To ask if ALL children get constantly ill the first 6 months of nursery?

[Ilovenyfan]

DD (12 months) has just started nursery.

I’m dreading all the illnesses and worried about having to take time off work.

Did anyone’s babies start nursery and not get constantly I’ll or is it just inevitable from now on?

My youngest is 17 months, been going to nursery since he was 10 months and hasn't been sick once. (Hope I haven't jinxed myself 🙈)

DS (5) was constantly poorly, every week was something and he reacted so badly to viruses he was in and out of hospital.
DD (2) despite being a Covid baby is tough as old boots as has an amazing resistance to bugs.

So no, definitely not inevitable.

No, my 2 were very rarely ill. My nephew though, he caught everything. They're all different.

Mine was ill on and off for the first 2 weeks but since then (6 months on) has been fine.

Our two were fine, though they didn’t start ‘til nearly 3.

Based on my personal experience x 2 plus those in my team whose children are/were in nursery - yes they all get constant little illnesses. What makes the difference is how the nursery handles them, if they are sensible about it or likely to send DC home at the first runny nose.

My dd did but my DS wasn't so bad..BUT Ds went in at the height of COVID and he has an older sister who probably drip fed him illnesses from school since he was born.

Mine always had something. Do wonder if they've generally improved since covid.

Both mine were constantly sick for the first year they starter. They both started at 10 months. One had lots of coughs and the other had lots of stomach bugs.

Neither of mine were that ill. They had the occasional cold or tummy bug plus chicken pox of course. Nothing that was too difficult to manage.

DC2 didn't. I think that that was because he went to the same nursery as DC1 and so was exposed to the nursery germs through her & her friends. He had many more bugs in the first 12 months of his life than she had.

both mine did for about a year unfortunately!

DD1 yes, a year of bad health but perfect health before and after- wouldn't have lost a day of school attendance if it wasn't for covid. DD2, sick note from start. 2 years in childcare and still every other month tonsillitis 😭

Name changed as might be outing.
As part of my job I work in and out of different nurseries and early years settings, last year was a particularly bad one for viruses I think I caught 7 colds and not easy ones. Very normal. Get them a multivitamin!

Constant colds yes.
Ds 1 went from cold to cold to cold. Never had a tummy bug or was sick until he was 3.

But our you gest joined nursery and we've had 3 sickness bugs in 6 months.

Yes, I started her on a multivitamin a couple of months ago in prep for her starting nursery. I also ensure she’s outside in the fresh air for an hour or 2 a day. ANYTHING to try and help boost her immune system.

I don’t hold out much hope though tbh, she’s gotten ill a fair bit from baby groups in the last year and she still loves shoving everything in her mouth.

I guess I’ll have to just hope and pray that we don’t get too much of a rough ride!

Not all but most.

And its usually for the first 2 years at least. Slowly decreasing in frequency until they're about 6 years old.

Eurgh, as an emetophobe, this is my worst nightmare. Did you catch them all too? 😭

Mine has been in for a year now and started at age 2.5.
He doesn't seem to have caught anything.

DD started nursery at 10 months. First year and a half was horrendous. Off sick every six weeks for a few days. Mostly colds and stomach bugs. She then spread them to us. Not nice. Ruined our living room carpet (I only trust bleach when it comes to poo stains).

Shes 3 1/2 now and hardly gets sick any more.

No. Both DC went aged 3 and caught the odd cold, and both had one or two days off each for D&V type stuff until they started school. The nursery were also sensible, not calling me and sending them home every time they sneezed.

TBH I do kind of raise an eyebrow when I see posts on here from women who claim they can’t get a job in the expectation their DC will always be off sick before their kid has even started nursery. Children and nurseries are different and experiences will be different. Amongst my friendship group, some had kids who were off a bit more than others but even then it wasn’t a frequent occurrence.

Yup. Mine was off a lot in the first year (started at 6 months) - though it was during covid and there were weird waves of viruses that year with all the start-stop lockdowns. But now after a couple of years he's off pretty infrequently.