Three days off school for 'just a cold'?

[ReallyShouldBeDoingSomethingElse]

Usually when DD gets a cold she's absolutely fine in herself and only mildly snotty and we carry on as normal.

She's now on day 3 of a bad cold which on Monday I had no doubt meant she needed to stay at home as she was miserable and would have been snotting everywhere at school which isn't ok. Today she is still streaming, coughing, swollen eyelids and doesn't seem any better really, although possibly slightly less miserable but I'm starting to doubt myself for keeping her off school for a cold.

How do other parents judge whether to send them in or keep at home?

She doesn't sound well, so I'd have at least let her have today off for her own sake. Also, schools don't have time to pamper ill children, if they're sent in, they just have to get on with it (including being out on a cold, damp playground - an adult at work would at least get 20 mins at lunch to put their head in their hands if they felt grotty) which is no joke when you're feeling ill.

She sounds miserable. How much do you think she’ll actually be able to learn in that state? Not to mention giving it to everyone else in the class too. A bit of a sniffle is one thing but she doesn’t sound well at all, keep her at home until she’s well enough to learn.

I don’t think I would be wanting to sit next to her!

Do people decide whether to send a child to school based on what strangers would do?

To quote a PP, parent up, no one else knows how unwell your child is.

Colds vary in severity and symptoms. I have had colds where I took paracetamol and carried on with life and then I have colds that have stopped me in my tracks and I've needed a week off work as I felt so dreadful.

Irrespective of covid or cold, I only send them if they are ok, well enough.

I think it doesn't matter how long she's been home, if she's ill she shouldn't go. Sometimes it'll be one day, other times she won't miss any school, and other times she'll be off for days. There isn't a one rule fits all as each illness and each child is different.

You are doing the right thing but do give her a Covid test. It is rife at the moment.

I’ve got a grim cold and I’m WFH so as not to spread it around the office. If I couldn’t WFH I’m not sure I’d go in. YANBU to keep her off.

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate it.

I kept her off, she probably could have coped at school. She's definitely a bit better today.

Covid test negative.

ps. this place is full of people asking strangers' opinions about things. Mumsnet would barely exist without it...

If they're too ill to be functional/ productive, keep them off to recover regardless of what brand of cold/ flu/ covid it is. If it's just a sniffle and being under the weather, then plough on.

DS1's had a hard winter. He's had 3 "heavy colds" that had him off for a few days each and several minor ones where he's functioned with a supply of tissues and throat sweets.