To Not Take DS to Baby Groups Because Of Swine Flu Worries?

[OverDramaticOldQueen]

I know I am and you will all tell me this .

He is 6 months old and is my 4th so not a PFB. Was never worried about my other DCs picking up bugs from other DCs when they were younger in fact it was actively encouraged to build up their immunity, but with all stuff in the papers about under 5's being most at risk at developing complications, I am a bit anxious.

Of course my older DCs could bring it home from school but that is unavoidable.

DH actually agrees with me on this one and says that I should not bother taking him to groups until the summer when he's moving around more. He's hardly going to miss out is he and his immune system is still immature so why subject him to germs when I don't need to?

yep I think he is quite happy actually - it is me that is going a bit crazy! But better on balance than worrying, for me.

The swine flu jab doesn't prevent you getting swine flu. It just lessens the severity of it. I didn't have the jab last year when pg and dd hasn't had it this year. The jab is too new. We do not know what ill effects it may causes in the future. Dd and I will not be a part of the " governments experiment".
We go shopping, walks around our area etc. But we don't go to baby and toddler groups, nurseries etc. I'm glad I stopped being a nursery nurse before the first SF outbreak. You do literally take your life in your own hands working with kids now.

Mummy2Bookie you're wrong - the swine flu jab can prevent you getting flu. But in some people they still get it and it reduces the severity. Immune response is variable between individuals.

If a child/parent is unwell with swine flu they are unlikely to be at a baby group - it makes you really poorly. You're at no more risk of catching swine flu at a baby group than you are at any other place where groups of people gather - supermarkets, libraries, bus stations, etc. Unless you plan to become hermit-like until about April then there is a risk of catching swine flu as well as other viral illnesses.

My parents had bad flu, possibly swine flu at Christmas and could have caught it from anywhere. even if you dont go to toddler groups they could catch it in the supermarket, library etc.

I work with children and am just careful, washing hands etc. If you are going to catch it you are going to catch it really.

hi I think that there is more of a risk at toddler groups etc than elsewhere because little children cough and sneeze over each other more than adults do, plus have more hand to hand contact (grabbing toys, holding hands etc.) Also they tend to have lower immunity as they have not had time to build up their immune system. Groups made up of immobile babies are probably less of a risk, particularly as they may have some of their mother's immunity still. I have read up on this!

But yes nothing short of becoming a total hermit and avoiding all human contact is foolproof. Even then you would need to order food in and there could be germs on the packets. However some things - such as avoiding groups of little children, and having a jab - can minimise the risk. Everyone needs to weigh up what they are comfortable with: an individual decision. With my son's medical history, and because of his age, and the fact I am a SAHM, it is, in my view, and in our situation, worth attempting to minimise the risks. Even though listening to the wheels on the bus at home a hundred times a day is driving me slowly mad!

I am hoping that the peak will pass soon, and that in a few weeks the worst will be over. Clearly it is not a way for either of us to live forever.

plus yep people who are feeling ill with flu wouldn't be at the groups, but it is infectious before symptoms show. Also in some symptoms can be very mild, just like a normal cold, and they wouldn't know they had it. I was shocked the other day hearing about an oncologist who went to work with, apparently, confirmed swine flu - because it was 'just like a cold to her'. Well, maybe so, but probably not to her patients.

I agree tholeon, we've had it drummed into us so much over the years that "flu is not just a nasty cold, if you see a twenty pound note on the floor and feel too ill to pick it up then that's real flu" etc etc, but actually swine flu can manifest itself as a nasty cold in loads of people, and they won't just stay at home for a week on the offchance that it might be flu (though if they're oncologists or NICU staff they probably should).

It's a new jab and we dont know what any of the long term effects are.

Well my DD caught the flu because my husband I had it. Funnily enough she didn't get it nearly as badly as us, I think because she could sleep it off whereas we had to look after her!