When It’s Safe for Kids to Return to Daycare

When Can My Child Go Back to Daycare After Being Sick?: Guidelines for Ontario Parents

Wondering if your little one is ready to return to daycare after being under the weather? The general rule is that children should be fever-free for 24 hours and feeling well enough to participate in regular activities. But let's break down what that actually means for you.

How it works

Every daycare in Ontario follows guidelines to keep all children healthy, which means they have specific rules about when sick kids can return. The basic principle is simple: your child needs to be well enough to join in normal daycare activities without spreading illness to others.

The 24-hour fever-free rule is your main guideline. This means no fever for a full day without fever-reducing medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If your child had a fever Tuesday morning, they need to be completely fever-free from Wednesday morning until Thursday morning before returning.

Beyond fever, your child should be eating, drinking, and acting more like themselves. They don't need to be 100% back to normal, but they should have enough energy to participate in activities and not need extra comfort or care that would be difficult to provide in a group setting.

What you'll need to check

- No fever for 24 hours without medication

- Eating and drinking normally (or close to it)

- Energy level good enough for regular activities

- No vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours

- Any prescribed medication finished (like antibiotics for strep throat)

- Cleared by a doctor if required by your daycare

Special situations

Some illnesses have specific return rules. If your child had strep throat, they usually need to be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning. For stomach bugs, most daycares want 24 to 48 hours without vomiting or diarrhea. Pink eye typically requires 24 hours of antibiotic drops if it's bacterial.

Hand, foot and mouth disease can be tricky because kids might have mouth sores for days. Once the fever is gone and they're feeling well, many daycares will allow return even if some spots remain, as long as blisters aren't actively oozing.

Common questions

What if my child seems fine but still has a lingering cough? A leftover cough after a cold is usually okay for daycare return, as long as there's no fever and your child feels well. The cough isn't necessarily contagious at this point.

Should I keep them home an extra day to be safe? Trust your instincts. If you're on the fence, an extra day at home often prevents a relapse and keeps other families healthy too.

What if daycare calls and says my child seems unwell? Sometimes kids seem fine at home but struggle more in a busy daycare environment. If daycare calls, they're likely right that your child needs more recovery time.

The takeaway

When in doubt, give it another day. A rushed return often leads to picking up your child early or dealing with a relapse.

You can always text Arlo and talk to a provider in 5 minutes if you're unsure about your child's readiness to return!

References

- [Caring for Kids: When to keep your child home from child care](https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-child-care)

- [Ontario.ca: Illness policies in child care centres](https://ontario.ca/page/child-care-health-and-safety)

- [AboutKidsHealth: Return to school and daycare after illness](https://aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=1986)