To go to baby massage when my baby has a cold?

[alicet]

I know there was a thread a while back about attending nursery when your dc had a cold that I totally disagreed with. But interested to hear what you think about this...

Ds2 has a cold. He's sniffly and not his normal happy self but not ill as such and I would do whatever I normally would with him. So I would be happy to take him out and about, go for coffee etc but would warn parents of other little babies I might be meeting in case they were happier to stay away.

We have baby massage today. Most of the babies are older but there are 2 that although about 10 weeks old were prem so only still about 3-4 weeks in real terms. Part of me says they are obviously taking their los out and about in mid winter so have to expect the odd cold (both my ds's were out and about within a week and I felt this too). However another part of me says taking them out and about is different to taking them to an enclosed environment where another child has a cold - if they saw this in a cafe they could leave.

I really want to take ds2 as he is fine in himself really and really enjoys it. Plus at £7 a pop (paid in advnace) it's not cheap. But is this unreasonable?

Off out now but will be interested in your thoughts on my return....

I would take mine if they had a cold, but I am never worried about all that sort of shit anyway

Besides, if I stayed in everytime mine had a cold, I'd never go anywhere

Well, I'd do it. I'm afraid I take the view that if you don't want your child to pick up bugs, then don't take them out in winter. And some preemie babies can be sturdier than full-termers.

I usually go to toddler groups come rain or shine but today i've got a cold and my head and throat hurt so i'm not going anywhere, if i could go back to bed i would. Is there anyone from the group who can come round and keep you company and you can just have a day off from it? I'm a childminder and luckily not working today and I won't cancel work because of a cold unless the parents choose not to send their child but today I was in a similar predicament - I've got a family with a young baby coming to meet me today and I have emailed and said I've got a cold but they are still welcome to come but in your case you can't really do that....I think colds at toddler groups/ baby groups are par for the course but if your baby iusn't his normal happy self i'd stay in (knowing how i'm feeling at the moment) Sorry for waffling on, head like cotton wool today!

i would take him unless he's really miserable.

if it was me i would take him, i took ds to our baby group when he was sniffly, i'm sure i read they get loads of colds in their first year anyway, can't really just stay in every time he gets one? As you say, ds is not too bad with it, if my ds was ok to go out, just a bit sniffly that would be all i was bothered about

If he is just sniffly I would take him. Take your cue from him. If he seems realy miserable then stay at home.

Can you phone the person that runs the group and ask if you miss one can you carry that money foward to next term.

Ah, i see you went anyway

From the other mother point of view, i am a bit PFB with my lo, so i might be miffed, but i would actually take her along to baby group if she is just having a cold. Temperature and coughing etc i might re think. Also, if there was a significant risk the the little ones, then they would keep them away anyway - winter or not.

The only thing i was going to mention, and i could be mistaken but, i am pretty sure i was told that we shouldnt massage baby if they are poorly. I am sure if it is just sniffles then its OK, but it might be worth checking up on regarding temperatures etc. Has anyone else received that advice?

Baby massage is great. at £7 cost!! Our local health clinic ran a ten week course, including coffee and biscuit for mum - 50p a session!!!

Well I am going to the massage class Alicet mentions and I have a 10 week old DD (lazy little mite was 2 weeks late, so far from a premmie!) but I wouldn't mind another baby there with sniffles.. it's sort of par for the course. Anyway any baby with an older sibling will be exposed to colds nonstop.

I agree that if DS2 is actually ill, as opposed to just sniffly, best not to take him for everyone's sake.

Anyway to be honest the babies dont really come near each other, certainly no more than in a cafe/train/etc, so there's no obviously increased risk.

A vomiting bug/coughing/etc would be quite different IMO.

See you later today unless DS2 gets worse!

I'm with the general consensus; I'd go and warn the other mums and keep out of sneezing range of the preemies....
Personally I always take a pump spray of boiled water with a few drops of teatree oil in which I spray round myself and my lo at baby massage (any public areas actually, especially if they have blown air heating or airconditioner units.)I don't know if it does much good but I feel like I'm doing my best to avoid spreading any bugs we are carrying and stop us from catching anyone elses.

I'd take my ds 2 if he had a sniffle to baby massage. My friend also goes and her lo was in hospital before christmas with high temperature so I would ring her to see what she thought. She would probably say that she wouldn't go but I should. (Our is free as the nice lady is trainning atm)I do know all the other baby's (6 altogether) aren't prem or ill.

Well thanks ladies for your help!

For what its worth I am not bothered about forfeiting the £7 cost if it's because my ds2 is too poorly to go. I would be a bit miffed however if I didn't go out of consideration for the others only to turn up next week and one of the other mums to gaily announce their lo had a cold!

He seems pretty happy in himself and we have been out to the post office this am and he was perfectly happy so I think I will go as then consensus seems to think this is OK! Like someone pointed out if we never went out when they had a bit of a cold we would never leave the house - esp as he has a big bro who brings all sorts of treasures home from nursery