Winter Illness Guide — When to Keep Your Child Home from Daycare

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It's 6:15am. Your toddler has a runny nose, a slight cough, and is a bit grizzly. You've got a meeting at 9am. Do you send them to daycare or keep them home? If you're a Perth parent navigating winter with a child in care, you've faced this dilemma — probably multiple times in the past month alone.

It's one of the most stressful calls parents make, and there's often no clear-cut answer. You don't want to send a sick child to care, but you also can't take a day off for every sniffle. We get it. At Sonas Woodbridge, we work alongside families to navigate these grey areas with common sense, compassion, and clear guidelines.

This guide covers the most common winter illnesses, when to keep your child home, official exclusion periods, and when to call the doctor.

The General Rule

The NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) publishes Staying Healthy: Preventing Infectious Diseases in Early Childhood Education and Care Services — the gold-standard reference for Australian childcare illness policies. The general principle is:

Keep your child home if they are unable to participate comfortably in normal activities, or if they require care that staff cannot reasonably provide while also caring for other children.

In practical terms, this means: if your child is miserable, lethargic, needing constant comfort, or actively unwell (fever, vomiting, etc.), they need to be home.

A clear runny nose with a happy, active child? Generally fine for daycare. A green-nosed, red-eyed, clingy child with no energy? That's a home day.

Common Winter Illnesses — Symptoms and Exclusion Periods

The Common Cold

Symptoms: Runny nose (clear or coloured), sneezing, mild cough, slight temperature. Exclusion period: None, provided the child is well enough to participate. When to keep home: If they have a fever (38°C+), are lethargic, or are clearly unwell beyond a simple sniffle. Doctor? Usually not necessary. See a GP if symptoms last more than 10 days, your child develops ear pain, or breathing becomes difficult.

Influenza (Flu)

Symptoms: Sudden onset of high fever, body aches, headache, severe fatigue, dry cough. Much more intense than a cold. Exclusion period: Until the child is well and has been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication). When to keep home: Always, until recovered. Doctor? Yes — especially for children under 5. Antiviral medications can be effective if started within 48 hours of symptom onset.

Gastroenteritis (Gastro)

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, sometimes fever. Exclusion period: Until 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea. When to keep home: At the first sign of vomiting or diarrhoea. Doctor? See a GP if your child shows signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, fewer wet nappies), blood in stool, or symptoms persist beyond 48 hours. For babies under 6 months, seek medical advice promptly.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Symptoms: Small blisters on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth. May have fever, sore throat, and reduced appetite. Exclusion period: Until all blisters have dried. When to keep home: From when blisters first appear until they're completely dry. Doctor? See a GP for diagnosis. Most cases are mild and resolve within 7-10 days.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Symptoms: Red, itchy, watery or goopy eyes. May have discharge that crusts overnight. Exclusion period: Until discharge has stopped, or 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment (if bacterial). When to keep home: From when discharge is present. Doctor? Yes — to determine if it's bacterial (needs antibiotics) or viral (resolves on its own).

Croup

Symptoms: Distinctive barking cough (sounds like a seal), hoarse voice, noisy breathing (stridor), sometimes fever. Exclusion period: None specified, but keep home while symptomatic. When to keep home: While the cough is active and the child is unwell. Doctor? Yes. Croup can cause breathing difficulties, especially at night. If your child is struggling to breathe, call 000.

Ear Infections (Otitis Media)

Symptoms: Ear pain, tugging at ears, irritability, sometimes fever, difficulty sleeping. Exclusion period: None. When to keep home: If your child is in pain, has a fever, or is too miserable to participate in daycare activities. Doctor? Yes — especially if symptoms last more than 48 hours or your child has recurring ear infections.

Impetigo (School Sores)

Symptoms: Red sores around the nose and mouth that blister and crust over. Exclusion period: Until appropriate antibiotic treatment has been started, and all sores are covered with a watertight dressing. When to keep home: Until treatment begins and sores are dressed. Doctor? Yes — antibiotics are required.

The Fever Question

Fever is the most common reason children are excluded from daycare, and understanding it helps:

• A temperature of 38°C or above is considered a fever in children.
• Fever itself is not dangerous — it's the body's way of fighting infection.
• Do not send your child to daycare after giving them paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down a fever. If they need medication to be comfortable enough to attend, they need to be home.
• Children should be fever-free for at least 24 hours (without medication) before returning to care.

At Sonas Woodbridge, if a child develops a fever during the day, we will make them comfortable, monitor closely, and contact you to collect them.

Building a Backup Plan

The reality of winter is that your child will probably need several days at home. Having a plan reduces stress:

• Talk to your employer about flexible work options for sick-child days. Many Perth workplaces are increasingly supportive.
• Build a care network — grandparents, trusted friends, neighbours who can step in on short notice.
• Know your leave entitlements. Under the Fair Work Act, permanent employees can use personal/carer's leave when their child is sick.
• Communicate with your centre. At Sonas Woodbridge, we'll always give you an honest assessment of whether your child seems well enough to stay. We're on your team.

How Sonas Woodbridge Manages Winter Illness

We follow NHMRC Staying Healthy guidelines as our baseline, with additional practices that protect everyone:

• Clear communication. If illness is circulating at the centre, we let all families know promptly so you can watch for symptoms.
• Strict hygiene protocols. Handwashing, surface cleaning, and toy sanitising happen throughout the day, with increased frequency during winter.
• Well-ventilated spaces. Our Learning Studios maintain good air circulation even during cooler months.
• Compassionate enforcement. We understand the pressure of calling in sick. Our educators discuss concerns honestly and help you make the best call for your child and the centre community.
• Fresh, nutritious meals that support immune health, with warm winter options like soups and stews.

We know winter can be tough. But together, we get through it — and spring always comes.

Key Takeaways

• Use the "can they participate comfortably?" test as your general guide.
• Know the exclusion periods for common illnesses — NHMRC guidelines are the standard.
• Never mask a fever with medication and send your child to care.
• Build a backup care plan before you need it.
• Communicate openly with your centre — we're here to help, not judge.
• A clear runny nose with a happy child is usually fine. A miserable child with any symptoms needs the couch.

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