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by
Catherine Pruissen
Winter: That
time of year when children always seem to be sick.
It's one runny nose after the other, one bout of non-stop
coughing and wheezing followed by an endless array
of fever inducing viruses.
For
a lot of parents and caregivers there is also the
endless debate about when a child is, and is not,
too ill to attend daycare. Hopefully caregivers have
clearly defined in their Policy
Statement when they will not accept an ill child
into care. "As a general rule, children need
to be at home when they need more care than you can
give them while meeting the needs of the other children,"
says the Canadian Paediatric Society in their book,
Little Well Beings: A Handbook on Health in Family
Day Care.
The
CPA notes the following as the most reliable signs
of sickness (usually too sick to be in care):
Behavioural
Changes
- Unusually
sleepy or drowsy
- Lack
of Interest in other children or play
- Unusually
irritable, cranky, or fussy
- Non-stop
crying, especially high-pitched or weak or crying
when cuddled
- Rapid
breathing
- A
change in behaviour with a rash or fever
- Unusual
drooling
- Still
neck (won't move head up and down)
- Won't
swallow liquids or won't eat.
Physical
Signs
- Vomiting
more than two times during the day.
- Diarrhea
more than two times during the day
- Dehydration
as evident by a dry tongue and mouth, or if a baby's
diaper stays dry longer than usual
- Yellow
eyes or skin
- Rash
with a fever or the child shows a change in behaviour
along with the rash
- Fever
that is keeping the child from his/her normal playing
and happy routine. (Rectal temperature is 101.3
oF or 38.5 oC - Oral temperature is 100.4 oF or
38 oC or higher.)
The
best way to gauge a child's well-being throughout
the day is to make a mental note of the child's health
upon arrival and by talking with the parents before
they leave about the any concerns they may have about
their child. It only takes a minute for parents to
answer three simple questions:
- How
did their child sleep during the night?
- Has
the child been eating or drinking?
- What
kind of a mood is the child in.
The
best way to keep track of a child's health isto learn
more about the signs of illness with regards to each
child in your care. It is advisable that parents complete
a Medical
Information Form, available in our Forms
Section. Other forms that would be of great use
to caregivers and parents include:
Resources
Little
Well Beings: A Handbook on Health in Family Day Care
A project of the Canadian Paediatric Society
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