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Original poster

Hands up if you already have a child off school with a cough?

129 replies

AlohaMolly · 07/09/2020 08:35

👋🏼 👋🏼

DS is 4, started reception on Thursday. In Thursday Friday, developed a cough at bedtime last night and was up with it every half hour until I gave him some calpol.

No temp, just a cough and a runny nose. I think I’d probably have sent him under normal circumstances but called the school to check and he said to keep him home today and see how he is tomorrow.

I shouldn’t have to say it, but THIS IS NOT A TEACHER/SCHOOL BASHING THREAD. I used to be a teacher and support the school fully with their approach. Luckily, I ‘only’ work 2.5 days a week, one of them a weekend day, so I’m fine to be off with DS, but it’s 90% of the reason I haven’t taken more hours on like I’d planned to originally.

It’s going to be a long winter, isn’t it??

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 07/09/2020 21:08

LucyWarlowsRightHand
But scare-mongering doesn't help at a time when many people are already concerned.

I'm not saying she should have had it done in 20 seconds, but saying that in future she won't test is suggesting ignoring the rules, unless I've misunderstood.

Anyone who has had a test knows it's uncomfortable but it doesn't mean we go around acting like it was some horrendous act that should never be repeated. It's just part and parcel of this strange time we're living in (and I'm saying this as someone who almost vomited over my swab and did worse than some of the kids mentioned on this thread Blush).

ShesMadeATwatOfMePam · 07/09/2020 21:11

Sorry op some people like to stick the boot in. It's did to the sort of hysteria you get on mumsnet that led to you going through that with your child. Peer pressure, must get tested, it's for the greater good blah blah blah. It isn't pleasant, and your average 4 year old isn't going to understand why it's being done or that it's for the greater good.
I have already been tested and I was ok with it because I'm not four. I need to do my 3yo twins with a home test when it arrives. They've got a common cold, but they have to be tested before nursery will take them back. If my dc really fight me, I'm not going to force them to do it, for the same reason op now regrets it. I'll just isolate.

ShesMadeATwatOfMePam · 07/09/2020 21:13

not saying she should have had it done in 20 seconds, but saying that in future she won't test is suggesting ignoring the rules, unless I've misunderstood.

Nobody can be compelled to be tested. you can always choose to isolate instead if you want. Nobody should be made to have a test that they are finding traumatic even if they are 4 and and other people feel parents should have overpowered them and forced them to do it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

4 year olds Families General education General health
Mcmole · 07/09/2020 21:17

God OP I really sympathise as I know my dd would be just the same. I am terrified of needing to get her tested as she just won't cooperate with any procedure she's uncomfortable with. Even when she needed eye drops before I had to actually wait until she was asleep to get them in as she made herself sick crying so much about having them. If someone else other than a parent could do it, it might be ok, but since that's not possible I have no idea what I'll do. Fingers crossed they can bring out a saliva test!!

TeddyIsaHe · 07/09/2020 21:17

Yes but to say it’s ‘abusive’ it’s utterly ridiculous. Have parents never held down toddlers to brush teeth? Also for the greater good, or they have disgusting teeth and cavities.

I don’t think anything needs to be as dramatic as op made it, and I’m sure her son picked up on her tension as kids do.

WhoWants2Know · 07/09/2020 21:28

I don't think that's fair to say at all. You weren't there.

TeddyIsaHe · 07/09/2020 21:31

But I’ve given a 3 year old 2 tests, and it was “I know this is horrid, but it’ll be over super quickly and I have ice cream for afterwards!”

Hold hands down, cotton bud in nose, swish it around, done.

No abuse Confused, coercion, threats, evil mummy, dramatics.

Maybe I’m being harsh, but I just don’t see why it had to be such a big drama.

BensonStabler · 07/09/2020 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dementedpixie · 07/09/2020 22:18

Its not any 2 symptoms in Scotland. Where have you read this?

Echobelly · 07/09/2020 22:23

DS (9) woke with slight fever on Friday after two days back at school so had to keep him at home and have him tested. Luckily we were able to get to a testing place (a lot of people weren't) and by saturday had a negative result and he was fine by Sunday. TBF, I'd have kept him off on the Friday in normal times as he was clearly below par and school always says to keep home with a fever. I was pretty sure it was just a cold, as he'd been snuffly the night before, which isn't usually a thing with COVID, plus I gather it would not be usual for an under-12 to be the first infected person in a household.

