Your child woke up with some snot. He feels a little warm. You take his temperature and it’s a mild fever, but wow, that snot looks bad. Is he too sick to go to school? We all have those days as parents. You have a busy day at work, and no one to watch your son. What do you do? Here is a helpful guide to determine if your child is simply too sick to go to school. 

Fever: 

If your child has a fever of 100.4 or higher, they shouldn’t be at school. Make sure that they get plenty of fluids, is somewhat active and feels better after taking the correct doses of Tylenol or Motrin. When to call the doctor:  infant under the age of 3 months with a fever, for a child who has a fever for more than five days, for fevers of 104 degrees F that doesn’t come down with acetaminophen or ibuprofen within two hours, for children with a fever who aren’t urinating every eight to 12 hours or at risk for becoming dehydrated.

Bad Cough: 

If your child has a bad cough and it hasn’t improved in 5 days, keep them at home until you get an all clear from the doctor. A serious cough could be a symptom of contagious conditions like whooping cough, viral bronchitis, or croup.

Mild Cold:

Your baby doesn’t have a fever, but they have snot. If the snot is clear, you can send them to school. 

Diarrhea/Vomiting:

This should be a no-brainer- if they’re throwing up or vomiting, you need to keep them at home and give the doctor a call. “Unless the parent is absolutely convinced this is a one-time deal, he really should stay home until he is symptom-free for at least 24 hours,” said Linda Davis-Alldritt, a registered nurse and the president of the National Association of School Nurses.

Eye Problem: 

If your child has discharge from one or both eyes, keep them at home until the doctor says it’s ok for them to go back to school.