Childcare and cystic fibrosis
Starting nursery, pre-school or with a childminder or nanny can offer your child lots of exciting opportunities in terms of their social, emotional and cognitive development.
If you're thinking about childcare, you might have lots of questions about how to find the right childcare setting for you and your child. Here we provide guidance on some of the things you may wish to consider.
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How do I find a childcare provider?
There are lots of different options when it comes to childcare, from home-based settings such as nannies and childminders, where your child will be looked after on their own or with a small number of other children, to nurseries and pre-schools, where your child will mix with larger numbers of children and the day is very structured.
You can find your local childcare options on gov.uk.
The setting that’s right for you and your child may depend on different factors, such as:
- How many other children are in the setting?
- What hours does the setting offer? Is it open during school holidays?
- How much does it cost?
- What food and drink is offered?
- What are the daily activities?
As your child has CF, you may have some additional considerations, such as finding a provider you trust to deliver your child’s CF treatments when needed (for example, helping them with their enzymes).
When looking for a childcare provider for your child, visit the settings available in your area to get a feel for how they are run, and speak to other parents. Local forums can be useful place to find reviews of different settings and ask questions.
Our online community forum is also a good place to ask other parents' experiences of finding childcare.
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Do I need to tell the childcare provider about my child’s CF?
It’s important to have a detailed discussion at the outset about what CF is and what it means for your child. The childcare provider will need to give your child medicines, such as Creon®. It's also important to let your childcare provider know in case there are any other children with CF in the setting, to avoid any risk of cross-infection.
When looking, I was upfront with those who had places and sent them info from the Trust made for childcare providers.”
- Tim*, whose son Alex* has CF
You might also want to chat to the provider about activities your child has been advised to avoid, and put together a plan to ensure your child’s needs are met. Your CF team may be able to help you with this; a team member such as a nurse or social worker may be able to visit the setting with you to advise on how to look after your child with CF safely.
Connecting with other parents facing similar challenges provided a sense of solidarity and practical insights. Additionally, seeking guidance from our CF team helped us navigate the complexities involved in finding appropriate childcare solutions.
- Heidi*, whose daughter Amy* has CF
Our pre-school and primary school pack contains handy templates you can fill in with information about your child’s needs.
I wondered if we would be able to get childcare cover that we needed for me to return to work, due to extra requirements with Creon medication. The childminder we chose wasn't phased by it at all and was so accommodating, helpful and went to learn more about CF all on her own.
- Prisha*, whose son Krishnan* has CF
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What about coughs and colds?
Concerns about coughs and colds are common. Good hygiene precautions in childcare settings can help lessen the spread of viral infections. Your child’s CF team will be able to talk to you about minimising infection risks and provide some simple suggestions for the setting.
The nursery were amazing and researched everything beforehand. My daughter had two staff members who were trained by her CF team nurse and they took primary care of her while she was there.
- Heidi*, whose daughter Amy* has CF
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Am I eligible for childcare support?
It’s a good idea to find out whether you are eligible for support with childcare costs. The Government’s Childcare Choices website provides the latest information on what may be available depending on your circumstances and the age of your child.
If there is a CF social worker in your child’s CF team, they will be able to advise you.
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What if I have further questions?
Our pre-school and primary school pack has lots of information about starting with a pre-school or childminder. It also contains useful links to help your search. It may be useful to share some of the resource with your chosen childcare provider too.
Our Helpline is available to anyone looking for information or support with any aspect of cystic fibrosis, a listening ear, or just to talk things through.
Individual Healthcare Plan
In this video Nicole and Martyn, whose son Arlo has CF, discuss how his nursery have supported them, and how they used our Individual Healthcare Plan to work out the best approach.
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