AIBU to refuse to do a PCR test on 3 year old with no symptoms for nursery

[Annoyedandirritated]

Nursery keep having to close due to Covid, it’s a small nursery so staff are generally in contact with all the separate rooms.

They have emailed saying all kids/babies need PCR tests before returning and we need to email the results to the nursery manager.

My little one has now been off nursery for 2 weeks and is due to return on Monday.

I’m happy to do lateral flow tests as I can do them
When she’s sleeping, but aibu to refuse to do a PCR on an asymptomatic baby which will be traumatic for her? Can they legally enforce this?

@Annoyedandirritated

The reason I don’t want to do it is she’s had to have one before and we had to pin her down and physically restrain her to do it. She found it tray upsetting, and it seems a bit barbaric to do it for no reason when I can do the LF test WHEN SHES SLEEPING, so it’s less upsetting for all involved

Get a postal PCR. Do the test in the morning before she gets up in the same way you do the LFT swab. up both nostrils. You can do the PCR test WHEN SHES SLEEPING.

I think nursery are completely unreasonable to request this. However if you're willing to do the lateral flow test you can do a PCR test in exactly the same way (nasal swab)

We had to pin the 5 year old down, it was horrible, some people just don’t like so I won’t be doing it again needlessly.

My three year old has done 4 PCR tests and he's always been fine. It's not a big deal just a little swab in the nose and I would absolutely do it to get him back into nursery no problem.

@Annoyedandirritated

Didn’t know I could get a postal PCR, I will order one now

Ah I seeeee.... sorry! Yes if you don't know you can get a postal one I see why it seemed impossible. Sorry!

Just make sure you check the time of the collection from your priority postbox before you start. Good luck.

I didn’t know we could get a postal one, I thought we had to do it In the car at a test centre. I’m going online now to order one!

We don't have lfts where I live but I have had zillions of PCR which always go into the sinus, there's no way I would be able to do it to myself. Are the UK ones different I wonder?

But as people have said, you can do the PCR test whilst she’s sleeping as it’s done exactly the same way. Just order a home test kit. You don’t need to go to a test centre to do it.

Get a postal PCR. It's exactly the same test as a lateral flow but with more accurate results.

If you get a positive on a lateral flow you will then need to do a PCR. It makes a lot more sense to go straight to the PCR at home test.

Are you thinking the tests involve a different process to get the swab done? They don't so your answers don't make sense.

What's all this - she's 3. She's not a baby?
She's 3. She is a baby.
I wouldn't test her. She doesn't have any symptoms. There is no reason to. Where are you going to get a test from when she has no symptoms?

I understand the lfd vs pcr thing. My 4yo will fairly calmly let me do a lfd test on her at home. But she'll scream blue murder if I try to test her in the car at a test centre- I think it's just sensory overload, lots of strangers peering into the car, just sends her into fight or flight mode.

Order a postal test?

@Nengineer - yes they are the same. You get used to doing it. Easier on yourself as you’ve got control of it

@Nengineer

We don't have lfts where I live but I have had zillions of PCR which always go into the sinus, there's no way I would be able to do it to myself. Are the UK ones different I wonder?

Yes, ours are also meant to go right up into your brain, but we mostly do them on ourselves, so I think most people probably do more of a quicker swab round the inside of the nostrils 🤣 Still, it must still work, considering the number of positive results this week.

@Nengineer

We don't have lfts where I live but I have had zillions of PCR which always go into the sinus, there's no way I would be able to do it to myself. Are the UK ones different I wonder?

Yes, the same. PCR on adult is meant to go in the throat too. That's the bit I find hardest.

@Noterook

I understand the lfd vs pcr thing. My 4yo will fairly calmly let me do a lfd test on her at home. But she'll scream blue murder if I try to test her in the car at a test centre- I think it's just sensory overload, lots of strangers peering into the car, just sends her into fight or flight mode.

Order a postal test?

If she needs another pcr then I will have to order a postal one. Not ideal obvs, because it takes days longer, but then again, I think we've all lost sight of what "ideal" actually means (ie not living through this global shit show and having to figure out the least traumatic method of shoving things up children's noses 🤣🤣)

I have ordered one. I had to fudge the Info though due to her having no symptoms and us not living in a research area and being entitled to one 🤷‍♀️

@TheGumption

But they're the same?! Just get a postal PCR and do it WHEN SHE'S SLEEPING

Came to say this! Just get one posted to you and wait for her to sleep likes you'd planned to do with the LFT

It’s the same test? I mean it’s not the same but what you have to do is exactly the same.

@TheGumption

But they're the same?! Just get a postal PCR and do it WHEN SHE'S SLEEPING

😂

Do t you just have to say you have been asked by an authority/organisation to do one?

Isn’t this going to be the system from 16th August, where contacts do PCR rather than isolating?

We have refused for our 3 year old as he can’t tolerate them due to asd. They don’t like it but they can’t do much about it, we don’t do either though as it’s the same type of swab?

We just isolate rather than test

Can't you do it when he's asleep ?

Hey OP, don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but you can order a postal PCR.

Oh, and some pp might want to cancel the cheque RTFT.

@Nengineer - I agree. The UK ones sound like a breeze in comparison. I’ve had about thirty PCR tests and I’ve hated every one. I will not subject my 4yo to one, and thankfully schools etc. here don’t expect them to be done on young children. They’re traumatic.

But I suppose if you’re doing them on yourself they’re just a quick swipe. Some of my friends who have visited the UK this summer have done the self-test ones and commented on how easy they were. Doubt they’re accurate - seems like a waste of effort

I'm glad you got the answer op. To all the pp saying a 3yo isn't a baby with various eye rolls/get a grip comments.... how unhelpful and unkind! Obviously a 3yo is not a baby but they're not old enough to deal with having a test if they don't want it done.