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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:

Imonlydancing · 23/03/2016 09:51

At 30 weeks pregnant, I caught the flu. It was horrendous and I took about a month to fully recover. I wish the person who gave it to me had stayed home that day...

Tywinlannister · 23/03/2016 09:53

Agree with Smurfing. Park, feed the ducks etc, yes. Playgroup, softplay etc, no.

Put a bit of vaseline under his nose to protect the skin from the snots and he'll be fine outside.

escapedfrommordor · 23/03/2016 10:45

I'd go. I've become less precious about this with my second. She catches everything her brother brings back from preschool so if I kept her in when she's ill we wouldn't have left the house since September.
Vomit and poop, pox etc.- definitely not. Coughs and colds I'm afraid we power through.

Juanbablo · 23/03/2016 11:36

A cold is fine. As long as there is no temperature then I think it's fair game.

splendide · 23/03/2016 11:41

I would literally not have left the house for the last 6 months (give or take the odd day) if we stayed at home with colds.

blobbityblob · 23/03/2016 11:50

I wouldn't take mine in the midst of a cold. Fine after they're through the streaming, sneezing, coughing though.

It's just so easy to go to the park instead - why spread the misery?

MaryThorne · 23/03/2016 11:53

If he's just snotty but otherwise fine then I'd take him.

Original poster

Starwarsorbaby · 23/03/2016 12:46

So, we went to the park. He didn't really enjoy it because he's a strange boy, but I'm glad we got out and had some fresh air! Thanks to everyone who replied.

OP posts:

Mousefinkle · 23/03/2016 12:55

If you avoided going anywhere every time they had a cold you'd never go anywhere. Seriously, since October my DC and I have pretty much had back to back colds. Odd day off school when they've been really sick but other than that, gotta soldier on! Just a part of life. If he's really ill to a point he needs calpol and doesn't really want to move then don't go. If it's just a bit of a sniffy nose then I don't see why you shouldn't.

newmumwithquestions · 23/03/2016 13:40

Think you made the right call OP.

For those talking about 'soldiering on' and that you 'wouldn't leave the house if you stayed in every time xxx had a sniffle' there is a huge difference between locking yourself in all day and going somewhere in a confined space where you know you'll be spreading germs to babies/toddlers. IMO it's pretty selfish to knowingly spread germs.

One time when I went for a health visitor weigh in there was someone there with an approx 6mo baby streaming with cold. They plonked themselves down next to someone with a newborn. The HV checked if there was nothing they were specifically worried about then told them they shouldn't be turning up with a baby that was obviously ill. Too right.

Jw35 · 23/03/2016 20:02

I disagree newmum. The reason babies and young children have so many colds is because they are building their immune system. If everyone with a sniffle stayed at home playgroups would be empty! If my dd has a temperature or is miserable with it then I wouldn't want to pass it on but a run of the mill cold is just part of baby and toddler life! I don't think my dd has had more than a week or two break from cold since December! Obviously it's not just my one passing it on!

minipie · 23/03/2016 20:18

I'm in the take him camp (if it's just a cold).

Most children at a playgroup are bigger babies or toddlers who will have or have had lots of colds.

There will be a few newborns but they will almost always be second or subsequent children and they will be exposed to all manner of germs via their older siblings anyway. Obviously you should make sure your snotty toddler doesn't come too close to any small babies however I don't think it's practical to avoid all others any time there is some snot.

Plus of course colds are infectious before any symptoms start showing so it's unrealistic to try to make playgroups, or anywhere else, a germ free haven.

minipie · 23/03/2016 20:19

newmum that's totally different as those baby weigh ins are full of newborns, unlike playgroups.

wheresthel1ght · 23/03/2016 22:45

From someone whose dd is immunosuppressed I would prefer you not to if he is streaming with snot but I admit I am very pfb with dd because everything that is "minor" for most kids puts her at risk of hospital stays. They have no idea what the problem is but she has massive allergic reactions to everything and is on steroids galore so comes down with bloody everything.

BillSykesDog · 23/03/2016 23:03

If it's just a sniffle no temperature I'd go. Wouldn't bother me in the slightest if a child with a sniffle was next to mine. Germs are everywhere regardless of whether someone actually appears ill. I feel a bit about people who think that things like the common cold can be avoided by quarantining anyone who's visibly I'll.

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