Children are a disgusting germy hellscape

[tallyoh]

So, full disclosure, I suffer from health anxiety that is quite specifically focussed on a fear of catching sickness bugs. I’ve been seeing a therapist and after 8 sessions have now been signed off. So I figured I’d come and have a rant on here instead.

I’m supposed to be going back to work after maternity leave tomorrow but my 10 month old DD had two settle sessions at nursery last week and has picked up some horrible sickness bug so can’t go back in. I’m on my 4th pair of jeans in 2 days and I’m changing her outfits roughly every 2 hours. Meanwhile she continues to roam around the house touching dribbling on everything in sight. I have a 4 year old DS who is at school and seems fine so far, but keeping them apart before and after school is basically impossible.

I love my kids so much, but sometimes I’m just repulsed by them!

Oh, and to add to the chaos, we’ve got repair work going on in our kitchen and they’re about to disconnect the washing machine for 2 days!!

AIBU to think young children are just horrible germy nightmares?! Is the whole family destined to come down with this thing?

Not seriously look for an answer. Just a rant and some solidarity.

just keep washing hands, windows open, dettol is your friend. Yanbu, and its always worse when you catch a bug off a kid it always feels 100x worse than if you caught it off an adult.

Yanbu kids are definitely gross 😄

That's why theyre so cute and small, so we arent repulsed by their gross habits 😄

Yes they are horrible germy nightmares. I’ve never caught anything from them though. And 50:50 whether it spreads to the eldest.

Yes, yes they are! Pre kids I had a sickness bug maybe every 5 years, now with 2 under 4's at nursery it is 2-3 times a year.

Dettol doesn't kill sickness bugs only bleach I know this as I suffer from this phobia too.

Have you got any suggestions on the best bleach products? I’ve just been staring at the cleaning stuff on Sainsbury’s online feeling very confused!

Before I had kids I don’t think I’d had a sickness bug since I was a child myself and I only got a cold about once a year. Then when DS started nursery I caught 4 bugs in 6 months and then at least once a year since. And I’ve forgotten what it feels like NOT to have a cold!

I think that 6 month period traumatised me a bit and this seems to be playing out in exactly the same way so far with DC number 2

So are adults. Just bigger, and better able to disguise it.

https://www.sja.org.uk/first-aid-supplies/health-and-safety-equipment/cleaning-equipment-and-biohazard-kits/disinfectant-spray-and-surface-wipes/pack-of-40-clinell-universal-sanitising-wipes/

These kill norovirus & you can get a pack of 200 from Amazon.

In between sickness bugs keep the packet closed & upside down so that the top wipes have plenty of liquid on when you next use them.

PS It's important to put them away between sickness bugs if you're prone to health anxiety, as you don't need them if no one in the house is actually ill (same as you don't need to be bleaching lots of surfaces if no one is ill).

Small children are prolific little bug and virus spreaders.

Yep, I work with children and teenagers, they are walking germ factories. My DS had more than his fair share of bugs growing up.

That said, I have a serious immune system issue but rarely get ill. My consultant tells me mixing with germy children is the best thing to boost an immune system.

I hope you can get more treatment for your anxieties.

We never get through a winter without a sickness bug. Last year we only had one which I would call a win compared to previous years.

Thank you!! Ordered some of these. I fear it’s too late for me this time as I’m already definitely feeling off (although I rarely trust my own signals anymore because of the anxiety), but will be super helpful for next time. I’ve not found anything else that claims to killing Noro.

We also swear by clinell wipes. They're so good! Keep several packets stashed around the house.

Tell me about it. I'm in hospital with pneumonia and have also tested positive for flu, COVID and the common cold. Our twins started reception three weeks ago.

Apparently viruses ordinarily cancel each other out - but not if the little horrors attack your immune system with enough at once.

What an onslaught! Get well soon!

You’re not wrong, although alot of it is the environment they’re in - nurseries and schools are often poorly ventilated, crowded, with multiple viruses kicking around.

You sparked memory of my mum with one of mine at the same age. He basically took a bottle then threw it up for about 4 days. Poor mum sat with a giant towel and him on her knee ready to catch the projectile. While dealt with older siblings
Fun times

I’m so sorry, that’s horrendous! Wishing you a speedy recovery.

What a kind mum you have! I never feel I can ask my MIL to help when the kids have sickness bugs, even though she offers, because the bugs are so catching sand so unpleasant. I wouldn’t enter a plague house that wasn’t my own if you paid me. Maybe I’ll feel differently for grandchildren, or maybe I’m just a worse person!

It's not kids fault, they're stuffed in unventilated nurseries and schools all day with tons of other children so what do you expect. I saw a thread the other day full of posters clutching their pearls in horror at someone suggesting that air filters be put in schools to reduce infections so I suppose most people would rather have constantly sick children.

Yep, they’re grim. I have emetophobia (sounds like you maybe do too?).
I get the cleaning thing, and the wipes sound like a good idea, but try not to get obsessed with cleaning. I’ve found it best to rationalise it. Ultimately you can’t control whether you will also catch it or not, beyond practicing good hygiene. I find it helps to think of the worst case scenario (which sounds odd I know!) but it helps me rationalise that whilst not pleasant, even if that happens, I will be ok.
For example, yes I might feel rotten, but it will likely pass in 24 hours as it’s a short term bug. I can get through a few hours knowing I’ll feel ok in a day or two. Yes, I might vomit, but that’s just my body getting rid of the bug (it’s actually the bugs way of making sure it multiplys with as many people as it can, but we’ll go with the former!!). You get the gist!

I am still emetophobic (my fear is more around others being sick on me / near me) but I mostly have it under control now. When I’m in those situations I can rationalise it with the worst case scenario being if someone literally threw up right in my lap then I’d still (ultimately) be ok.
Obviously it’s massively unpleasant, but if someone accidentally spilt their drink over me I’d be ok. If someone dropped their plate and spilt their dinner in my lap I’d be ok. So I’ll be ok with this too. It’s just liquid that smells gross. I can remove the clothes, I can take a shower etc - I will be ok.

Not sure if that approach helps you at all, but sending positive thoughts your way & just wanted to let you know that I get how debilitating it can be to have these kind of anxieties. Hope your DC is better soon and you all stay well too.

I’ve worked in Paediatrics for a long time and i agree. I rarely get ill although when i do even ‘just a cold’ hits me like a ton of bricks 😂

I agree, I work with kids. It doesn't bother me though. Children spread germs like crazy but that's how they build a strong immune system. Their germy little hands are doing good! Think of it that way.

That's not really true though. It's the good bacteria and the whole mix of microbes in a healthy gut that helps to train and manage the immune system, not viruses. Many viruses actually suppress the immune system for a good while afterwards, which is why people often get a secondary bacterial infection after they've had a virus.
A healthy balanced diet and vaccinations are the way to actually boost immune systems, not catching viruses.