I need some help or some clarification of some sorts...

Thursday afternoon, I had my 2 14-month old DCKs in highchairs ready to eat lunch. As soon as I start putting food on their trays, one vomits all over herself, the tray, etc. I rush her to the tub, clean her up, and call her mom. I stripped her down and put her in her pack N play and called mom. I go back to the kitchen to clean up the high chair mess and I look next to me in the play room (right next to where I am - seperated by a baby gate) and my 18m DCK is blowing chunks all over my carpet.

Just wanted to give a visual of my hellacious thursday afternoon

So long story kind of short, I got sick, my 2 year old son got sick, and 3 DCKs. Had the weekend to recoup. One comes in today that never vomited, only had diarrhea and she pukes within 10 mins of being here. DCM claims she was fine all weekend even with solid bowels.

I just wanted to cry. After being sick myself, I spent my entire weekend disinfecting and sanitizing, swearing it would be over. Now I have to mop and sanitize my dining room AGAIN. I understand bugs are crazy in this way but good grief.

SO I need some clarification. I have DCP's that I feel almost try to manipulate me in ways. Even if the other children got sick, shouldn't I still exclude for vomiting (even if its just once more) or diarrhea (even if its been 4 days, feces can still carry viruses!) My husband didnt get sick and thats enough reason for me to exclude!

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She barfed she is excluded for 48 hours or whatever your policy states. I go by symptoms nothing else.

Sorry this is happening to you

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Oh man, that's awful I exclude for vomiting or diarrhea even if everyone in the house has had it already. Even if it's *most likely* food related, or "too much candy" or "just has a sensitive stomach." I don't care, you throw up your gone until you are 24 hours vomit free. I've had parents try and argue/explain it away and I'll always reply "it very well could be such and such, or the same virus everyone else had but regardless by sick policy still stands. See you whatever day dckm!"

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This.

My explanation is that I can't keep a clean and sanitary environment if a child is puking/pooping all over.

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I would absolutely exclude a child who vomits, no matter what other factors may be at play. I'm in the process of tightening up my own sick policy after losing three days income (actually more but it's too long to get into) because I caught a virus from one of the daycare kids and was too sick to open. I can't risk losing clients because I allow an acutely sick child to be at daycare, and I have to limit my own exposure to illness.

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I've been in the position of the care provider who held her ground and said "Sorry; can't come back tomorrow either," even when the parents insisted it was just an upset tummy from post-nasal drip. And then their entire family was out with a stomach virus for a week.

I've been in the position of the parent who's telling a beautiful lie, to convince themselves more than the care provider, because they want so, so badly to believe they aren't about to embark on a multi-day illness, and have to call out of work, etc.

And now I'm in the position of watching this hilarious sketch again and cracking up.

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