u/mom_est2013

Hello all! I teach ECE as a lead infant teacher and a child brought hand, foot, and mouth into the classroom two weeks ago. Since then it’s spread like wildfire! Two other kids in my care caught it, and I sent one home last week with active blisters.

I wash the toys in soap and water daily, sanitize them mid day, again after work, and drench everything in bleach including the floors. I’ve been lysoling down every surface imaginable that they can touch, but the spread continued. I even wore a mask one day, and then during diaper changes.

Four days ago I noticed clear bumps inside my mouth, and now it’s escalated to a really bad fever. Like, I’m cycling ibuprofen and acetaminophen maximum dosages and I still have the chills BAD. I’m staying hydrated and sleeping fairly well.

How long will this disease last after the fever?! I assume I have it, and I’m praying that I didn’t pass it to everyone I’ve contacted in the past four days when I thought this was just herpes. How are y’all surviving this?

Hey all! I am a lead in the older infant class, and our oldest baby is 16m. He is running around towering over the other crawlers, but is a very sweet child. He will hug the other babies, hold their bottles and try to feed them.

As soon as I walk in he starts whining. Whines and cries to get out of the high chair. Whines because we took his milk when he was dumping it. Sometimes, I’ll just look at this baby and he will start whine crying. Whenever someone tells him “no,” “play on the carpet,” or “no thank you,” when he’s pushing a crib, running in the closet, or stomping on food crumbs were trying to clean up this leads to a full tantrum. Throwing himself backwards, (sometimes hitting his head) crying with tears, and screaming. You can tell he tries to self regulate and is trying to be happy, but it just isn’t working.

I don’t know if I’m reasoning to the whining and tantrums correctly. My kids never really whined or threw tantrums throughout the entire day. It seems like I’ve tried everything. Ignoring, acknowledging their feeling and just being present, putting him on a calm down spot, giving him a pacifier, teaching him how to sign. All this ends with a moment of peace before running up to me, hanging on my pants and whining even more. I try to fill the day with fun things he likes. Art, outside time, snuggle time, “helping” me, you name it. This kid is just exhausted and falls asleep at the lunch table every day. It doesn’t help that he stays here 12 hours a day and is just ready to go home.

I wish I could give him a morning nap, and sometimes I do. We’re technically not supposed to as this kid will be moving up in two months. Honestly I don’t know how to handle this. Any advice would be great!