Can You Go to Nursery with Hand, Foot, and Mouth?

If your child comes home from nursery with a high temperature, sore mouth and some spots on their hands and feet, you may suspect hand, foot and mouth disease – and worry whether they can go back to nursery.

The answer might be easier than you think. 

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Children with hand, foot, and mouth disease usually don’t need to miss nursery for a set period of time. If they have a temperature or feel too unwell to join in with normal activities, they should stay at home. Once they’re feeling better and well enough to participate, they can generally return to nursery, even if they still have some spots/blisters.

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Little Mowgli Nursery in Leyland know how worrying childhood illnesses can be. Between childcare, work and looking after your family, being told your child might need to stay home for some time can cause extra stress. So, what do parents need to know about hand, foot and mouth disease? How do you catch it, and when can your child return to nursery with hand, foot, and mouth disease? 

What Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?  

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness that mainly affects babies, toddlers and young children. Older children and adults can also get it. 

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It’s caused by a number of viruses called enteroviruses. Enteroviruses include several types of coxsackievirus, which can cause HFMD. 

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HFMD spreads easily in nurseries, playgroups and schools because young children spend lots of time touching each other and putting their hands in their mouths. Children are also still learning how to wash their hands effectively. 

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Despite its name, hand, foot, and mouth disease has nothing to do with the foot and mouth disease, which affects cows, sheep and pigs. They’re completely different illnesses. 

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Most children will find HFMD a mild illness that clears up by itself in 7 to 10 days.

How Common Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease? 

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is especially common in babies, toddlers and young children.

A 2025 peer-reviewed study reviewed data for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) consultations at GP surgeries in England between 2017 and 20. Data showed that there were 1.53 GP consultations for HFMD per 100,000 registered patients per week, on average, during the study period. The largest age group affected were children aged 1 to 4 years old, followed by infants under 1 year old. 

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The study also found that HFMD had a strong seasonal pattern before the COVID pandemic. Generally, there were more GP consultations for HFMD in autumn and winter, with peaks usually between September and December. 

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This matters for parents with nursery-age and preschool children.

What Are the Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

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HFMD often starts with a high temperature, sore throat, lack of appetite and general misery.

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After a few days, children will often develop painful mouth ulcers. They might also get a rash with small blisters on their hands and feet. Your child may also get spots or blisters around their nappy area, groin or bottom.

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Depending on your child’s skin colour, the rash may appear pink, red or darker than the surrounding skin. Every child is different. 

Can you go to nursery with hand, foot and mouth disease?

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If your child is well enough to attend, yes.

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The latest UK Health Security Agency guidance says children with hand, foot and mouth disease don’t need to routinely be excluded from childcare settings. In other words, your child doesn’t need to automatically miss nursery because they have HFMD.

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Keep your child at home if they: 

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• have a fever/high temperature; 

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• are unusually tired, distressed or generally feeling unwell;

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• find it difficult to drink enough; 

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• have mouth ulcers that are painful to eat or drink with;

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• Are unable to take part in normal nursery activities comfortably.

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Once your child feels better and can join in with their usual activities, they can generally return to nursery. You should also let the nursery know your child has suspected/confirmed HFMD so they can follow correct hygiene procedures and inform other families.

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Your nursery may have its own procedure about illness and when to keep your child at home, so do check this too.

Does My Child Need to Stay Out of Nursery Until the Blisters Have Gone?

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No. This is a common myth about hand, foot and mouth disease.

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NHS guidance states that children don’t need to stay away from nursery/preschool until their blisters have healed. The main thing to consider is whether your child is well enough to join in with normal activities.

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If your child has some spots that are healing but is otherwise happy, comfortable and able to take part, they can likely return to nursery. If your child has a fever or is feeling generally unwell, they should stay at home to rest.

How Long Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Contagious?

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HFMD is contagious a few days before symptoms appear. Children are most contagious during the first five days after symptoms develop.

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The virus can also live in poo for weeks after symptoms go, which is why good handwashing is important even after your child has recovered.

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HFMD spreads through coughs and sneezes, saliva and other respiratory secretions. The disease can spread through fluid from blisters, poo and contaminated hands and objects. Because children can spread HFMD before they show symptoms, completely preventing every case in a nursery is difficult. But good hygiene can help reduce the chances of spreading it.

How Can I Help Prevent the Spread? 

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Good hygiene is your best defence against spreading HFMD.

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• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Be sure to wash after using the toilet or changing nappies and before eating.

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• Remind your child to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue.

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• Throw used tissues promptly and wash hands afterwards. 

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• Avoid sharing drinking cups, cutlery and towels. 

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• Wash bedding, towels and dirty clothes that have poo on them.

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• Keep fingernails short and discourage children from scratching blisters. 

How Can I Make My Child Feel Better at Home?

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There’s no medicine or treatment that can cure HFMD. Antibiotics don’t work on viruses. 

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Your role is to keep your child comfortable until they recover. Help them by: 

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• Offering plenty of cool drinks. This will help soothe a sore mouth and keep the children hydrated.

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• Choosing soft, cool foods like yoghurt if they are finding eating uncomfortable.

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• Avoiding acidic drinks like fruit juice and foods that are salty, spicy or hot, as these can sting mouth ulcers.

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• Allowing your child to rest as much as they want/need.

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• Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help ease pain or fever. Always read the product instructions and speak to a pharmacist if you’re unsure whether medicine is suitable for your child.

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A pharmacist can also advise you on suitable mouth ulcer remedies for children.

When Should I Seek Medical Advice? 

Most cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease will improve within 7 to 10 days. Contact your GP if your child doesn’t improve in this time, or if you’re concerned about their symptoms.

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Contact your GP or NHS 111 if your child has a high temperature that isn’t coming down with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Seek urgent advice if your child seems hotter or colder than usual, is very shivery, is getting increasingly unwell or isn’t weeing as much as normal (due to dehydration).

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and the EYFS: 

At Little Mowgli, keeping children happy, healthy and safe is our number one priority.

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As well as following our own nursery health and illness procedures, we follow current UK government health guidance and EYFS requirements. This includes encouraging good hand hygiene, following correct cleaning procedures and letting parents know when there’s an infectious illness at nursery.

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Hand, foot and mouth disease is very common in young children, and part of educating them. If your child contracts HFMD at nursery, we’ll work with you to keep them healthy and comfortable. 

Questions Parents Frequently Ask

1. Is hand, foot, and mouth disease serious? 

In most cases, no. Hand, foot and mouth disease is generally a mild illness that clears up in 7 to 10 days. Contact your GP if your child’s symptoms aren’t improving, are getting worse, or you’re worried.

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2. Can adults get hand, foot and mouth disease?

Yes. Hand, foot and mouth disease can affect children of all ages, and adults too.

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3. Can you get hand, foot, and mouth disease more than once?

Yes. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by several types of enterovirus. Having HFMD doesn’t make you immune to future infections.

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Final Thoughts: 

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Hand, foot and mouth disease is generally a mild illness that kids recover from quickly. The important thing for parents to know is that nursery-aged children do not automatically have to miss nursery school for a set number of days if they contract HFMD.

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Keep them at home while they have a fever or are feeling too unwell to participate. There’s no need to wait for blisters to heal once they’re feeling better.

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Got questions about our nursery and preschool in Leyland? Get in touch to arrange your nursery visit today.

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