When you look at your child, can you tell that he or she is sick? You probably have no difficulty with recognizing a condition like the common cold because it produces distinguishable symptoms. However, some illnesses and infections are much harder to identify, especially when they first develop. This fact rarely comes up in the conversations that most parents have. That’s why day care centers are deemed hotbeds for germs and bacteria. A lot of kids are sent to these convenient facilities whether they are healthy or sickly, so should you keep your child at home?

Although several studies suggest that exposure to bacteria can boost a child’s immune system, it may be in your best interest to let your kid recover before you do anything else. When children are under the weather, they tend to be highly contagious. It depends on which illness they have.

Top Reasons to Keep Your Kid Out of a Child’s Daycare Center

• Irritable more than usual Is your baby kicking and screaming in an alarming way? Automatically classifying the behavior as a temper tantrum may be a mistake. Sometimes, extreme irritability is the result of an underlying issue, such as stomach pain and discomfort in the ear.
• Fevers A fever occurs when the body temperature reaches or rises above 104 degrees. To make your baby feel better, you can use a cold compress and can give him or her extra fluids. Water, clear soups and even yogurt may have a positive effect. If your effort proves futile, sending your baby to a day care center is ill-advised. All the infections that cause fevers can easily spread to the healthy and sick kids at the facility. This explains why you should take the better-safe-than-sorry approach. Reach out to a doctor you trust to get advice and a turnkey solution.
• Diarrhea Although it’s good to rid the body of poop on a regular basis, your baby shouldn’t be having five to six bowel movements within 24 hours. Children usually defecate this often when they are suffering from norovirus. Would you want your child to be around a sick kid who’s struggling with fecal incontinence? No one would because loose stools aren’t just disgusting. They are equally dangerous. Harmful bacteria and multiple viruses can be present in feces. With that said, keep your child out of day care if you notice that he or she is having an abnormal amount of stools.
• Infections Just about every day care center is home to scores of germs. Chances are you don’t want to contribute to the germ problem. If your baby is constantly coughing and sneezing, the last place he or she should be in is a center where vulnerable children will be. Toddlers and infants have an immature immune system. Therefore, there’s a strong possibility that they will contract a bacterial or viral infection just by touching contaminated toys and dirty surfaces.
• Nausea How familiar are you with gastroenteritis? This well-documented condition makes toddlers vomit repeatedly. Even if gastroenteritis isn’t the cause, it’s clear that something is irritating the child’s stomach. Until the vomiting problem subsides, your home or the doctor’s office is the best place for your baby. Sending the child to a daycare center is a risky move because you are inevitably postponing the treatment process. As you may already know, excessive vomiting can quickly lead to severe dehydration.

The Importance of Finding Out About the Sick Policy

Ensuring your child’s health is your priority, but protecting your job has to be at the top of your agenda. For this reason, you shouldn’t be so quick to commit to any old day care center. What are your guidelines regarding sick children? The answer to this question will make it easier for you to plan for emergencies.

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