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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:
juliainthedeepwater · 23/06/2021 17:33

Hahaha, my child often has a mild but chronic cough for weeks following a cold.. and don’t think that’s unusual!! Dr certainly doesn’t seem to think so. You’re basically calling for a society where kids aren’t allowed in shops (and let’s face it, there are certainly twats who’d back that) so yes - yabu.

CoffeeWithCheese · 23/06/2021 17:37

One of mine has had a cough recently - knew it wasn't anything sinister, but kept them both off school, got a covid test, negative, sent them back into school with a screenshot of the covid test and yep, got back to living life.

Am I fuck going to keep them locked up when they've tested bloody negative just to keep some neurotics who really need to start considering therapy for their anxiety feeling a bit better?! Am I shite.

blackcat86 · 23/06/2021 17:39

Get over yourself. My child has had a cough for 5 weeks now after a nasty snot bug. Been tested for covid and seen the GP multiple times to check it's not a chest infection and just been told it's a) common this time of year b)she is healthy with no temp or chest infection c)she will get over it in her own time. Should I really keep a toddler locked up for 5 weeks after a negative test just because you might be feeling a bit judgy and Pearl clutchy?

Lilibet2022 · 23/06/2021 17:43

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

OP I'm not going to ridicule you and I'll try not to patronise you too. If you're generally this nervous about everything still this close to restrictions lifting have you considered cbt? DM was very much petrified of doing well anything and anyone coming within six foot of her and the therapy had done her the world of good.

DolphinBlue1 · 23/06/2021 17:43

DS is asthmatic and has a swallowing condition which means he chokes on his own spit on a regular occurrence we would literally never leave the house if we had to stay home while he was coughing!

Topseyt · 23/06/2021 17:46

You need to calm down. Covid isn't the only reason people cough.

Based on your logic huge swathes of the population would never go out.

Godmothered · 23/06/2021 17:47

People are allowed to cough!!! It was around long before covid!

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 23/06/2021 17:55

Oh my yab so u.

Young children can have near constant chesty sounding cough when there's nothing really wrong with them. If can be caused by anything including hayfever, asthma, post nasal drip, post viral wheeze, and sounds worse in kids as their passages are narrower and more easily blocked by mucous. Coughs can linger for weeks or months after a virus or bacterial infection has long gone. The mother will know if her child is really unwell, they usually aren't.

VainAbigail · 23/06/2021 18:05

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

Dude you need to calm the fuck down. Get help with your anxiety. And stop being a judgy fucker.

god forbid that mother for buying non essential sweets

iklboo · 23/06/2021 18:06

They could go out if someone walked in front ringing a bell & shouting 'UNCLEAN' wherever they went.

Skral · 23/06/2021 18:08

I cough a lot at the moment because I get a reaction to pollen/seeds flying around. My son has had a cough for weeks after a chest infection. We don’t have covid. Are you seriously saying we should stay at home so that people like you don’t have to feel uncomfortable? Not go to work, not go to school, not buy food etc. When I did have covid I didn’t actually get a cough at all!

Trying2310 · 23/06/2021 18:26

My asthmatic daughter coughs a lot after exercise, change in weather and after a viral infection. We can't keep her in the house for months on end. We covid test her so if she is negative then she has much right as you to be in the shops.

My one year old has a horrendous cough due to a chest infection and is covid free. This cough could last for weeks. What are we to do?!

Zee23 · 23/06/2021 18:28

@JustLyra

One of my kids has a cough after a chest infection. They’re covid tested multiple times a week and going on least experiences they’ll probably cough for 6/8 weeks, am I just supposed to keep them home the entire time?

If the mother is announcing that she’s not had the kid tested and encouraging them to cough over people then judge. Otherwise don’t.

Could not agree with this more. It makes me so angry now a days that people just stare or talk about you when your child coughs in public, I understand COVID and everything but we have to understand not every single cough is not covid, my son had a chest infection on the last half term ( confirmed it was not covid) he was towards the end of it at this point and had been inside the house for a week with no fresh air and he was looking much better, knowing full well it was not covid I took him to the park and for a walk for some fresh air, he obviously still had a bit of a cough at this point and the looks I was getting from some parents. Kids have coughs for other reasons than covid, chest infections, other illnesses which we may not see, asthma for example. We can’t just keep our kids locked in the house whenever they are ill ( obviously provided it’s confirmed it’s not covid) and I think people should be more understandable that kids get ill a lot and most kids usually have a cough, we shouldn’t just assume and stare and tut at people who take their kids out who are ill and assume it’s covid.
AnxiousWeirdo · 23/06/2021 18:29

Kids cough all the time for many different reasons. My nephew has asthma and hayfever and he coughs likes a heavy smoker at the moment. Not everything is covid.

Zee23 · 23/06/2021 18:29

@Trying2310

My asthmatic daughter coughs a lot after exercise, change in weather and after a viral infection. We can't keep her in the house for months on end. We covid test her so if she is negative then she has much right as you to be in the shops. My one year old has a horrendous cough due to a chest infection and is covid free. This cough could last for weeks. What are we to do?!
Couldn’t agree more, just posted about what about kids who are asthmatic etc who cough. People shouldn’t just automatically assume that every child with a cough has covid and stare at the parents because they could have an underlying condition that is causing them to cough that we are unaware of.
bennyjet · 23/06/2021 18:48

My smallest has asthma and a cough due to that

Have a Biscuit

Sweettea1 · 23/06/2021 18:52

How about you stay home if you don't want to be near anyone that coughs.

Souther · 23/06/2021 18:54

My 3 year old has had a cough for months and now been started on inhalers. But she still coughs.

I'm unable to keep her indoor for months on end.

OneMamaAndHerGirl · 23/06/2021 19:20

Oh please fuck right off! My daughter ALWAYS has a cough what is she meant to do? Be locked away in a tower! Stop being so judgemental ffs

MindyStClaire · 23/06/2021 19:42

OP, going home for a shower and putting your clothes straight in the wash because of a coughing child in a shop really is excessive behaviour, and was even at the scariest points last year. If you're not getting help for your anxiety and this isn't an isolated incident,I really do think you need some help with it.

MargosKaftan · 23/06/2021 19:42

I do wonder is this is an insight into the level of damage that needs to be undone when we try to lift restrictions.

Some people seem to think we will lift restrictions when clovid has gone away. Except its not going away. We are planning to get back to normal when there is still a risk, just a risk we can cope with as a nation.

I'm worried people don't get this. You will be expected to just get on with it and hope your vaccinations stop you catching it badly.

VariantL1130 · 23/06/2021 19:45

Another one with DC with asthma here. He coughs from September to March with cooler weather. Insane that some people believe he should be kept indoors all that time.

VaguelyInteresting · 23/06/2021 19:49

Got an asthmatic child. Coughs for weeks after every cold. I’m a single parent. I’ve isolated and tested him- nose and throat- TEN TIMES in 12 months for asthma exacerbations/coughs/colds. He’s four, and thank god remarkably relaxed about stuff like tests etc. I’m being as responsible as I possibly can be. But I’m curious- what more would YOU like me, or my child, to do?!

Ignoramus.

Wallpapering · 23/06/2021 19:52

Kids get coughs especially if asthmatic.

Wait until you see shopping hayfever sneezes buy.

Twistered · 23/06/2021 19:56

world is gone nuts. absolutely nuts!!
Children get coughs. All the bloody time.
Don't be so judgemental and don't be so precious about a wee child coughing.