Diarrhea and Daycare - long, need input

DS (now 22 mos) used to have a constipation problem so we would give him prune juice once a day to keep things moving along. Then it seemed he was going more regular once he started eating more of a variety of foods. He still is picky but has gotten better. We stopped with the prune juice but would sometimes offer apple juice mixed with water for something different other than water and milk. 3 days this week he has had "blowout" diapers at daycare which required changing his clothes. Finally yesterday, as I was talking to the director I said "I'm not sure why he's having all these blowouts. We stopped with the juice and he hasn't been having any here." Her response was "Oh, there must be a virus going around. They all have diarrhea. No fevers. Just a bunch of blowout diapers".

I was already upset at this point because between the last two days they lost 2 white onesies, a shirt and ruined a pair of shorts when the bleach water over sprayed. The director said they will replace everything. Even said that his shirt and onesies probably went home with another kid since there were so many blowouts today.

I just left it at that because it was already late, past closing time. She saw me starting to get upset after I apologized for getting DS late (I couldn't get out of work sooner). But then I talked to DH at home and we both feel that if there is some sort of virus going around, shouldn't this be communicated to the parents? Here I was blaming myself for giving DS too much juice. And isn't diarrhea contagious?

How can we figure out what kind of virus DS might have? Would it do any good taking him to the ped?

Any advice would be appreciated. DH will be dropping DS off Monday morning and I'm sure he is going to mention this. But we aren't sure exactly what to say, if anything.

ETA: DS had a loose diaper earlier today. Nothing escaped the diaper but it was loose and pale yellow. Not his regular poop.

Message edited 5/18/2013 2:50:15 PM.

Diarrhea and Daycare - long, need input

The same EXACT situation happ to me with daycare about 6 weeks ago. DD is 2. She didn't have a great appetite at home and was having blow ups and loose stool for like a week. Little did I know, this was running rampant at daycare. I only found out when one of the teachers casually mentioned that all the kids had this. I was pisssed that they didn't say something. These stomach bugs, just like the runny noses there are really contagious. I understand as much as they clean as bleach, they can't keep every surface or toy germ-free.
I was really upset when DD caught coxsackie in oct and they sent a notice to parents, but it was too late. She was so sick and I raised hell and they credited the entire week free.

Anyway, the stomach thing lasted prob 2 weeks on as off. Just keep DC hydrated. My ped said as long as she was drinking and not lethargic, just let it run its course.

Diarrhea and Daycare - long, need input

Honestly, I would not say anything unless these things are happening over and over. They all sort of have to do w/ each other, kwim? Imagine a daycare where all the kids are blowing out diapers? The changing/cleaning etc. They also may take a day or two to put it all together and send a note to parents. Usually that kind of illness notice comes in a more formal way- llike so and so's ped. determined coxsackie etc. and then everyone gets a note- not so much that the providers just notice and make their own diagnosis, kwim?

As far as what you should do, I would hydrate and withhold any dairy for a week. Sometimes a stomach virus can cause like a temporary intolerance. Something gets stripped from the stomach- I forget, you can Google. Switch to almond milk for the time being and cut out whatever other dairy you give. Obv call the ped though if you don't see improvement.

Diarrhea and Daycare - long, need input

When I worked In dc if 1 child had 2 bad diapers they were sent home and had to be diaheris free for 24 hours before returning.
Is there a policy like that? If they keep having them they need to stop it or it will never end.

Diarrhea and Daycare - long, need input

Our daycare has a policy...3 loose poops and you cannot come back until it is resolved...how can you not be notified if it is happening?

Diarrhea and Daycare - long, need input

My DD has had diarrhea for about a week and she's in day care. I'm sure she picked it up at day care and I didn't think twice about it. It is a freaking breeding ground for all sorts of germs. And I can't take a week off of work to keep her out of day care, so I suppose I'm just adding to the problem. I wouldn't be mad, I would feel bad for the day care teachers who have to change all those ****** diapers.

Re: Diarrhea and Daycare - long, need input

Re: Diarrhea and Daycare - long, need input