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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder when the catching of nursery bugs will slow down?

28 replies

DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:28

In the last three weeks, we’ve had chicken pox, hand foot and mouth, vomiting and diarrhoea - for some reason that was just me- and now a bad cold. I feel so sorry for my 11 month old baby, so annoyed about all her expensive missed swimming lessons and fun birthday parties and so crap about all the work i’ve Missed at a busy time of year. And terrified about my dh’s upcoming eight day business trip.

This is just a wail really. She’s been in nursery two months three days a week is this just life now or will we all get healthy again soon?

OP posts:
Labradoodliedoodoo · 20/10/2018 07:29

Immune system will build up but it takes time.

bastedyoungturkey · 20/10/2018 07:30

My DD had loads of bugs around that age. Fewer now she’s started school....

Original poster
DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:31

Promise? I just want one day where we all feel well.

OP posts:
Leyani · 20/10/2018 07:31

I remember it was a rough winter and spring that first year at nursery but touch wood since then it’s been fine. Occasional cold or tummy bug but not that relentless ‘any bug going, I’m right here please!’ Feel for you

Original poster
DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:32

This is kinda reassuring. Feeling pretty in the trenches right now.

OP posts:
Treacletoots · 20/10/2018 07:32

Sorry to say this, but about 8-9 months.

We went through this solid when DD started nursery I really sympathise as it was horrid.

Get yourself some vit C and manuka honey but on the whole just buckle up and power through it. It does get better once their immune systems improve but it can take a while :(

cherryca · 20/10/2018 07:32

I used to work in a nursery. I never got sick but I used to pass it all into my dp 😂 poor bloke was so ill. It'll take some time for her immune system to grow.

Original poster
DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:33

Just sitting here breastfeeding and watching her wipe snot on my boob. Oh beautiful motherhood. At least the baby is still cute.

OP posts:
Original poster
DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:34

Argh treacltoots!!! Thanks for the honesty.

OP posts:
IggyAce · 20/10/2018 07:34

The immune system will build up, but as pp said it takes time. The only advice I give new parents is to start childcare a month or two before returning to work. It’s helps dc settle and gets the majority of the bugs out of the way without having to take time off work.

Jent13c · 20/10/2018 07:36

I would say the first 3 months of nursery were just a blur of sickness bugs and colds and a LOT of 'conjunctivitis'. I was very thankful for some backup childcare for the first few months. My son has been in a year and since that initial period hasn't been off nursery since.

Lostthefairytale · 20/10/2018 07:36

About 3 months for both of mine to get through this phase at the same sort of age. They are almost never ill now.

TheNextCaroleMiddleton · 20/10/2018 07:37

We had this with DD1, all ill, including grandparents, from bug ridden nursery for about 3 months from when she started at 1.
She’s now in Reception and hasn’t had a day off nursery or school since that point and DS1 didn’t experience the same when he started at 1, probably because she was bringing bug exposure home to us whilst I was on mat leave with him.
Just a phase, hopefully it will pass for you all very soon.

Original poster
DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:38

Oh IggyAce, I wish you had been there to tell me that. She started a week before I went back and I do feel a bit like I am living up to every aspect of my line manager’s casual sexism - he keeps saying hés surprised I am not more part time and all mothers become flaky.

OP posts:
Doje · 20/10/2018 07:39

It was about 6 months for mine. I remember how annoying it was though.

HairyArmpits · 20/10/2018 07:41

It happens but you can do things such as added vitamins, probiotics, immune support vitamins and Manuka honey ( as you are using already) for both yourself and baby.

Also hand washing. I cannot stress this enough - wash hands. Both yours and your baby. Especially after leaving the setting.

Bugs are usual when a child first starts a setting but I would definitely take a look at your Nurseries exclusion policy- are they following procedures and protocol for unwell children? Is the Nursery clean? Windows open?

I say that as a former Nursery Manager now working on the other side of the fence. It is really important that these things are maintained properly in minimising infection.

MaryShelley1818 · 20/10/2018 07:43

My DS starts nursery in 2wks at 11mths and I’m dreading this.
He’s already been poorly pretty much non stop for the past 7-8wks with tonsillitis twice, several viruses, colds, ear/chest infection and 2 sickness bugs.
Hoping he’s had a head start on building his immune system.
We also have our Wedding 3 weeks after starting and I just know he’s going to be poorly through it 😢

Original poster
DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:44

Hello HairyArmpits. The nursery seems pretty up on exclusion etc. They have signs listing anything contagious that has been diagnosed and specifying how long kids need to be out. Seems clean too. Full disclosure, I work at a university in a public facing role so I guess we really are ground zero for bugs.

OP posts:
Original poster
DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:46

Aww MaryShelley!! I feel your pain! We’ve missed so much in the last month and one of my friends is missing a wedding she was due to be a bridesmaid in due to viral tonsillitis in the baby.

OP posts:
Errrrrrr · 20/10/2018 07:46

The first winter DS2 was in nursery was hell. We had barely a 'germ free'week when he or DS1 weren't bringing something home. He's 3 now and has the odd snuffle but nothing awful - building an immune system is so hard on all of you!

Can your husband not step up and take more time off with him? We both travel for work but try to split the non-travel stuff equally between us. After me being on maternity leave it took a while for us both to get into the habit of him doing more but it makes a big difference!

ChipsAreLife · 20/10/2018 07:46

For us about three months. It was ear infection after throat infection and round and round. Bloody awful.

Hang on in there it does get better

Original poster
DrowsyDragon · 20/10/2018 07:51

To be fair on DH, he has been there a lot, it’s just this twice annual business trip is coming at a shitty time. He works from home but earns twice what I do and cos h’s a contractor only gets paid when he works. He’s done about a third of the days she’s been home sick but only when I have something unmissable at work.

OP posts:
widgetbeana · 20/10/2018 07:57

Honest answer, about 6 months.

I do second what people say about vitamins, for all of you. There are some super vitamins called pharmaton. They are expensive but they give you more than the daily amount of all the vitamins, meaning they build up any deficits your body have. You don't take them for longer than 2 weeks, jusT long enough to fill in the gaps. Then switch to a standard daily vitamin.

I will say this, I means when they start school they are much stronger than their peers who haven't done nursery or preschool. So many of dd1s class caught everything in their first year of school, but the. Nursery children faired much better.

Just get takeouts, sleep when you can and survive!

peakydante · 20/10/2018 08:07

My niece started nursery at 8 months - she was unwell what seemed like every second week until she was 2! It was so rough on my sister so I empathize OP. Hopefully your LO won't be like that.

user1471426142 · 20/10/2018 08:23

In all honesty about a year. We had some awful sickness in the first 6 months or so. We’ve been quite lucky though in that my daughter has tended to get sick by the end of the week and I have Fridays off. I’m coming up for my second nursery winter so will be interesting to see if it is any easier. It seems like she’s a lot more resilient to colds this year. Previously they seemed to go to her chest and make her pretty miserable but (touch wood) she’s had a snotty nose since September but doesn’t seem to have been affected too badly. I’m dreading chicken pox when that hits. Quite a few of my colleagues have immunised against it so that might be something you want to consider. I keep meaning to do it but haven’t got round to it.

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