When to keep your baby home from daycare

If you're a working parent then you likely have your child in daycare. Each daycare has its own set of rules for sick babies and children, but overall, if any of the following signs or symptoms are present, you should keep your baby at home.

• A fever of 100 degrees or higher, which can signal an infection.
• A cough that won't quit or that is accompanied by mucus.
• Sharp tummy pain, which of course is hard to diagnose in a non-talking tot, but look for hurt tummy signs like constantly touching the tummy, vomiting, or constant crying and lack of appetite.
• Diarrhea is never cool. Keep your tot home until he's completely over this.
• Rashes should always be thought of as extremely contagious until diagnosed.

All of the above mean you need to keep your baby home because he could just pass on his illness to another baby and that's how vicious illness cycles start. Things that should matter (unless your daycare says so) include a runny nose, a small cough, or a diagnosed rash that's non-contagious.