home from playgroup when they're sick? Natalie has had a stuffy nose and now a cough for about 3 days. She has never run a fever, just loose nose and a cough. We have our regular playdate on Friday, that includes an infant that she rarely, if ever, touches.

Do you have a criteria for keeping them home for a playgroup? The boys we play with are daycare kids half the week and they are ALWAYS coughing a bad cough and usually have runny noses, though they seem to feel okay.

By Vicki on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 02:08 pm:

Playdate.... I don't know. School, that wouldn't be enough to make me keep dd home at all. I am thinking if it is just a play date, and there are younger children and even an infant there, I would likely stay home as a nice gesture to the others there. That is just me though.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 03:07 pm:

Have there been times at playgroup where others have brought their child with the same symptoms?

If the infant has an older sibling, the mom might be more lax, but that's JMHO.

By Debbie on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 03:42 pm:

I'm with Vicki. If it were school, I would send them. I have sent them with a slight cough and runny nose, as long as there is no fever. But, when I went to playgroups, I would stay home if my child had a cold. I just didn't want to keep passing around germs. And, I always hoped that others would stay home if their children were sick.

By Andi on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 04:00 pm:

I always say...as long as the discharge from the nose is clear then they are fine to go to playgroup. Once it turns green or mucky then please keep them home.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 05:05 pm:

I would definitely send her to school if that were it. Definitely clear and no fever. Heidi - the mom brings the kids that way almost all the time. Their daycare kids so they're just chronically "daycare sick", you know? Sometimes it's green and mucky and a loose gross cough, too.

Like Vicki, I just want to be nice. I think we'll plan on keeping our playdate though. Thanks ladies!

By Colette on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 05:52 pm:

If she is still sick on Friday and not any better, I would probably keep her home or take her to the drs.

By Heaventree on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 09:14 pm:

Ya know it's a bit of a tough call, it seems to me that there is always someone sick at this time of year.

Last week we went outside as I saw the neighbour kids out there and youngest was sick, but he's always sick. I don't think I've every seen him without a runny nose. Thursday we went to playgroup and Sunday Cameron was sick and is still sick. He's feeling much better, has a clear runny nose and a bit of a raspy cough, but I think we are going to playgroup on Thursday. Anyway my point is he got it from some where, either from the neighbour or the playgroup, I guess you could stay at home, but sometimes it feels like you have to stay at home from October to March because everyone is always sick in the winter. I think if she's feeling up to it and as Andy said her nose is running but clear then I would go.