BC’s licensed daycare centres operate under specific health protocols for sick children — set out by Fraser Health and the CCLR. Knowing the rules in advance prevents conflict, protects your child (and others), and helps you plan around the inevitable sick days.
When Must You Keep Your Child Home from Daycare in BC?
| Symptom / Condition | Exclusion Required? | When Can They Return? |
|---|---|---|
| Fever (≥38°C / 100.4°F) | ✅ Yes — must stay home | 24 hours fever-free without medication |
| Vomiting (2+ episodes) | ✅ Yes | 24 hours after last episode |
| Diarrhea (2+ loose stools) | ✅ Yes | 24 hours after last episode; 48 hours for toddlers in diapers |
| Pink eye (conjunctivitis) | ✅ Yes if bacterial/discharge | After 24 hours of antibiotic treatment |
| Rash (undiagnosed) | ✅ Yes until cleared | Doctor’s note confirming non-communicable |
| Hand, foot and mouth disease | ✅ Yes | All sores crusted/healed |
| Common cold (runny nose, mild cough) | ❌ Usually not required | Can attend if no fever and feeling well enough |
| Ear infection (with doctor’s clearance) | ❌ No, if on antibiotics and fever-free | Can attend |
What Licensed Daycares Are Required to Do When a Child Gets Sick
- Separate the sick child from the group in a comfortable, supervised space
- Contact parents immediately with a pickup request
- Document the illness in the child’s daily record
- For notifiable diseases (e.g. measles, whooping cough): notify Fraser Health within 24 hours
- Sanitize the child’s contact surfaces and equipment
Planning for Sick Days — What Parents Can Do
- Build a backup care network before starting daycare — a relative, neighbour, or nanny agency contact
- Check your employer’s sick leave policy — many BC employers offer family responsibility leave
- Discuss emergency pickup protocol with your centre — who else is authorized? How quickly can you realistically arrive?
- Keep your contact information current — your centre should have two current phone numbers for every authorized pickup person
Illness Policy at Smiling Kids Coquitlam
Smiling Kids follows all Fraser Health illness exclusion guidelines. Our team contacts families within 15 minutes of a sick child showing symptoms and documents every incident. We provide a full illness policy document on enrolment so there are no surprises.
📞 604-600-4393 | Enrolment at Smiling Kids Coquitlam
