Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To think toddler shouldn’t be ill so much?

45 replies

Rainallnight · 14/12/2019 17:33

DS (17 months) is ill all the time. And I mean all the time. Since September, he’s had several colds and chest infections as well as tummy bugs and now hand, foot and mouth.

I know they’re meant to pick up a lot at this age, but this seems relentless. He’s not at nursery - he’s at home with me, other than a few hours a week with childminder (who is also DD’s childminder and DD is fine).

He’s miserable and not the happy baby he once was.

Selfishly, I’m also troubled because I catch everything he has from him. My DM has stage 4 cancer and can’t see people with infections so I haven’t seen her in months. (I have hand, foot and mouth right now).

I’ve asked the GP a couple of times whether there could be anything underlying wrong but they say that since he’s growing and gaining weight fine, that there’s nothing to worry about.

But am I wrong to think this isn’t normal?

And/or does anyone have any tips to prevent toddlers getting sick so much??

OP posts:

Original poster

Rainallnight · 14/12/2019 17:37

I didn’t mean to turn voting on! Please don’t feel obliged to vote!

OP posts:

MissB83 · 14/12/2019 17:39

It's really tough because you can't see your mum but I think this is sadly quite normal - my DS is 21 months and often under the weather; their immune systems really are rubbish at this age compared to an adult's.

mousemousse · 14/12/2019 17:40

Normal I'm afraid, my DD was in nursery and spent about a year bouncing from one virus to the next. Childminder will probably pass on bugs but also things like just going to the shops will expose you to new bugs. You just need to power through, maybe take vitamins if you aren't already

Vgbeat · 14/12/2019 17:40

I wouldn't be too worried, at that age they literally pick up every bug going and are expected to have at least 10 colds/bugs a year as they build up their immune system. My daughter went through a phase like this and touch wood she hardly ever gets anything going round now.

Cuddling57 · 14/12/2019 17:44

My ds was like this when he was younger. I notice it with my friends young DS too now.

Illeana · 14/12/2019 17:45

Mine is the same age but rarely catches anything, he hasn’t even had a cold this winter. But I wash his hands regularly and still breastfeed him which has a protective effect.

DonPablo · 14/12/2019 17:47

Ah, horribly normal. Does he have vitamin drops? And can he wash his hands with soap on his own yet? Because handwashing is the best way to avoid illnesses. Doesn't need to be antibacterial soap, just soap.

MrsPear · 14/12/2019 17:50

I can’t understand how this is considered normal. It certainly wasn’t for my children. Diet and hygiene is all I can think of especially given his age.

JustMe9 · 14/12/2019 17:50

I think it can only be called "normal" at GP in UK! Everywhere else the doctors would do blood tests and any other tests to find underlying cause. It is not normal for a child to be constantly ill. Mine is 30months old and has been in nursery for a year - has only been sick once....

Original poster

Rainallnight · 14/12/2019 17:53

Thanks, all.

Can’t breastfeed as I adopted him!

My DD got lots of bugs but what I’d consider a ‘normal my amount. It wasn’t just constant like this.

He can’t wash his own hands. I do them for him but maybe could do more.

OP posts:

codenameduchess · 14/12/2019 17:59

Some kids just pick up more, my DD spent a solid 4 months ill when my grandmother had stage 4 cancer so I understand how you're feeling. It's hard because there's nothing you can do. Have you checked if there is a contagious period that you could see your mum once it's passed?

In a 4 month period at around your sons age my DD had hand foot and mouth, tonsillitis, conjunctivitis, scarlet fever, d&v (several times), chicken pox and slapped cheek along with an almost constant cough/cold. It was horrific and used up all of mine and DHs holiday entitlement for the year but she's barely been ill since. She's now 4 and has been properly ill maybe twice since all of that, there is an end to it.

jgjgjgjgjg · 14/12/2019 18:26

Definitely not normal here. As a previous poster said, does he have daily multivitamins? And a good diet?

