At what age did your little ones stop getting ill constantly?

[CoconutSty]

It feels like we rarely get more than a couple of weeks 'off' between the constant colds, coughs, tummy upsets, ear infections etc. DS4 and DD2 are both at nursery with DS about to start school next month. The last six months seems to have been a bit better but I'm bracing myself for all the new reception germs at school. When do they start being well more often than they're ill? When does it start to get better?!? 😖

There's a lot of evidence out there that ventilation significantly decreases the rate of airborne illnesses like covid (and by extension flu, chickenpox, measles, RSV...) You need to talk to your school and nursery about the importance of ventilation in the classroom. They should ideally be monitoring CO2 in the classroom, opening windows to ensure levels do not exceed 800ppm, and preferably also running HEPA filters to address air pollution and viruses.

Less sickness in class means fewer supply teachers therefore a cost saving in the long run. Low CO2 levels also lead to improved learning outcomes so it's a win-win really.

We as parents have a responsibility to ensure our children learn in the healthiest environment.

Check out Clean Air - Liesl McConchie

Clean air in schools improves children's health and learning | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

PS Obviously clean air won't help against 100% of illnesses that are caused by close contact or contact with surfaces, but it has been shown to make a significant difference to the rate of infection of airborne illness. E.g. Italian study shows ventilation can cut school COVID cases by 82% | Reuters

Study shows benefit of regular classroom ventilation - SWI swissinfo.ch

we've known this for years and yet schools are dragging their feet to act.

Mine never were “ill constantly”

Are you and your partner also vulnerable to catching bugs doing the rounds?

Mine were only ill constantly for their first 3-4 months in nursery age 1. Then for a year they had things reasonably often, by 3 they weren’t picking much up at all.

For us, I think it was after DC1 had been at school about 6months-1 year. Caught everything and gave it to DC2, who then wasn't off as much as DC1 when she started. Don't forget as they get older, their concept of hygiene improves.

I teach in a fairly modern classroom. 20 children in a room build for 30+. Unfortunately even with the windows open, the CO2 level is never below 800 with children in the room. My child gets a lot less ill at school than they did at nursery, so maybe the end is in sight OP.

@Alphabetica I'm sorry to hear that, ideally your school would implement HEPA filters too as an extra layer of protection. Some fans could also help to improve air flow.

I'm pleased to hear that at least CO2 is being monitored. France has introduced legistlation that mandates schools and daycares to implement measures to improve air if it is above 800ppm, it's really a shame that the UK government is doing nothing (except DofE promoting air purifiers that are expensive and less effective than cheaper models, e.g. Dyson performs badly but is one of the sanctioned models by the Dept. I wonder why... /s).

Also meant to say @Alphabetica your school and others can sign up to participate in SAMHE which is a large nationwide research project to assess air quality in schools
SAMHE

Mine caught chicken pox first week of nursery but after that has barely been ill.

He's now 10.

Thanks for this.

@Isthisexpected you're welcome, feel free to spread the word!

first winter in childcare was awfull.
after that we had a very ocassional sniffel.

are your dc washing their hands often enough? sleep well? good diet? exercise daily outside?

Mine are 3 and 7 and don't get ill that often anymore - maybe 1/2 bugs per year each.

DS2 started nursery at 1 (after a year of not mixing with people - 2020 baby) and that first year was awful though.
DS2 is rarely inside at nursery though - they have free flow and he is in the garden almost all day.

I think it also depends a lot on the child.

DD was never a really sick one, several colds at the beginning of nursery and the following winter and then once a year or so a bigger one with temperature.
I think we survived years without a sickness bug.

When she is ill then she is like DH, two days really bad and off she goes again, being well.

But, friends had their children constantly ill, one cold/bug after the other. In the end they put them on a vitamin supplement and that helped.

Mine were both about 7 when they stopped getting lots of coughs, colds, tonsillitis etc.

Worst winter of sickness was when I had a 3yo and a 9m old. The older one brought everything back from nursery and gave it to the baby and we had multiple hospital visits. For my eldest in reception, she had 2 weeks out with covid along with the rest of us, nothing in y1 but then a fair bit of sickness in y2- mainly strep throat. youngest has been pretty good during summer since about 3 other than chicken pox. Let’s see what this winter brings but it does get better as they get older.

There’s many an adult that always seem to be strike with a cold or cough or sniffles or bug too!

Mine hardly ever get ill. DS gets a cough occasiinally that lasts for ages. Both sometimes get a mild cold once or twice a year. They are almost never off school. Talk to your school or nursery about hand washing and ventilation as the above PPs suggest. Also good ventilation at home and a multi vitamin.

Some children just get ill more than others.

As a child, I had constant throat and ear infections - at least every other month and unfortunately DS has taken after me.

The infections, they do grow out of but can take years.

The general colds and viruses seem to more prominent since Covid.

It stopped after the first year in childcare.

But that was pre Covid.

My four year old has got ill much less in the past year, which is a relief. But I'm definitely bracing myself for all the new reception germs too! I suspect this winter will be hard, but am assured by friends with older children that once it settles down he'll rarely get ill. He's asthmatic and prone to high fevers so does seem to get ill more than some other children.

I found the first two years in nursery were terrible, he started in Jan 2020 so we had a year of normal nursery bugs after lockdown, but then when people started mixing properly again in 2021/2022 we got another round of being ill ALL the time - every 2-3 weeks at times in winter. We were close to 20 PCR tests by the time they stopped (had to have one to go back to nursery after cough or fever).

I guess having a 2 year old you're getting another cohort's bugs as well, but she should get through them sooner.

Thanks for the info about the survey. Unfortunately, given that even during covid there was no funding for improving air quality in schools, I'm not very hopeful we'll get any filters! Seeing the CO2 levels is quite eye-opening sometimes. It's no wonder children find it hard to concentrate.

The first winter in nursery was the worst with both of mine - they'd literally get something every two weeks - it was relentless. It was never that bad ever again, although the first few years of primary saw regular illnesses for probably the first 2-3 years. It's been a lot better since.

Last winter we had a child in reception and a child in nursery and it was HELL. Six full months of illness and I just couldn't cope at all by the end of it. If it happens again I just don't know what I'll do as I'll have three children under six and will be about to pop with a fourth. I feel all your worries!