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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take ds to toddler group with a cold?

40 replies

Starwarsorbaby · 23/03/2016 07:51

DS (14m) has a cold, probably picked up from the last visit to this baby and toddler group. Wibu to take him today with his snotty nose and obvious cold? What's the etiquette in these situations?
Thanks

OP posts:

civilfawlty · 23/03/2016 07:53

How would you feel if your baby was fine and another baby was snotty and unwell and playing beside yours?

Original poster

Starwarsorbaby · 23/03/2016 07:56

Yep, fair enough. Guess we're staying home today!

OP posts:

Littlecaf · 23/03/2016 07:56

A cold is fine. They all get colds. Constantly. D&V, no.

longdiling · 23/03/2016 07:58

I wouldn't take him to something unnecessary like a playgroup. Childcare yes, because you'd end up never at work otherwise.

maamalady · 23/03/2016 07:59

If he's got a streaming cold and is miserable, don't go. If he's mostly cheerful but a bit snotty, go. If you avoid things because of colds you'll never go anywhere!

civilfawlty · 23/03/2016 08:02

I wasn't being facetious - I just find the only way to figure all of these parenting variables out is to try being the other person.

Anyway - agree prob only fair to avoid optional activities. But if it's childcare so you get to work is reckon that's different.

fieldfare · 23/03/2016 08:02

Stay at home.
If it's not necessary to go then don't spread the cold around to everyone else.

GinAndColonic · 23/03/2016 08:03

Snotty nose - fine.

Any of these - poorly, clingy, temperature, needs calpol -not fine. Those are my guidelines.

CosyNook · 23/03/2016 08:04

Toddlers pick up everything from everywhere. The others are still likely to get a cold whether you go or not. You aren't doing the world a favour by staying home.

Unless yours is unwell, I'd go if only for my own sanity (rather than sit at home with a snotty child going stir crazy).

Original poster

Starwarsorbaby · 23/03/2016 08:06

Well now I'm conflicted! He's fine in himself, currently tearing up the dining room, but I do kind of agree with the point of not spreading it around unnecessarily.

OP posts:

CigarsofthePharoahs · 23/03/2016 08:06

I used to keep mine home for colds, but my youngest caught so many of the bloody things that if I'd carried on we'd never have gone out at all. In the end I decided that if he just had a bit of a runny nose but was otherwise well we'd go, but if he had a bad cough or a temp or worse then I wouldn't. I just spent quite a lot of time ready with wipes.

SweetAdeline · 23/03/2016 08:08

My son has had a runny nose since about October so I do take him out otherwise I'd have to essentially hibernate.

NotAnotherNameChangeAgain · 23/03/2016 08:15

Take him.
If he's happy and not got D&V or a temperature then just take him.
If you stopped doing everything because of a cold then you'd never go anywhere - and there would never be anyone at playgroup either!

Muskateersmummy · 23/03/2016 08:19

I'm in the if he is happy enough in himself, no temp just a bit snotty. I would take him camp. If he has the kind of cold that I would go out and see people with, so can he in my mind. If we all stayed at home when we had the sniffles no one would see anyone during the winter months

Jw35 · 23/03/2016 08:24

'Tearing up the dining room' take him op! I have a 15 month old and she's been unwell for days, hers was flu though. She had a good night last night and seems better this morning, I'm going to go into town instead today but take her to toddlers tomorrow. I would only avoid if more than a cold or if toddler is not up to playing. My dd has caught many colds from toddler group and I think it's normal at this age!

WellErrr · 23/03/2016 08:26

Take him. Half the children there will have colds.

If I stayed in every time one of us had a runny nose we wouldn't have been out since October...!

newmumwithquestions · 23/03/2016 08:28

I wouldn't. It's only a playgroup. I get really annoyed when parents knowingly let their kids spread germs (looking at you mother of 4 year old who was streaming snot and sneezing yellow lumps whilst crawling around in under 2 area at soft play.... Looking at you...)
If parents kept kids away from non-essential things when they knew they were ill then there would be less germs circulating all the time.

ctjoy103 · 23/03/2016 08:30

I think as its a toddler group and you are going to be with him it's fine to give it a miss.

westcountrywoman · 23/03/2016 08:30

I would take him (unless he was obviously feeling unwell, in which case of stay at home for cuddles!). If he's anything like my two, he'll probably have a near-permanent cold from now until approx the end of infants. You'd never go out if you tried to keep him in when he had a cold.

AppleSetsSail · 23/03/2016 08:32

I'd let the Calpol be your guide. Calpol = don't go, no Calpol = go.

Fugghetaboutit · 23/03/2016 08:34

I would if he was fine and no temp. Or wrap up very warm and go to the park for a little run around. Fresh air is good

BettyBi0 · 23/03/2016 08:37

Depends on age group of playgroup. If it's an under 18 months group with lots of teeny babies I'd stay away. But if it's an under 4s general free play thing then I'd go. It's only a cold and if he's well in himself, no temperature etc then go for it.

It used to really grate on me with a newborn when people were so blase about colds and I hate to think how many people I gave silent daggers to at groups haha. Now DD is 2 and has a constantly streaming nose for about 2 months of the year so I know better

Noodledoodledoo · 23/03/2016 08:39

I am with the runny nose and nothing else go camp. My little one has had a constant cold since December, probably caused by nursery 3 days a week.

If we stayed in on her days off we would never do anything and drive each other mad!!

insancerre · 23/03/2016 08:41

I'd take him
Its good for babies to be exposed to germs, it builds up their immune system

Smurfing · 23/03/2016 08:44

I wouldn't take my DC to playgroup with snotty colds but I would take them out to the park / for a walk so we were out, but just not in a confined space where others would be far more likely to catch it too

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