Bacteria and Germs at Daycare Centers

I'd be a lot MORE concerned about the germs inside of the tunnels at McDonald's. But it doesn't stop parents from taking the kids there OFTEN. :)

Occasionally frustrated - yes. Concerned - no. Exposure to bacteria and viruses are a fact of life. Everyone has to build up their immunity sometime. Kids in daycare just do it sooner.

Yes there are germs. No I am never worried.

There are germs at the mall, at the playground, in restaurants, in your own home, at the zoo, at the jump and fun, at the <insert whatever you want here>.

Personally, as a mother of two kids in daycare, I'd rather have my kids come in contact with these germs at daycare centers. If they get sick at daycare and have to miss school it is only *daycare* as opposed to not being exposed until kindergarten and first grade and having to miss *school* and catch up/make up work.

Germs are every where. Can't do nothing about it.

Yes and no. Yes, because colds, etc. are annoying and you don't want your kids to catch something horrible. BUT, we go to supermarkets, stores, etc. and those same germs are all there. Overprotection from germs causes problems as well as underprotection - we need exposure to strengthen our immune systems, but we also need to not be stupid about cleaning up either. My son's daycare is very diligent about washing stuff, and when the kids are older, they wash their own hands quite often and if they put a toy in their mouth, they have to go wash/rinse it as well.

Cautious, but not crazy is my approach.

I figure that kids are germ factories. This is true if they are at the playground, at the mall play space, at the church nursery or in daycare. Now, a kid in daycare may come in contact with more germs, but most kids won't get horribly sick. The colds and minor things they pick up around other kids will help their immune systems. If they don't get the immunity young, they'll get it when they get to school and everyone trades germs there. If the parents are still looking for a daycare, they can ask about policies like how often toys are cleaned and wiped, how they handle pacifiers, how they clean the floor mats and diaper changing areas. Those are reasonable cleanings that a good daycare should do. The parents should also ask about sick policies. Most daycares have policies about children with runny diapers (we were only allowed if the cause was known, like an antibiotic) or fevers (over 100F and the kid goes home). Yeah, there were times when I looked at another runny nose and figured that would be my kid in a week or so, but no worse than when the older kids reported that their friend was out of school, sick and oh, they shared a snack the other day.

Yes and no. When I put my daughter in day care at two, she brought home every germ known to man. Of course, I got them all too. But after a year, she is so much better. Hardly even gets a cold.

The worst thing she got was Coxsackie. Of course, I got it too and thought I would die. But here I am to tell about it.

I think that day cares should go through great lengths to sanitize their stuff. As long as they are doing that, all will be ok.

Yes there are germs, but like so many other moms have stated, there are sooo many more at the stores, playlands @ McDonalds, the play places at the mall, etc. Daycare centers (at least in MI) have a 3 step process that they have to use to disinfect tables, chairs, toys, etc. and most, if not all, have a 'mouthed' toy bin that they utilized. Rooms that have small children that put toys in their mouth have these bins that the teachers put the toys in after they have been in the child's mouth. Then, at the end of the day, they thoroughly clean them using their the state mandated cleaning process. I know that centers that my kids have been in spray everything down as part of their nightly 'closing' process and if/when they get a virus that is going around the room that they can't seem to get rid of, they are spend extra time doing even more in depth cleaning.

I dare say that my daycare center is cleaner and has less viruses on surfaces than my child's elementary school. :-)

Yes. but as long as you are confident that the facility is well cleaned you just have to go with it. It's not all that different from when kids are in school and sharing pencils, books, putting their hands on each other's desks, sharing art supplies, etc.

If it's NOT a clean facility-and the kids are grimey, etc...that's different and a cause for alarm.

Hi E.,

I'm not actually sure what your question is..... Are you concerned with the bacteria and germs at the center itsself..... like they don't clean the place? Or are you concerned because your grandchild will be exposed to germs and bacteria from other kids? Those are 2 different questions and it depends on the daycare.

The handle of the cart at Target is filthier than most daycares - and parents put thier kids in the cart without thinking twice about it. Now they have wipes you can use to santize, but that is a relatively new phenomenon. Daycares should follow a cleanliness standard..... If you look closely then it shouldn't be any worse than in a normal home (except that more kids = more mess). If the place looks gross then find another daycare that clean up!!!!!

As far as being exposed to germs and bacteria from other kids.... Once they go to school they get the same kind of germs and bacteria anyway..... so it's basically when do you want them to build their immunity? They are either exposed when they are under 5 and miss days of daycare from being sick or they are exposed after 5 and miss actual school while they build up their immunity.