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If your child is at nursery, he's more likely to pick up illnesses, because he's spending lots of time with other children. So if your child is unwell, and has something that others could catch, keep him at home. This will help to reduce the spread of the virus or infection.
Even if your child is no longer contagious, it may take a few days before he is well enough to go back to nursery.
Which illnesses mean my child should stay at home?Your child shouldn't go to nursery if he has any of the following:
- A fever (NHS 2009a). He may be irritable, lethargic, crying a lot, lack any appetite for food or drink, have a stuffy nose, and be a bit wheezy. These are all signs that your child needs to stay at home, until he is better.
- An illness of the airways, such as bronchiolitis or flu. Keep your child at home until he is better, particularly if he also has a fever. If your child has whooping cough, keep him at home for five days from when he starts antibiotics (HPA 2006, NHS 2009b). However, if your toddler has a common cold, it isn't necessary for you to keep him at home, unless he’s feeling very poorly.
- Diarrhoea and vomiting. Your child could have a stomach virus, so he should stay at home until 48 hours after his last episode (HPA 2006, NHS 2009c). If your child’s poos are bloody, or contain mucus, he should stay at home, as it could be a sign of an infection or allergy (NHS 2009c).
- Bacterial conjunctivitis, known as pinkeye, and yellow discharge from your child's eyes mean he should stay at home. He can go back to nursery after 24 hours of antibiotics. The same is true for a bacterial throat infection, as long as your child feels well enough.
If your child has non-bacterial conjunctivitis, he'll have red eyes and clear, watery discharge. He won't need antibiotics or time off nursery (HPA 2006).
- A contagious skin disease, such as impetigo, means he can go back to nursery after 48 hours of antibiotics, or when the sores have crusted over. If he has scabies or ringworm, he can return to nursery after he’s been treated (HPA 2006).
If your child has a rash with a fever, or shows other signs of illness, keep him at home (NHS 2010). If he has:
- Chickenpox, wait until five days after the rash has appeared, or until all the spots have crusted over (HPA 2006, NHS 2009b), before he returns to nursery.
- Hand, foot and mouth disease, wait until all the spots and mouth ulcers have gone before sending him back to nursery.
- Scarlet fever, he can go back to nursery after he’s been on antibiotics for five days (HPA 2006).
- Roseola, wait until your child seems better before he goes back to nursery.
- Measles, wait five days from when the rash first appears before taking him to nursery. If your child develops a rash from the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccination, he is not contagious.
If your child's rash is not linked to a fever, or any other symptoms, he can probably go to nursery. So, if he has slapped cheek disease, he can go to nursery if he is feeling well, and if the staff are happy to have him there (HPA 2006, NHS 2009b).
I need to be at work but my child’s too sick for nursery. What can I do?It can be stressful realising that you are going to have to miss work because your child can’t go to nursery. And if your toddler is really ill, any back-up childcare you may have may fall through, too.
You do have the right to take a reasonable amount of time off work if your child is ill. This is called time off for dependants. However, it's not paid leave, so you may want to prepare some other options, such as saving some of your annual leave for emergencies like this, too.
What can I do to stop my child from getting ill again?To boost your child’s chances of staying healthy, and reduce his chances of catching illnesses:
- Make sure your child has all his vaccinations.
- Practise good personal hygiene. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough, and wash your hands, and your child’s hands, often, to stop germs spreading.
- Create a smoke-free environment. If you or your partner smokes, find help to stop. Children who live around cigarette smoke become ill more often, and are more susceptible to illnesses such as pneumonia, colds, asthma and ear infections (BTS 2002).
If you find it difficult to take time off work to look after your child, see our back-up childcare plans. Find out when to see the doctor if your toddler is ill.
Last reviewed: October 2013
ReferencesHPA. 2006. Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings. Health Protection Agency. www.hpa.org.uk [Accessed April 2010]
NHS. 2009a. Recognising signs of serious illness. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed April 2010]
NHS. 2009b. Birth to five: Infectious illnesses. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed April 2010]
NHS. 2009c. Birth to five: Diarrhoea and vomiting in children. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed April 2010]