My child is ill. What about childcare?

The best care for your unwell child

Crying a lot, fever, clinginess, diarrhoea, refusing food or drink, these are all signs that your baby or child is unwell, or perhaps running a temperature. We always get in touch with you if we believe your child may be ill. We don’t measure a fever simply because your child feels a bit warm, but of course we monitor their wellbeing closely and their temperature should not be allowed to rise too high. We will discuss together what is best for your child’s health, and as a parent you are always free to let us know what you prefer. 

Falling ill during the day

An ill child needs extra attention and rest. Recovering at home in bed, with a parent or other trusted carer nearby, is always best. But we understand this is not always possible. If your child isn’t able to join in with the daily activities, or we notice they need more rest than we can provide, we will ask you to pick them up. If we think your child’s fever is rising, we will let you know. Ultimately, the location manager decides whether it is safe for a child to remain at childcare, or whether it is better for them to go home. 

Not well before the day starts

Do you already sense your child isn’t feeling 100% and are unsure whether to bring them in? Your child is still welcome, but it helps if you let the staff know so we can take this into account. If you’ve already given your child paracetamol in the morning, please tell us. Once a painkiller wears off, the risk of a febrile seizure increases. If it turns out your child really isn’t coping, please be prepared that we may ask you to collect them.

Contagious illnesses

Many infectious illnesses pass through during childhood. To prevent children from spreading them to each other, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has set guidelines for each one. These explain how long your child must stay at home before returning to Basker International Childcare. Always let us know if your child has a contagious illness, so we can inform other parents. Some illnesses can be risky for specific groups, such as pregnant women. 

Paracetamol

A handy tool for parents of unwell children is the KIDDI website. This app was designed for childcare professionals, but it also contains lots of useful information for parents about different illnesses and how to handle them. At Basker International Childcare, we do not give paracetamol or other fever-reducing medication unless it has been prescribed by a doctor for pain relief. This might be the case, for example, if your child has an ear infection.