Daycare Sick Policy: A Guide for Center Owners
Daycare Sick Policy: A Guide for Center Owners
Running a daycare means balancing the needs of children, staff, and families, especially when it comes to managing illness. A clear, well-defined daycare sick policy protects children from illness and helps ensure a safe, healthy workplace for the staff who care for them daily.
In this guide, we'll help you create a comprehensive daycare sick policy that ensures the health and safety of the children entrusted to your care, as well as your staff.
What is a daycare sick policy?
A daycare sick policy outlines when children experiencing certain symptoms of illness are required to stay at home. Children in group childcare settings are exposed to many germs and may experience up to 12 respiratory illnesses in their first year. Your sick policy helps prevent these infectious diseases from spreading, maintaining a healthy environment for everyone in your center.
Think of your sick policy as a helpful reference for your staff and the families you serve. It gives everyone a clear understanding of when it's safe for kids to attend and when recovery at home is the better option.
Why your daycare needs a sick policy
Young children are especially susceptible to contagious illnesses. Their immune systems are still developing, and daycare environments where many children are in close contact can easily become breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria. Without a consistent policy, even a single case of illness can quickly escalate into an outbreak, affecting staff, families, and operations.
A clear sick policy offers these important benefits:
Prevents the spread of contagious illnesses among children and staff
Provides clear guidance to parents about when to keep children home
Establishes consistent procedures for staff to follow when illness occurs
Protects vulnerable populations, including infants and elderly family members
Helps your center maintain compliance with state licensing requirements
Reduces overall absenteeism among both children and staff
Builds trust with families by demonstrating your commitment to health and safety
Key components of a daycare sick policy
Including a detailed sick policy in your family handbook is a must. It helps families know exactly what to expect and what's required before a child can return to care. Be sure to update your policy regularly to stay aligned with state regulations and any emerging health concerns.
A comprehensive sick policy should include:
Symptoms: Clearly list common symptoms (e.g., fever, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing) that require a child to stay home.
Exclusion period: Define how long a child must remain home after showing symptoms. Many daycare centers require children to be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning.
Communication: Let parents know how and when to notify you if their child is sick and what information they should share.
Return requirements: Spell out the conditions that must be met before a child can return, such as needing a doctor's note or meeting symptom-free guidelines.
Staff guidelines: Outline how your staff should handle their own illnesses and when they should stay home.
Cleaning procedures: Describe your disinfection and sanitization process to reduce the spread of illness. Parents appreciate knowing you're proactive about protecting their children.
Specific childcare illness policies
Daycare fever policy
Fever is one of the most common reasons children stay home from daycare. While adults might power through a low-grade fever, these can be more concerning in young children. When creating your fever policy, consider these important questions:
Temperature threshold: At what fever temperature should a child stay home? Many centers use 100° F as their threshold, but you can adjust based on your center's needs.
Exclusion period: When can a child return to daycare after the fever resolves? Most centers require children to be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine before returning.
Recurring fever: What if the fever comes back within a few days or a week? You might want longer exclusion times or a doctor's note in these cases.
Fever without other symptoms: Some children may have a mild fever but still feel fine. Decide whether that's enough to keep them home. Some centers make exceptions if the child is otherwise feeling well.
Medication: How do you handle cases where medication brings down a fever? Your policy should address whether this affects attendance.
Daycare vomiting policy
Vomiting often signals that something more serious like a stomach flu or food poisoning might be going on. Your sick policy should clearly outline the protocols to follow if a child vomits at your center.
Your vomiting policy might include these steps:
Separate the child from others immediately.
Clean up promptly using a disinfectant.
Offer the child clear fluids to help prevent dehydration.
Watch for additional symptoms.
Additional questions to consider:
How many episodes are too many? One instance of vomiting might be enough to send a child home, especially if they also have other symptoms.
What if there are no other symptoms? If a child seems fine otherwise, you may decide to monitor them rather than send them home immediately.
