Sick Child Policy

Small Wonder is a well child care facility. This means that if your child is not feeling well, for any reason, you will need to find alternate care. Please do not bring your child if they have:

• Fever (100.5 F) and sore throat, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, earache, irritability or confusion.
• Diarrhea (runny, watery or bloody stools).
• Vomiting (twice or more in 24 hours).
• Body rash with fever.
• Sore throat with fever and swollen glands.
• Severe coughing (child gets red or blue in the face and makes high-pitched whoop after cough).
• Eye discharge (thick mucus or pus draining from eye, conjunctivitis or pink eye) must be diagnosed and treated for 24 hours before returning.
• Head lice. Child must be fully treated and cleared by the County Health Nurse before returning.
• Impetigo. Child can return to child care if lesions are covered and a written consent from the doctor is available.
• Chicken pox. Child must not return to the center until lesions have dried up and scabbed over.
  There is an incubation period of 7 to 21 days with the magic number of 14 days after a child has been in contact with an infected child before he/she will break out. If you are aware that your child has been exposed, let the center know immediately.
• Strep Throat. Must be diagnosed (cultured) and treated by medication for 24 hours before returning.
• Staph Infections. Must be diagnosed by a physician and treated by medication for 24 hours be- fore returning.
• Child is irritable, continuously crying, or requires more attention than you can provide without risking the health and safety of other children in our care.

This policy benefits your child in two ways: First, by ensuring that your child gets adequate care. You, the parent, can offer your child the most comfort when he or she is ill and make the best decisions about care, including taking him or her to the doctor if necessary. Second, this firm exclusion policy protects your child from contagion when another child is ill.

You, as the parent, are ultimately responsible for determining your child’s ability to actively participate in the daily activity in the center or on the playground. While we sympathize with the needs of each parent and their child, we must provide a healthy environment for the other children in the center. A sick child often needs special, one-on-one attention. It is difficult for a caregiver to take time away from well children to devote special attention to a sick child.

We appreciate your compliance with our Sick Child Policy. As always, feel free to call if you are uncertain about your child’s condition. As a general rule, if your child is not up to par due to illness, please keep your child at home.