Coughs, Colds and Nursery: When Is My Child Too Unwell to Attend?
It is 7.30 am, your toddler has a sniffle, and the nursery bag is by the door. So, when is my child too ill for nursery? A mild cough or cold is usually fine, but a high temperature, more than mild symptoms or an infection with an exclusion period means staying home. Here is how to tell the difference.
Can My Child Go to Nursery With a Cough or Cold?
Yes, if they are otherwise well and have no high temperature. The NHS defines a high temperature as 38°C or more.
- Usually fine to attend: a runny nose, slight cough, sore throat or headache, with no high temperature.
- Keep them home: a high temperature or symptoms that are more than mild.
How Long Should You Keep a Child Off Nursery?
How long to keep a child off nursery depends on the illness. UKHSA exclusion periods set out the national guidance. Some of the most common examples are below.
| Illness | Keep your child off nursery |
| High temperature (38°C or more) | Until it has gone |
| Diarrhoea and vomiting | Until 2 days (48 hours) after the last episode |
| Chickenpox | Until 5 days after the rash first appears |
| Scarlet fever | Until 24 hours after starting antibiotics |
| Flu | Until better, with no temperature |
| Impetigo | Until blisters have scabbed, or 2 days after starting antibiotics |
| Hand, foot and mouth; conjunctivitis; slapped cheek; head lice | No exclusion needed |
Why Do Nurseries Have a Sickness Policy?
A nursery sickness policy helps limit the spread of infection between young children. Every registered nursery in England must have a procedure for ill or infectious children under the EYFS.
- It protects babies and children who may be more at risk from infection.
- It gives your child time to rest and recover.
- It reduces the spread of winter illnesses through the nursery.
What Should You Do When Your Toddler Is Unwell?
Keep your child at home, tell the nursery and get medical advice if you are worried.
Tell the Nursery on the First Day
Phone the nursery on the first day to explain that your child will not be attending and why. This also gives staff the information they need to look out for any illness that could spread.
Know When to Seek Medical Help
Call NHS 111 if a high temperature lasts 5 days or more, comes with a rash, or your child is not eating or is not their usual self and you are worried. Call 999 for a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade under a glass, or difficulty breathing.
Choose a Nursery That Takes Winter Illness Seriously
At Wimbledon Day Nursery, our sickness and medication policies follow health protection guidance and are made available to every family when they join. Both of our nurseries hold five-star food hygiene ratings and have extra infection control measures in place. Read about our health and wellbeing approach, then speak to our admissions team or book a visit to see how we care for your child through the winter months.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is my child too ill for nursery?
Keep your child home if they have a high temperature of 38°C or more, more than mild symptoms, vomiting or diarrhoea, or an infection with an exclusion period. A mild cold with no high temperature is usually fine.
How long should I keep my child off nursery after sickness or diarrhoea?
Keep them home until 2 days (48 hours) after their last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea, even if they seem fully recovered.
Can my child go to nursery with a cough?
Yes, if the cough is slight, they are otherwise well, and they have no high temperature. Keep them home if the cough comes with a high temperature or they seem too unwell to join in.
Can my toddler return to nursery after paracetamol brings their temperature down?
Not necessarily. The NHS advises keeping a child with a high temperature at home until it goes away. Medicine can lower a temperature without the illness having passed, so check your nursery’s sickness policy before sending them back.
Does hand, foot and mouth disease mean my child must stay home?
UKHSA lists no exclusion period for hand, foot and mouth disease, and the NHS says there is no need to keep a child off if they seem well enough. Let the nursery know the diagnosis either way.
What is Wimbledon Day Nursery’s sickness policy?
Our sickness and medication policies follow health protection guidance and are made available to parents when they join. Contact us if you would like to talk through it.