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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think 4 year olds immune system is not ready for school

84 replies

cookieswirls · 02/12/2016 17:24

Since my dd started school she has picked up every vomiting bug, cold or illness going round and I think it's because her immune system is not mature enough she has a daily multi vitamin and eats a very balanced healthy diet so not sure what else I can do. She loves school and is learning loads but I can't help but think 5 would be a better age to start. I'm sick of a new illness coming into the house.

OP posts:

littlefirtree · 02/12/2016 18:23

Yes mine too. It is better than having to fight infection as a baby or toddler in nursery though so I wouldn't worry.

Seryph · 02/12/2016 18:58

I'm a trainee teacher, I spent a week this term laying in bed signed off by the doctor with tonsillitis so bad my throat swelled to nearly shut.
It's not just me either, all three adults in my classroom have now been out of school with it, and we had 7 children absent today!

It happens. She'll do better next term.

Hulababy · 02/12/2016 19:04

I don't think her age is the issue. It would be the same any age.

TBH as a grown adult working in a school - every year this time of year I am stricken down with a bug. I think they come from the newer children primarily, but also in schools everything is going round and little ones - ours are 4-7y - are not always known for their cleanliness when it comes to coughs and colds and spluttering.

I am much better than when I first started though - first year working in an infants school I spent virtually the whole winter ill.

It happens to children whatever age they start a new school, and to teaching staff too when they start a new school.

megletthesecond · 02/12/2016 19:06

There'll always be bugs going round wherever she goes.

Mine got everything going in their first couple of years at nursery but have had very little since then.

OutDamnedWind · 02/12/2016 19:07

It's the same principle as Freshers Flu at university - lots of new people all in the same place brings germs and bugs you e not encountered before.

Hulababy · 02/12/2016 19:07

Trifleorbust Fri 02-Dec-16 17:58:19
Also they do start school at 5 - aren't you sending her at 4 for your convenience?

Trifle - it depends where you are. In England children start school usually in the September, after turning 4y. They turn 5y during the year. It is possibly to defer this til the term after they turn 5y - for summer borns this could mean starting a year later. However, it is the norm that most children in England begin school, in EYFS/reception, aged 4y.

Hulababy · 02/12/2016 19:09

Or do you mean that legally they don't have to start til they are 5y?

Trifleorbust · 02/12/2016 19:13

Yes, I mean legally school is optional until the term after their 5th birthday.

FlyingElbows · 02/12/2016 19:22

Op I think it might help if you Google to find a sort of beginner's guide to the immune system. The immune system has to meet the disease to develop immunity to it. It's nothing to do with age. Small kids are all riddled with disease because their immunity is developing. What your daughter is experiencing is unfortunately completely normal. It's a frequent occurrence when they're in the nursery and school years. While healthy eating a hygiene are ofcourse good things no amount of vitamins or dettol will stop it happening. It's a drag but we're all in the same boat.

Mishegoss · 02/12/2016 19:49

a year wont make any difference. It's just new germs. She'll never build up her immune system if she isn't allowed to.

edwinbear · 02/12/2016 19:55

DS (Y3) hasn't had a single day off school since starting reception aged 4. He hasn't been ill since he had chicken pox age 2.5. Probably because he started in a childcare setting aged 12 months. DD started school age 3 in their nursery year and moved up to reception this Sept. She has also not had a day off sick yet, also started childcare aged 12 months. YABU.

imjessie · 02/12/2016 20:02

I'm never quite sure if some people are unlucky or if it's something they or I did but my kids are rarely ill . I think maybe is just luck but if they are sicky children they probably alway will be as some kids just appear to be so . Keeping her away from germs isn't really going to help as that's the exact thing that will help it .

CoteDAzur · 02/12/2016 20:07

"I think the extra year would make a difference"

What makes you think that?

DearMrDilkington · 02/12/2016 20:12

My 4yr old hasn't caught anything other than a cold that didn't faze her, me on the other hand...

Mrsfs · 02/12/2016 20:13

My daughter caught every bug under the sun when she started nursery at 8 months, the first year was horrendous. She is now 4 and at school and barely catches anything.

fartlek · 02/12/2016 20:27

I agree with all posters. New environment, new bugs. I moved country and was struck down by quite a few bad viruses for the first few years as I had probably never been exposed before. Totally normal.

toffee1000 · 02/12/2016 20:30

Freshers flu is a real thing at university. Lots of people in a new environment, they get colds, coughs, the flu. Nothing to do with age whatsoever.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 02/12/2016 20:32

I thought they don't have to start until the term BEFORE their 5 the birthday not the term after.

I agree with other posters, it doesn't make any difference what age you start, you pick up bugs when you're in contact with lots of new people.

Smartleatherbag · 02/12/2016 20:34

Immune system reaches maturity around seven, so your theory of waiting one year is nonsense.
Kids get a lot of bugs through school. It's a pain but it is the sign of a functioning and developing immune system.

Haudyerwheesht · 02/12/2016 20:37

It's more to do with what she's previously been exposed to tbh. Is she your eldest / only? I ask because ds (my eldest) caught everything when he started school - he was off more than he was there! BUT Dd wasn't like that at all when she started last year and I think it's because ds had kindly exposed her to all the school germs already!!! It's crap and horrible but there's nothing you can do other than encourage good hand washing .

Polkadotties · 02/12/2016 20:42

An immune system is not built on a vitamin pill!

Hulababy · 02/12/2016 20:45

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen

In England it is the term after they turn 5y. So summer borns can end up missing whole of EYFS and going straight into Y1.

In reality most children, time, start in the September, after turning 4y. Though it is legally fine to start term after 5y few take up the opportunity. I can see why - for many children it is far harder to arrive a term or two after others, into a pre established class of children who already know one another.

Topseyt · 02/12/2016 21:04

Age makes no difference. Mine always picked things up when starting nursery, preschool, school and more recently university.

DD1 is in her final year of uni now. In her first year she got freshers flu, tonsillitis and other stuff. She even managed to come home with mumps at the end of it, despite having had a booster before she went.

Seriously, you can't avoid this. You just have to grit your teeth and and get on with it.

As they go through school you learn that it just isn't something you can get precious about.

This is how immune systems are built up and maintained, by exposure to bugs. Wrapping them up in cotton wool does no favours in the end.

RainbowCake · 02/12/2016 21:22

As others have said it comes with the territory. I'm 38 and not ready for school environment! I haven't been 100% since the first week i started in October. Half of the teaching staff/support staff are looking glassy eyed and ropey at the minute.

This time of year seems to be worse for germs and honestly primary kids are just little grimy germ factorys who don't mind wiping snot on you or any available surface

Lymmmummy · 02/12/2016 21:27

I think it is all about exposure to lots of children - at whatever age my DS was literally ill for the whole October to April period when he began at nursery aged 9 months so between to say 18 months was a hellish blur of various illnesses

That said he has very very rarely been ill again almost like he got it all out the way early and was not ill at all in his reception year

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