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By
Catherine M. Pruissen
Shift
work, unusual hours and casual employment are just
some of the special needs and circumstances by which
the typical child care arrangement falls short of
being adequate for many parents.
But
it is finding care for a mildly ill child that causes
parents the most grief.
Naturally
parents prefer to be home when their child is seriously
ill, after all no one can replace Mom or Dad on those
days. The challenge arises when the child is feeling
better but is still too ill to attend child care or
school.
According
to the Child Care Action Campaign, in their CCAC Information
Guide 21, Temporary Care for the Mildly Ill Sick Child,
many experts now believe that children with colds
and other simple respiratory illnesses need not be
excluded from their regular child care programs. "In
fact," CCAC notes, " studies show no correlation
between excluding children with mild respiratory infections
and preventing the spread of the illness. With most
illnesses, children are contagious for at least three
to five days before they develop any signs or symptoms."
A
child with a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or a contagious
disease such as chicken pox or measles (common scenarios
for parents) should be kept home to prevent the spread
of the illness. If you are not prepared though, those
all-be-it simple words, "Mom, I feel sick,"
can actually make you feel sick. What do you do?
Relative
Care
Most
parents prefer to have a family member such as an
aunt or grandparent look after their child when he
or she is ill. Pediatricians recommend this type of
care for sick children. A loving face and familiar
surroundings are extremely comforting.
Care
In Your Home
If
relative care is not an option, home care or homemaker
services offer in-home emergency care for mildly ill
children. You can locate these services in the Yellow
Pages of your phone book under Homemaker Services.
Shop
around ahead of time for the best price and caregiver
qualifications. You'll want to be sure the caregivers
have training in CPR, first aid, illness assessment,
child development, as well as the preparation of nutritious
meals and snacks, administering of medication, providing
activities geared to the child's age and illness,
and maintaining a safe and healthy environment.
Care
In A Family Daycare Home
Consult
your local resource and referral agency to find out
if there are any family daycare providers in your
area who provide care for mildly ill children. Screen
the caregiver, and, if time allows (do your best to
make it), visit with the caregiver a few times so
that you and your child are familiar with her and
the surroundings.
Local
Resource and Referral Agencies
Your
local child care resource and referral agency or Social
Services office can also tell you if any other programs
for mildly ill children exist in your community. For
example, there may be specialized medical facilities,
either a hospital, daycare centre for mildly ill children,
or a medical clinic who can accommodate your child.
Ask if there are any family dayhome associations who
can arrange to have a caregiver come to your home.
Obviously
the downside to such arrangements is the lack of caregiver
continuity, or the nervousness one feels leaving a
sick child in the hands of a stranger, even if it
is just for one or two days. Having your backup care
arrangements firmly in place, doing your homework
by investigating the available agencies and caregivers
will give you some peace of mind - if there is any
solace to be found in such a situation.
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