RSV season warning in family chat

Who's saying you have to turn them away? There are plenty of ways to comfort a child without kissing them

Also, how do you even know they "want" that? They're not exactly old enough to say otherwise

She didn’t mind until their mum produced this absolute hypocrisy, now she does. And you say she could say something- she has done exactly that now - said better they don’t se the nephew which given babysitting is weekly that’s clearly the main time they see him, it means no babysitting! But here you are having a go at her for saying that 😁

Why are people obsessed with kissing other peoples kids. Bloody weird. Just don’t. Mum & dad rules.

You won't be happy until there is a child in the hospital. Or a dead one.

Seriously, where did you get this completely wrong, and dangerous idea from? Its so dangerous for babies and old people. It kills thousands every year.

It absolutely is not just a cold. Its deadly for young children and the elderly. You could avoid all these issues by getting the RSV vaccine instead of complaining.

RSV is not the common cold - it's caused by a different virus.

She’ll soon change her mind when she’s looking for babysitters 🤣

Nothing stopped OP from saying no when her SIL brought the poorly children over though or to tell her not to do so again, especially when SIL had nothing work-related.

OP obviously can moan about it on here but can’t be bothered to nip it in the bud when she felt it was a problem.

It’s all SIL yet where is SIL’s husband in all of this when the kids are with OP. Is SIL going out by herself or is SIL with husband? If SIL is with husband which I can only guess is OP’s brother, why isn’t she upset at him too?

OP keeps saying RSV is just a cold and SIL is being hypocritical while saying SIL shouldn’t be dropping her kids off with a cold. Either it is a big deal or it isn’t.

And if it is a big deal, then she should have said something sooner about SIL bringing the kids poorly to her home in the first place. OP doesn’t have to watch the kids at all as she has proven NOW by saying she won’t have them anymore that she can’t kiss them.

Respect people's boundaries jeez! I never think of kissing anyone's kids except my own.

She’s frustrated as the sil drops her kids at the ops weekly for the op to babysit. She still drops them when they have colds and the op has kids who can catch the colds - the sil is risking the op’s kids catching these but being super precious about her own while also expecting a huge favour. I think most people who are telling the op to get a grip would actually if this was them be fuming and saying who does she think she is? I’m not an indentured servant!!

I don’t quite get what you mean. Isn’t her sil entitled to expect free weekly babysitting AND that while doing her this huge favour the op also abide by all of her strict rules? The point of the ops message was that this very frequent babysitting is not available anymore. The op knows she’s not ‘entitled’ to kiss someone else’s kids but understandably is also mad that it comes with the continued expectation she perform substantial favours, including if these children have colds. It’s pretty hypocritical of the sil- if you are so concerned with your kids health, don’t drop them off for babysitting when poorly, which is also a huge disrespect to the ops kids health.

Her kids, her choice.

You sound like very hard work. You are not entitled to kiss someone else's kids, just get over yourself and respect her wishes.

You should absolutely never kiss another parent's child, and you have no right to.

There are myriad viruses beyond RSV you can pass to them that can also be fatal or cause lifelong conditions: herpes, strep, meningitis.

Please do not kiss or insist on putting your mouth on children. They do not deserve your illnesses for such utterly selfish reasons.

She’s not implying you’re unclean you mad sod, what on earth is wrong with you?

I think you clearly have an issue with your SIL that extends past this issue - otherwise your reaction is massively disproportionate.

You are so annoyed you can’t show affection the way you want to, but you are willing to cut contact with these children you MUST kiss because of this request?! Make it make sense. Because I adore my nephews and nieces and would happily comply with such a small request to spend time with them as I love them.

Comparing asking someone to not kiss their kids to saying they shouldn’t go to nursery is such a ridiculous comparison.

You are unreasonable and I don’t really know why you asked the question when you are so stuck in your ways that you double down and get more aggressive and insulting about your SIL with every post. Honestly, you sound a bit jealous of her.

I actually think you’re being a bit harsh here OP. SIL has just said not to kiss them, surely it’s an easy request?
although RSV can be a common cold, it can also be deadly especially to children (just have a quick google and you’ll see.)

although it’s perhaps quite over cautious, it’s an easy request to follow so if you’ve got a good relationship with your SIL, I’d just leave it, follow the request and continue with your life

Quite!

Another factor could be that someone who usually goes in for a kiss gets cold sores over winter and she didn't want to single them out.

stop kissing other kids! Not that hard is it? The only one benefitting is you...not many kids want a kiss from their aunty or uncle or anybody really...just stop it. You can give cuddle, rub their hair, whatever

Being severely impacted by RSV is more common in children (and those who are elderly and immunocompromised)

Carrying the virus is just as likely at any age, people just don’t know what virus is causing what they think of as “just a cold”

I said mainly. It does mainly affect children as they haven’t built up the immunity. My point being kids in nursery are far more likely to have RSV than OP and her family.

Yes anyone can get it at any age but it’s more common in children.

It’s about reducing the risks that you can. Yes nurseries and childcare facilities should have things like HEPA filters, windows that open, fewer children or teachers pressured in when they’re unwell and just be less of a viral mountain environment overall, but at the moment, they don’t. Nursery is still likely to be the bigger risk, but other than offer some HEPA filters to nursery, what can SIL realistically do about that? She’s asking for an accommodation to try to keep her children a bit safer.

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No, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is not just a childhood disease; anyone can get RSV, but it is most serious in infants and older adults, and people with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions. Most children get RSV at least once by age two, but repeat infections can occur throughout life. While symptoms are often mild in older children and adults, resembling a common cold, they can become severe for those in high-risk groups.