He is pretty seldom ill so hopefully he won't be in and out too much, but who knows. Sister is 12 and at secondary school, so I think is the most likely to bring it home, as we're both WFH.

Kitcat47 · 07/09/2020 22:30

Yip! Waiting on 2nd test results as first results were lost!

Original poster
AlohaMolly · 07/09/2020 23:07

Teddy I didn’t say it was abusive. Even the staff at the test centre - including the child psychologist- told me not to physically force it on him. And no, I have never held my child down to brush his teeth, he brushes his teeth because it is daily routine that has been built up over time, normalised and is a pleasant experience with health benefits. All DC are different, my DS reacted badly to the swab and I exacerbated the situation, as I said upthread. I allowed myself to engage in unhelpful responses to his reactions which I already said upthread and it resulted in a very distressed child and an unsuccessful test.

I at no point said I would be breaking any rules. The rules are get tested or isolate. I tried testing, it didn’t work for DS, so now we will isolate. If I develop symptoms, I will book a test. I also have never said that the swab is painful/harmful/unpleasant in and of itself and have never said that other people shouldn’t get it done. There are plenty of examples on this thread and, I’m sure, others, that show it’s perfectly fine for people of all ages.

OP posts:
Nomnomarrgh · 07/09/2020 23:29

Am I right you go through the nose? How do you make sure you don’t do an Egyptian and stab someone’s brain? If its the throat that is being swabbed, why not go through the mouth?

GiantPinesAhem · 07/09/2020 23:30

I wish I'd been offered nasal only today at my test- I nearly threw up with the throat one, despite me being in control of it!

TheSmallAssassin · 07/09/2020 23:48

@Nomnomarrgh the swab is basically a long cotton bud, you're going to be hard pushed to stab someone's brain with it. It's uncomfortable but shouldn't be painful and there's no need to jab it up...

TheSmallAssassin · 07/09/2020 23:50

@Nomnomarrgh just reread your post. For adults you swab twice, once on your tonsils (through your mouth) and once in your nose, you don't have to swab your throat through your nose!

Nomnomarrgh · 08/09/2020 05:27

Phew!

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 08/09/2020 05:42

I think it’s one symptom in Scotland - not two?!?!?! So a new/continuous cough itself means off school and need a sodding test.

I don’t know many young kids who don’t get a bit of a cough after a head cold so no wonder testing stations can’t cope

MrsAvocet · 08/09/2020 12:14

Just got our result back. Negative thankfully, and my son is feeling better too, so hopefully back to school tomorrow. Its rare for us to make it to half term without at least one child off with a cold/asthma exacerbation but only managing 2 days is a record!Shock

GIitterySequinBoobTube · 08/09/2020 15:37

MrsA How long did it take to get them back? Still waiting here, it's 'only' been 29 hours though. Did drive through - I didn't need to register anywhere else did I?
Thanks Flowers

MrsAvocet · 08/09/2020 18:26

Just under 24 hours for us Glittery but it seems to vary a lot from area to area. I know ours was processed at our local hospital lab so there wasn't any significant transport time - I don't think that's the case everywhere. Hope you get good news soon.

GIitterySequinBoobTube · 08/09/2020 18:56

Cheers MrsA Was tested in Manchester which is busy so maybe that's it. Was told 24-48 hours. It's now been 32 but the leaflet says not to ring unless it has been 5 days. Am sitting on my hands not to be that person and pester!

Floralbean · 08/09/2020 19:16

It is going to be a long winter, significantly longer if childcare and school was still closed though throughout, shudder.

GIitterySequinBoobTube · 09/09/2020 14:10

51 hours turnaround - 3 days school missed - back tomorrow.

NoToast · 09/09/2020 17:16

Yes, I'm off. DD hates school. She has a cold but told the teacher while in maths class she had lost her sense of taste and they have sent her home until she has a test. Entirely reasonable on their part. Previous disruptions to maths class include her having emotional breakdowns, having to leave class to call childline etc. It's going to be a long winter if this happens every week. I'm a single parent, entirely support us in a demanding job. Already behind in writing a proposal that will pay my salary for the next 3 years. And the school want her to do a full day of work....

Sorry for the rant.