As he's adopted, is it worth investigating whether there is anything in his history that might be impacting on his health?

mousemousse · 14/12/2019 18:37

I breastfed mine until 2 but she still got every bug going, but now she's in school she's not been ill for years. Some of her friends weren't I'll at the toddler stage and now are suffering so it gets you eventually

Whattodoabout · 14/12/2019 18:40

Sorry but this is perfectly normal. Their immune systems are immature therefore naturally weaker.

Eveting2019 · 14/12/2019 18:46

My child, same age, has also been sick since September. Has the runniest nose. I can’t believe the amount of mucus she is oroducing. Saw a doctor yesterday who told me that you’d expect at this time of year for them to get a big every 3-4 weeks so it basically feels like they are continuesly ill.
He also told me that every few years you get a the kind of weather conditions and variants of bugs which means it’s just an horrendous year. He said it’s germwarfare out there. Unfortunately I think what you are experiencing is pretty common...

Sindragosan · 14/12/2019 18:49

This winter seems particularly brutal. Local primary schools are reporting huge levels of sickness recently, and if its not D&V its a horrible cold that goes on for ages.

CakeandCustard28 · 14/12/2019 18:51

My youngest always used to be ill. We had two years where he constantly had a cold or a sickness bug. He’s 4 now and only just out growing catching every bug, I think it’s just a kid thing.

itgetshardereveryday · 14/12/2019 18:52

DS hardly ever gets ill so it's not normal here. Agree with frequent hand washing and plenty of fruit and veg.
As he's adopted could there be something underlying? Was he a poorly / premature baby

avocadotofu · 14/12/2019 18:55

My son is fourteen months and he since starting nursery in September it seems like he's been constantly ill too so I feel your pain! I've started washing his hands so I'm hoping that will help a little bit.

Original poster

Rainallnight · 14/12/2019 18:58

He wasn’t poorly or premature as a baby, but his birth mother concealed the pregnancy (to avoid social services) so she got zero ante natal care. She tried to give birth at home but they eventually ended up in hospital. DS was kept in for several days for tests but discharged with a clean bill of health.

OP posts:

joffreyscoffees · 14/12/2019 18:59

Mine is the same age and goes to nursery 4 days a week. I could probably count on one hand the amount of times she's been ill since birth, so to me it does sound a lot.

My brother was like this when younger and always suffered horribly with ulcers too, they did some tests and found he had a low white (? - whichever colour fight off infection) cell count.

nativityhumbug · 14/12/2019 19:02

My ds is 15 months and avoided everything up until 3 weeks ago. We've had a cough and cold, norovirus and now an ear infection. I breastfeed and had the silly idea it would spare him these bugs

zebrapig · 14/12/2019 19:05

It's sadly normal here. DS was constantly ill last winter from November - March. In no particular order he had chicken pox, hand, foot & mouth, bronchioiltis x3 and ear infections x3 which would take ages to clear. Never mind the usual colds and teething as well.
This winter is no better so far, we're on week 6 of an ear infection that just won't shift, I've just come back from OOH with him again.
It's horribly relentless, I really feel for you.

Original poster

Rainallnight · 14/12/2019 19:19

Such a range of replies here, so surprised by some people saying they’re the same and others that theirs only have had a few infections! to everyone going through it too.

To answer some questions - I think our hygiene is ok! And he has a good diet and is a good eater. He has daily multivitamins.

Eveting, very interesting what your GP is saying.

codenameduchess In theory that should be possible with contagious period but it hasn’t worked out that way. My mum lives in another country so I have to wait till I’m sure I’m not contagious again to book a flight and then I’m ill again by the time the trip comes round. Eg I was supposed to be there this weekend and developed tonsillitis on Friday (then hand, foot and mouth today!) so had to cancel.

OP posts:

MartyrGuacamole · 14/12/2019 19:40

My ds was like yours, dd who is older by 2 years (touch wood) never caught anything, even when her brother has been very poorly. Some children are just more susceptible. Both mine have the same vitamins, same diet, same amount of hand washing. Actually breast fed ds for over a year longer as he was always unwell and it was a great comfort to him. I'm sorry to hear about your mum. Do you take vitamins yourself? A good multivitamin with vitamin D and lots of fruit and veg in your diet might help you not catch everything? Sometimes we are so busy looking after them we neglect ourselves.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread