's more than a cold.
that way, I can go to work tomorrow.

Good luck...hope she is feeling better soon.
Lisa

 

[Christine]

With an early morning temperature of 99.3, it could easily spike in a few hours. If her temp was normal, I'd say let her go, but having a temp in the morning is not a "good" sign. It's most like a bad cold, but I'd keep her home today. Sorry. I work too and I know what a tough thing it is.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I'd keep her home, especially if she says she feels lousy. And it is not fair to expose everyone else to her illness.

 

[kitn]

If she feels lousy you need to keep her at home. Since she has a fever she could be infecting other kids.

 

[Marseeya]

Keep her home. No way would I send a sick kid to school. A day of rest might be all she needs to feel better tomorrow, but maybe not.

 

[golfgal]

Keep her home. "Having to go to work" should not factor into your decision, sorry. DS13 had the same thing last week.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Sounds sick to me, keep her home.

 

[Sandcass]

As a daycare provider who spent the entire last week taking care of other people's sick kids, then got sick herself, and now has to take care of her own sick kids......

KEEP HER HOME!

kids FIRST, work SECOND, those ARE the priorities RIGHT?

 

[Marseeya]

Keep her home. "Having to go to work" should factor into your decision, sorry. DS13 had the same thing last week.

Did you mean "should not"?

Because I agree. Sick kids come first.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

keep her hom e
the school will probably call you when it gets worse and then someone will have to go and get her

 

[Microcell]

I think the stress on her body from going to school today if she is sicker than the low temp would indicate could almost guarantee that she has to stay home tomorrow.

I think I would keep her home, but I don't want to go to work today.

DD woke up with a sore throat, and no fever and I plan to give Ibuprofen and send her to school because they need me at work, and because the mild winter makes me think that it is allergies. Could that be the case where you are? Warm January? Buds on trees?


ETA: Well, the attacks started early on this one! Some of us do not have bosses that take kindly to missing work you know. It is a decision every time for me too OP, you are not alone. I do miss work if they have a fever, but to great pressure from my boss each and every time.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If she had all those symptoms and seemed ok I would send her, but she feels lousy so it's not fair to her to send her to school. In my book (literally, I have a home daycare license) 99.3 is not considered a fever (very low grade at best). But, she is sick, so it doesn't really matter if she has much of a fever and it might be the beginning of a higher temperature.

 

[CEDmom]

Yesterday my DD woke up with a cough but was generally ok and didn't fuss about going to school so in she went. She got home at 3:45 yesterday with a fever and immediately fell asleep. She's much worse today and I'm home with her and have a call into our doctor.

Anyway, I'd say keep her home but try to get into the doctor. Maybe that way you can head off whatever it is and she might be ok to go tomorrow. If she goes in chances are she won't be.

It's tough to know what to do. Hope she feels better.

 

[golfgal]

Did you mean "should not"?

Because I agree. Sick kids come first.

Yes, oops. I edited it to make it right. Thanks.

 

[js]

I'm a working mom too but I would have to agree with others and keep her home. It could end up getting even worse if you send her and then you are adding drs. visits and extra days home. Keep her home and let her get her rest.

 

[Christine]

Just a question in response to some of the remarks:

Why would you make a doctor's appointment for this: runny nose, cough, low-grade fever? What would be the point in getting this child into the doctor's office today. What could they give you to "head it off?"

 

[Barb D]

As a daycare provider who spent the entire last week taking care of other people's sick kids, then got sick herself, and now has to take care of her own sick kids......

KEEP HER HOME!

kids FIRST, work SECOND, those ARE the priorities RIGHT?

Please don't think I'm not putting my sick child first. I'm looking for opinions here, not judgment.

I missed a lot of work last month because of sick kids (throwing up and fevers over 100, so no decision) and my own medical issues, and I do have a job to do. The school policy is that a kid with a temp under 100 can/should go to school.

 

[Christine]

Please don't think I'm not putting my sick child first. I'm looking for opinions here, not judgment.

I missed a lot of work last month because of sick kids (throwing up and fevers over 100, so no decision) and my own medical issues, and I do have a job to do. The school policy is that a kid with a temp under 100 can/should go to school.

Barb,
I totally understand where you are coming from. There were years that I took off so many sick days (between two sick kids, a sick "me", and "snow" days) that my time off was leave without pay. While sick kids are, of course, the priority, sometimes you gotta pay the mortgage you know. My job, unfortunately, is critical to the support of my family and I cannot afford to be "let go" because I can't show up.

It is a really tough position to be in. I'm lucky that my kids are older now and sick days are very infrequent, but when they are young and in daycare, it is horrendous. And all your bosses tell you that they understand, but after the 10th day you take off, they start getting irritated.