HOW SICK IS SICK?
POLICY
Parents in a Pinch do not have rigid policies regarding the childhood illnesses that our caregivers will handle. Over the past 25 years, we have found that parents generally know when it is appropriate to bring in someone to care for their child. Relying on parental common sense combined with advice from pediatricians, we have developed these guidelines for when our caregivers can safely and comfortably care for a mildly-ill child.
TRAINING
All Parents in a Pinch caregivers have completed our childhood health and safety training program. With this training and their childcare experience, they are able to care for children with mild illnesses; however, Parents in a Pinch caregivers are NOT medical personnel and are present only to watch over, entertain, and delight a child who is a little bit under the weather. Only with signed permission and explicit instructions will providers give children medication.
CHILDHOOD ILLNESS
Generally, caregivers from Parents in a Pinch care for children in these situations:
- Fever under 102 degrees (and on the decline)
- Teething or colicky behavior
- Ear infection
- Coxsackie Virus (hand, foot & mouth disease)
- Diarrhea
- Strep throat (when the child has been on antibiotics for 24 hours)
- Conjunctivitis (when the child has been on antibiotics for 24 hours)
Caregivers will not come to a home in situations that make it likely that the caregiver herself could spread an illness to other children, such as:
- Head lice
- Untreated strep or conjunctivitis
Flu and stomach bugs are handled on a case-by-case basis.
To download the PDF version: How Sick is Sick?
