Does anyone else just pretty much end up being stuck at home all winter because if sick kids ?

[vegetablesoups]

My kids are 3 and a half and 1 and a half and it started about a month ago with a normal cold.

They both got on ok and got over it. Then came a tummy bug- of course they couldn't go to nursery and preschool with that.

Then my youngest immediately got another cold and cough after the tummy bug. But just a cold and cough and no fevers. Just as he was getting better, he caught something else from nursery I suspect and has had a fever and horrendous cough since Thursday now and I still don't feel like he's ready to go back to nursery.

My older DD woke with a fever today too. So she's off preschool.

They both go 3 days a week and the other 2 days have a sitter who comes to our house.

I thought maybe it would be a bit better this winter as they caught so much last year, but it seems the same.

I nearly had a mental breakdown last year looking after them for weeks and weeks and weeks. I got so depressed. Everything stops and I can't go anywhere ( like gym etc ). I gained a lot of weight last year for that reason.

I've been up since 2 am and can't remember the last time I got decent sleep as my little one doesn't sleep well anyway but has literally just clung to me crying the last few nights.

No DH and no help nearby. What can I do to stay sane ?

I work full time from home.

Bless you. It sounds so hard. I think it’s just a case of waiting for little ones’ immune systems to develop. Until then maybe a vitamin a day and air the house as much as possible. If time and inclination maybe grab an anti bac wipe and go over light switches, toilet flushes etc. outside as much as possible too.

no advice for staying sane as I’m not sure I could either, especially with no help.

Yeah I suppose I'm posting to feel less alone / get any tips from other mothers who've been there !

I don't think you should stay in for a cold? Everything's better for being outside..

Been in same boat. Does feels like a slog. Be strong OP, it will get better 💪

The first year my now 8 year old started nursery at 3 she spent more time at home than at nursery. Since then she seems to catch less and less and last hardly any time at all.

Yes.

Mine are a bit older. Hope this year is better.

It is brutal, sending lots of empathy! If it's a cold but they're well in themselves I'd go out still and as long as within policy would send them to nursery. I know that it feels a bit sly as they'll pass it on but they'll be off all winter otherwise. Obviously if they have a temp, are not themselves etc then no but for a cough and sniffles power through a bit I would. As for you, find something you enjoy doing that can be done when they're asleep etc. A switch games console saved my sanity as sad as it sounds, but make time for you to recharge whatever that involves.

Oh I understand OP, it's very tough. I had three under four and every winter they would be so sick. One would only get better and then it would strike the next one and myself and DH. We constantly seemed to be buying nurofen, antibiotics etc. Spent many a night in A&E for temperatures and asthma .

The only thing I can suggest is to try and take care of yourself, vitamins, healthy eating etc as it helps. It's easy to rely on sugar, coffee and takeaways but you just feel worse.

If you can reframe the situation in your head it might help. This is just something that happens to all families with young children, you are not alone and once they start school the sick days become less.

I almost cried at A&E OP with how overwhelmed I felt with my DC's recurring sickness. So, I can sympathize with you. It's so tough.

Yeah at the moment they've had high fevers and coughs.

I always like to wait a day after a fever to then send them in. Is that OTT ? I let them play outside if they can, but I don't like them to mix with other children until they've recovered ( unless it's just a cold ).

But what they have now is pretty bad with fever. They're literally knocked out, as soon as calpol wears off.

I only keep mine off with D&V and fever, in line with nursery/school guidance. Coughs and colds and other illnesses they still go in, if NHS guidance says that. D&V and fever are v rare for my dc. At nursery age DC1 missed a total of 5 days out of 2 years of attendance, and didn't miss any days off reception last year. DC2 just goes to preschool and some toddler classes and has never missed any. Think we're just lucky but I breastfed both for years, they have a good varied diet and were vaccinated against chickenpox as well as the standard illnesses.

Well, that's helpful. Mine get fevers quite often and occasionally dv.

Urgh, I hear you. Last winter my 3 year old had everything under the sun, fevers, vomiting, diarrhoea, scarlet fever (twice), slapped cheek you name it, plus constant coughs and colds. We are now three weeks into Reception and she has already had two vomiting bugs! I also work full time and it feels like it will never end.

I know it will though, just a case of hanging in there. I tell myself that this is just a phase and it will pass.

No I don't have a low immune system

Dd is unwell from October - March each and every year. She's 4.5

Last winter was brutal - so many bugs. I had lots of fun winter plans for my day off with them and lots of work I needed to get on with and I mostly remember being covered with snot or sick for about three months. Mix of keeping them off if they were unwell/contagious and sending them in with a sniffly nose

We're on multivitamins now which seems to be helping a bit. Also doing some COVID style outside meet ups with friends if the kids are a bit germy - that's easier while the weather is nice. Also some really random outings for when they/you need to get out of the house but they're still a bit sick and you don't want to go to somewhere busy with lots of kids like soft play and hose people down with the plague. Wickes/b&q were really popular, for some bizarre reason! I let them choose a new flannel in Dunelm and we had a bun in the cafe.

This made me laugh. My child is 7 and in my experience autumn term at school/nursery we usually get a few illnesses in short succession and the rest of the school year is a bit better. Both this year and last year we got covid at the beginning of September.

*edit. I said 'this made me laugh' when I had just read the title of the thread, not your whole post. Sorry!

I have kids the same age. I don’t do the extra day off, as soon as they’re able to I send them back in. I don’t have the leave for that!

Re: staying in, we just don’t. My two hate being indoors, we layer up, I get my travel mug and we go off to the woods where we won’t infect other kids (unless they’re actively vomiting). If they’re under the weather I pop them in a pram and get them out for my own sanity.

It's awful, you have my sympathies. We are the same except recently had scarlet fever in the mix. All of the same normal bugs except with a real horror mixed in has hit us hard. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed even at the thought of a winter with the impact on immune systems ratcheting up and up.

I have a friend who swears by prebiotics. Desperate enough to try anything tbh.