Is It Okay to Bring an Infant to Day Care with a Stuffy Nose?

Having a sick baby can throw a wrench into your plans, especially when those plans include work that you simply can't miss. If your little one has a stuffy nose, he might be OK to go to day care -- but then again, he might not. By evaluating your child's symptoms and talking to his day care provider, you can decide whether it's kosher to send your little one to child care, knowing that other children could potentially get sick as well.

  1. Causes

    • Your little one's stuffy nose might be the result of a cold, but it could also be allergies. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology notes that between 15 and 25 percent of infants and children suffer with hay fever, which is common in the spring. The difference is the actual nasal secretions your child is exhibiting. According to AskDrSears.com, allergic secretions with a stuffy nose are clear and runny, while cold secretions are thicker and have more of a yellowish or greenish tinge.

    Other Symptoms

    • Your baby's other symptoms are a solid indication of whether you can send your little one to day care. For instance, if her stuffy nose comes with watery eyes and sneezing only, it's likely allergies and she is not contagious to other children. If her stuffy nose comes with sneezing, fever, body aches, nausea, coughing and lethargy, however, you should keep your baby home; it's likely viral and could infect other children at the day care center.

    Day Care Policy

    • Always check your day care's policy on sick children before you attempt to bring your infant in with a stuffy nose. Some centers take a no-tolerance policy with children who are sick, even if you believe it's just allergies rather than a common cold or other contagious illness. Other centers might require a doctor's note delineating your infant's stuffy nose as allergy-related rather than viral before admitting her into day care. Ask your day care provider about a formal policy, so you know the rules.

    Alternatives

    • When it doubt, it's always best to err on the side of caution and keep your sick infant home if she seems like she has a cold. The other day care parents won't appreciate your bringing a sick baby around their kids. Luckily, there are a few alternatives when you're in a bind, including sick-kid child care, at-home care and using one of your own sick days to take care of your ailing little one. Check out options for sick kids and see your baby's pediatrician to decipher the cause of the stuffy nose and ways you can have her on the mend and back in day care as soon as possible.

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