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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About coughing children in shops…

164 replies

3cats2kids · 23/06/2021 16:07

Just seen a mum pop in to a shop near me for no essentials, just sweets, with a child with a bad cough. I’ve seen this a few times recently. I think it’s irresponsible at the moment. I also feel it’s a bit mean to drag a sick child out and about at the best of times. I didn’t say anything as I wouldn’t upset a child, but am I wrong to quietly judge?

OP posts:
DeflatedGinDrinker · 23/06/2021 17:10

I've got a cough at the moment, not covid. I'm still getting wine at the weekend why can't the child get sweets

TheGumption · 23/06/2021 17:11

Have a day off!

Totallyrandomname · 23/06/2021 17:13

How can you tell a child has a bad cough from aeeing them for a few minutes? Presumably it didn’t take longer than that to buy sweets.

I mean I sometimes have a cough with something and then never cough again. Sometimes my kids have a biscuit and then cough a little time after because of crumbs in their throat.

I think you made a bit of a leap.

PattyPan · 23/06/2021 17:14

Yabu because kids cough all the time but I do remember being dragged places when off sick from school when I really needed to be in bed resting and I hated that so yanbu on that point.

mustlovegin · 23/06/2021 17:14

It can be a bit unsettling, yes.

Arrowheart · 23/06/2021 17:14

Stop being so judgemental ffs

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 23/06/2021 17:14

The shopping for sweets is irrelevant.

If the child has Covid, they shouldn't be out shopping for anything. The whole family should be isolating and groceries delivered.

If the child doesn't have Covid, the cough doesn't matter. We can't isolate for every mild childhood illness.

Since a persistent cough is a symptom, the child should have been tested and should have self-isolated until a test was arranged. Assuming the parent had done that and the test was negative, they were doing nothing wrong.

It’s a bit mean to drag a sick child out and about at the best of times.

If only we all had 24/7 live-in nannies, we could avoid doing this. Unfortunately, most of us don't have help and have stuff to do.

Totallyrandomname · 23/06/2021 17:19

Yea my so. Had sickness overnight. Unfortunately it coincided with us being low on foot as we are due a shop. So once his stomach was a bit settled I had to pop him in the car to go get some basics. Luckily he’s old enough and was feeling better enough to stay in the car.

We did need things for dinner though so that’s happens.

LadyOfLittleLeisure · 23/06/2021 17:20

[quote 3cats2kids]@LadyOfLittleLeisure I did refrain from dirty looks or any overt judging. People who do that are just dicks!
I did cover myself in hand gel once I got back in the car. Then had a shower and put my clothes on a hot wash. COVID has probably sent my pre-existing germ phobia a bit silly!
Although another part of me is worried sick about this new variant![/quote]
Yeah I do get why people are nervous around coughing children (particularly when they won't be wearing masks or social distancing effectively) but I'm glad you're not a starer- makes me want to write a sign on his back like 'I promise it's not Covid!' Grin

Unfortunately we're all going to have to learn to hope trust that members of the public wouldn't be out if they had active Covid symptoms (not explained by asthma/tics/other long term issues) and had not been tested.

Laiste · 23/06/2021 17:23

OP if what you say is true then i would say you are suffering from anxiety and need to begin to address it if you haven't already.

In just over 3 weeks there will be no enforced masks or social distancing.

PurpleyBlue · 23/06/2021 17:23

You are allowed to shop for "non-essentials" now by the way

Scottishskifun · 23/06/2021 17:23

You know full well you're being unreasonable!
If you don't feel comfortable then buy stuff online!

My toddler has had a cough for weeks and yes we get looks in cafes but it's not covid!

ChocOrange1 · 23/06/2021 17:24

Plenty of valid reasons for coughs, including just sometimes you cough for no reason. My 4YO coughed violently just once the other day, I asked if she was OK and she rolled her eyes and said "don't worry its not covid!"

feb2022 · 23/06/2021 17:24

Mine has a cough at the moment and it's down to hayfever so not covid related at all
Also not keeping him at home because he has a cough and I shouldn't even have to explain this to people but I do on the daily, in real life!
I think some people need to mind their own business tbh
I might even get him a big tshirt with
IVE GOT HAYFEVER
Printed on the back/front
🙄

Lilibet2022 · 23/06/2021 17:25

It might be hay-fever. I was coughing a bit more than usual last week (asthmatic). Stopped once I started taking my antihistamines.

Soubriquet · 23/06/2021 17:27

[quote 3cats2kids]@LadyOfLittleLeisure I did refrain from dirty looks or any overt judging. People who do that are just dicks!
I did cover myself in hand gel once I got back in the car. Then had a shower and put my clothes on a hot wash. COVID has probably sent my pre-existing germ phobia a bit silly!
Although another part of me is worried sick about this new variant![/quote]
Oh for goodness sake…

An0n0n0n · 23/06/2021 17:27

Hand gel doesnt stop you breathing in airborne germs. And yhe cough may not even be an illness. Kids rarely seem to care if they Have a cough. Less so when sweets are on offer. And yeah, obv not every cough is covid.

Soubriquet · 23/06/2021 17:28

@CharlieChickenson

I'm thinking of designing t-shirts for children to paraphrase Sheldon Cooper

'It's not covid, my mother had me tested'

Might leave the Bazinga! off the back though....

Love this idea GrinGrin
An0n0n0n · 23/06/2021 17:28

By the way its dickish to judge whether you let on that you are ir not.

RoseRedRoseBlue · 23/06/2021 17:29

[quote 3cats2kids]@LadyOfLittleLeisure I did refrain from dirty looks or any overt judging. People who do that are just dicks!
I did cover myself in hand gel once I got back in the car. Then had a shower and put my clothes on a hot wash. COVID has probably sent my pre-existing germ phobia a bit silly!
Although another part of me is worried sick about this new variant![/quote]
Oh stop. Just stop. This was over-zealous behaviour even at the height of the pandemic. How are you going to manage in 3 weeks or so when all the restrictions (allegedly) disappear?

Crappyfridays7 · 23/06/2021 17:30

My son coughs with his asthma and now hayfever on board too. He’s neither ill nor contagious what do people suggest I do with him whilst I shop? I would never take him to the supermarket but I often pop into the coop on our way home from school, he’s mask exempt also my 11 year old wears his though. Son washes hands/sanitises and covers his mouth trying to stop it makes him tight and wheezy.

whatthejiggeries · 23/06/2021 17:31

I would judge

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 23/06/2021 17:31

She bought sweets ?! Don't tell me she was unmarried and had tattoos.

I've got asthma brought on by hayfever so I'm non stop coughing , you'd hate me. I buy sweets too

roarfeckingroarr · 23/06/2021 17:32

You want to lock kids down again? Ffs

Whatabouttery · 23/06/2021 17:33

[quote 3cats2kids]@LadyOfLittleLeisure I did refrain from dirty looks or any overt judging. People who do that are just dicks!
I did cover myself in hand gel once I got back in the car. Then had a shower and put my clothes on a hot wash. COVID has probably sent my pre-existing germ phobia a bit silly!
Although another part of me is worried sick about this new variant![/quote]
You need help with your germ phobia, sounds crippling.