Why children can get sick more often when they start childcare (and why that’s not necessarily a bad thing)

When children are in group settings, they’re more exposed to bugs than they’d be if they were cooped up at home all the time. And their immune systems are still developing, which means it’s easier for those bugs to make your child unwell. 

Children also explore the world with their hands. It’s how they learn about the world around them, but it also means a few extra sniffles and sneezes when they’re sharing toys and spending time indoors with other children.

The good news is: this is fantastic for their growing immune systems. Many paediatricians note that children who attend childcare settings early in life tend to have fewer illnesses once they reach primary school, because their immune systems have had early exposure. 

Children who haven’t had this early exposure to bugs often get hit harder once they start school. Avoiding childcare to protect your child from getting sick tends to delay the issue rather than prevent it altogether.

How we keep your child healthy at Launchpad ELC

No childcare centre (or family) can stop every winter bug. But we can do a great deal to reduce how quickly illness spreads, and to respond quickly when children are unwell.

Knowing your child’s health history

When a child enrols at Launchpad, we maintain accurate health records covering medical conditions, allergies, diagnosed health needs, and any prescribed emergency medication such as EpiPens, asthma inhalers, or insulin. These records are updated regularly and kept confidential.

For children with a diagnosed medical condition, we develop individual Medical Management Plans, Risk Minimisation Plans, and Communication Plans in collaboration with the family.

We also work closely with families throughout the year to stay informed about any changes to a child’s health.

Training and emergency preparedness

All Launchpad educators are trained in first aid, anaphylaxis management, and asthma management, and this training is kept up to date. We follow clear procedures for responding to illness, injury, and allergic reactions, including appropriate exclusion periods as outlined in the national Staying Healthy guidelines.

When a child becomes unwell during the day, we isolate them from the group, monitor their symptoms, and contact the family promptly. We keep spare emergency medication on site for children who require it, as an added safeguard.

Maintaining a clean, hygienic environment

Our centres are professionally cleaned five nights a week. We use hospital-grade, child-safe cleaning products, as well as mops colour-coded by area to avoid cross-contamination.

During the day, educators maintain strong hygiene practices, including regular handwashing with children, surface cleaning, and food safety protocols. We also closely supervise children during meals to support safe, hygienic eating habits.

You can read more about our approach to health and safety on our Safety Hub.

Good food supports a strong immune system

Nutrition plays a direct role in how well children’s bodies resist and recover from illness. Fresh, healthy food does a lot more to strengthen your child’s immune system and overall health than processed snacks.

Our kitchen team prepares nutritious meals on-site each day with fresh, often homegrown ingredients. Nothing comes out of a packet that doesn’t have to. 

And our menu changes with the seasons. For instance, on our winter menu, you’ll find healthy, warming classics like chicken and mushroom risotto, pumpkin soup, and shepherd’s pie with sweet potato mash. Plus the usual fruit, veggies, and snacks provided throughout the day.

Every meal is planned to be nutritious and filling, and we cater for all diagnosed allergies and dietary requirements.

Find out more on our Nutrition page.

What you can do at home to keep your child healthy 

Childcare centres and families work best as a team when it comes to keeping illness at bay. Here are some things you can do at home:

Encourage good hygiene habits at home

Handwashing is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of illness. Teaching children to wash their hands after the toilet, before eating, and after blowing their nose builds a habit that protects them and everyone around them.

You can also help by:

• Teaching the elbow sneeze. Sneezing into your elbow instead of your hand keeps germs off toys, the table, and everyone else’s hands.
• Encourage your child to keep drink bottles, food, and utensils to themselves. Sharing is a lovely value to teach, but maybe not at snack time.
• Stay on top of immunisations. They’re one of the simplest, most effective tools against the illnesses that do the rounds in group settings.

Keep your child home when they’re unwell

We know this one can be hard. Nobody wants to cancel a workday or scramble for last-minute care.

But when a sick child comes to childcare, they don’t just struggle through their own day. Their illness spreads to other children and educators, and the cycle continues.

Australia’s Staying Healthy guidelines set out minimum exclusion periods for infectious diseases in early childhood settings. Here are some of the common ones:

• Runny nose or sore throat: not always grounds for exclusion, but staying home might feel more comfortable for you and/or your child
• High temperature (higher than 37°C): at Launchpad, we encourage you to keep your child at home and monitor for other symptoms
• Vomiting or diarrhoea: stay home until 24 hours after symptoms subside, or if it’s gastro, 48 hours after symptoms subside
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye): stay home until discharge has cleared or treatment has started
• Hand, foot and mouth disease: stay home until all blisters have dried

If you’re ever unsure, call the centre before bringing your child in. We’re always happy to talk it through with you.

FAQs about staying healthy in childcare

Can my child come to childcare with a runny nose?
It depends. A child with clear discharge, no fever, and who’s eating and playing normally is generally fine to attend. Thick, green, or yellow mucus, or a child who seems flat and low on energy, is a sign to keep them home. When in doubt, give us a call.

What happens if my child gets sick during the day?
We separate them from the group and keep them comfortable while an educator monitors their symptoms. We’ll call you or your emergency contact straight away so you can arrange pick-up.

How long does my child need to stay home from childcare when sick?
It depends on the illness. Launchpad follows the NHMRC’s Staying Healthy guidelines for exclusion periods. As a general rule, children should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning, and symptom-free for 24 hours after vomiting or diarrhoea has stopped.

Do you notify families when there is a contagious illness at the centre?
Yes. When a contagious or notifiable illness is identified at the centre, we let affected families know promptly. We follow all reporting obligations under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Victoria).

Frequently asked questions about staying healthy in childcare

See our healthy practices in action

Our healthy habits are everywhere at Launchpad: in the kitchen, our cleaning, our training, and how we care for your child each day. But the only way to see them in action is to come along to one of our centres. 

You can find us in Lower Plenty on 150 Main Road, and in Greensborough at 12 Lorimer Street. Book a tour so you can walk through our rooms and meet the educators who will be caring for your child.