Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if the first winter in childcare is as bad for germs as everyone says?

92 replies

childcaresettling · 05/09/2026 14:12

Particularly if it’s a small setting (5-8 children total each day, goes two days).

no other new starters so they’ve all done at least a year in childcare. My LO is nearly 2, so went to baby classes etc last winter but I’m sure that’s not the same

So I have an idea, can everyone share how disruptive it was to their work (or not), how often they were off and if it really was like everyone says?

OP posts:
mohammedchungus · 05/09/2026 14:30

Both DC went to nursery from just over a year old, 2 days a week, larger setting than you’ve mentioned and it was nothing like that. They missed very, very few days of nursery. DC2 caught chicken pox when he was 3/4 but that was about it other than the odd runny nose/cough which didn’t require days off

elaeocarpus · 05/09/2026 14:29

Every 4-6 weeks i had to take several days off work in the first 12-18 m. It was pretty horrid. Plus the week plus time off when chicken pox and HFM makes an appearance.
It wasn’t as bad with second child who’d had more exposure at home before they started

hotmumshit · 05/09/2026 14:28

Yeah sorry op, brace yourself x

ScaryM0nster · 05/09/2026 14:28

Planning for 25% is a fairly sensible suggestion. Particularly with an autumn start.

Whether you'll catch it all depends on you. Basic hygiene goes a very long way. Hand washing, cleaning surfaces properly. Not letting them stick their fingers in your mouth.

adjsavedmylife · 05/09/2026 14:27

Wasn’t great for either child, but one was definitely much worse than the other. Same setting, so there are other variables

lemonyfox · 05/09/2026 14:26

For my first born (Dec baby) he started a large nursery setting in the Sept and his first winter and year was horrific. Absolutely horrific, not just for him but also for me because we both caught a new cold every week. He’s now coming up on 6 and has an immune system of iron, he’s never ill.

My second born started a much smaller nursery setting when she was 10mo in a January, and her first winter nursery season was actually fine. A few minor sniffles. She did catch HF&M and chicken pox though, from nursery, all mildly and over warmer months, and despite this never passed either on to my son!

villadicance · 05/09/2026 14:25

It's worse.

Sorry.

countrylifeorcitylife · 05/09/2026 14:25

My daughter went to a huge nursery and never got unwell there. It really does depend on the child!

Cla7 · 05/09/2026 14:21

Had to quit my job. Sorry. It would have worked better though if my husband had any flexibility (he hasn’t) or if we had family around to help out.

Original poster
childcaresettling · 05/09/2026 14:21

Thank you everyone. Further to that do you typically catch much of what they get? 😬😂 I’ve always worked in schools anyway so would hope I have my own sort of Immunity but hard to say

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 05/09/2026 14:21

It wasn't for us, but we were with a childminder rather than a nursery. It was about the same as being at home.

Uberaddict · 05/09/2026 14:21

I believe it’s an average 7 bouts of illness in the first year. That was about right. My youngest was a bit beyond that - but shes less robust than my eldest even now at 13. I think I got about 50% of them. Horrid days

JHITRM77 · 05/09/2026 14:19

The first winter is hardest but they get easier every year after that. I'd agree with the planning for 25% absence 💐

Besidemyselfwithworry · 05/09/2026 14:18

Mine went to a small setting (childminder) and it wasn’t too bad but my friends with kids in nurseries seem to have had loads of time off! But then some kids are luckier than others with bugs even as they get older.

Maray1967 · 05/09/2026 14:17

Brace yourself. DS26 started nursery at 7 months in January. By Easter he had had four colds, three stomach bugs, two bouts of conjunctivitis and one virus that looked initially like chickenpox but wasn’t. The pattern was one week there, next week ( or most of it) off. After Easter he was fine - scarcely had a day off in the next three years, but that first term was tough.

Littlejellyuk · 05/09/2026 14:14

Nursery was like a petri dish for my DS. He caught all kinds but it built up his immune system.
You play it by ear and if you have to sort alternative child care /take days off, then it's just par for the course.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 05/09/2026 14:14

So I would " budget" missing 25% of their planned hours for illness.