What about medication? If vomiting stops with medication and no other symptoms are present, you could allow the child to stay, with caution and a doctor's note for documentation.
Daycare diarrhea policy
Diarrhea in children can signal a contagious illness and warrants careful attention in your policy, as stomach bugs spread rapidly in childcare settings. Your sick policy should define how many loose stools (e.g., two in one day) would lead to a child being sent home.
Your sick policy should also address:
Cleaning protocols for handling vomit or diarrhea incidents
Staff procedures for isolating affected children while awaiting pickup
Requirements for returning after symptoms resolve
Guidelines for potential outbreak scenarios
If diarrhea is accompanied by fever, signs of blood or mucus, or changes in behavior, it's usually best to keep the child home until they recover fully.
Policies for the administration of medication
While it's ideal for families to administer medications at home, sometimes children need medicine during daycare hours. Your medication policy should be clear and comply with your state's regulations.
Consider including these elements in your medication policy:
Written authorization: Always require written permission from parents and healthcare providers before administering any medication.
Medication storage protocols: Outline safe storage requirements. Medications should be kept separately for each child, clearly labeled, and stored securely in their original, tamper-resistant containers.
Staff procedures: Ensure staff members are properly trained. Document each dose given, including time and amount.
Communicate your sick policy effectively
Having a comprehensive sick policy is only effective if you communicate it properly to families and staff. Here are some best practices:
Include a copy of your sick policy in your enrollment paperwork so families see it from day one.
Outline your sick policy in your parent handbook.
Send periodic email reminders about your policy, especially during cold and flu season.
Post your sick policy on your website for quick reference.
Daycare staff sick policy
Your staff deserves the same clear guidance about illness as families receive. Your staff sick policy should cover these details:
Reporting illness: Make it easy for staff to report when they're feeling unwell.
Sick leave and pay: Be transparent about sick leave, paid time off, and how illness affects compensation.
Return-to-work guidelines: Clarify when staff can return after illness and whether a doctor's note is required.
Staff vaccinations: Address requirements for vaccinations for preventable diseases. Encourage vaccination as a proactive step in preventing illness among staff and children.
Preventative measures to reduce illness spread
While exclusion policies are essential, prevention should be your first line of defense. Incorporate these strategies into your routine to prevent the spread of illness:
Frequent handwashing with soap and water
Regular disinfection of toys, surfaces, and common areas
Cough and sneeze etiquette education for children and staff
Daily health checks when children arrive each morning
Physical spaces that minimize cross-contamination
Maintaining healthy air quality and ventilation
Implementing your daycare sick policy
Having a clear sick policy is a big step toward maintaining a healthy, happy daycare environment. When families and staff know the expectations and the reasons behind them, it's easier to prevent illness and respond quickly when someone gets sick.
Staff training
Your daycare staff plays a crucial role in implementing and enforcing your sick policy. Provide thorough training on symptom recognition and assessment and create decision-making tools to help staff apply policy guidelines consistently. Establish clear procedures for daily health checks upon arrival.
Regular review and updates
Your sick policy shouldn't be static. Review it at least annually, or more frequently in response to health trends or updated regulations. Gather input from your staff, consult public health recommendations, and consider parental feedback to ensure your policy remains relevant and effective. Document policy changes and communicate updates clearly to families and staff.
Remember to check with your local licensing authorities about specific regulations in your area. Every community has different requirements, and staying compliant is essential.
Flexibility and compassion in sick policy enforcement
While consistency is important, it's equally critical to approach sick policy enforcement with empathy. Working parents often face difficult decisions when their child is sick, especially if paid leave is limited. Whenever possible, support families by:
Offering backup care options or flexible scheduling
Providing guidance on finding local health services
Creating a supportive, judgment-free culture around illness reporting
Final steps
Take time to review your current sick policy or develop a new one using these guidelines, ensuring it meets the specific needs of your center, complies with local regulations, and reflects best practices in early childhood health and safety. With your well-crafted sick policy in place, you're creating a healthier environment where children can thrive and parents can feel confident about the care you provide.
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