Kids constantly coming down with sick bugs

[Nightsatthelitten]

How often are your children sick? Mine are both primary school age and genuinely barely a month passes where one or both of them haven’t either been sick or got a cold, it is starting to drive me a bit nuts. Is this normal for primary school age children? Thanks x

When my son started nursery he was fine but I went down with absolutely everything 🤷

I agree to an extent but all the hand hygiene in the world isn’t going to help you if another child vomits on your child in class (bad day!). I also suspect with school budgets being cut cleaning isn’t always what it should be.

Poor things, that must be miserable for you all!
What do they eat at school?
This maybe a long shot, but when I was eating school dinners I got tummy bugs regularly. My doctor suggested the school canteen hygiene wasn't too good and that I should take my own sandwiches instead. It fixed the problem!

Oldest (year 5) has consistent 100% attendance since start of year 2.

Youngest (now year 2) used to get sick a lot until she was diagnosed as coeliac and we took her off gluten a year ago. Now she also doesn't get sick beyond a mild runny nose, I think coeliac disease stopped her absorbing nutrients.

They both have a daily multivitamin and eat quite healthily with lots of fruit and veg, but otherwise I think we are just lucky

The year my youngest started (last year) was pretty relentless, but this year has been better (touch wood). I think once they get sick it's easy for them to get run down and to catch absolutely everything because their immune system keeps taking a hammering.

The better weather will help. I hope you come out of it soon, OP.

Hand sanitizer doesn’t kill norovirus, so if your DD is relying on that rather than washing hands with soap and water, it won’t help.

@DontTellMama I know it doesn’t kill norovirus but I was hoping it would keep some of the other viruses at bay 😂🫣

I’ve started adding Dettol Laundry sanitiser to our washing, does anyone else use this and rate it? Literally trying everything here 😂

Everyone is different and yes, children do pick things up off each other. I would have expected your older child to be more resilient as he/she progresses through school. If they are regularly getting vomiting illnesses it may be a good idea to get stool samples checked by your GP.

Do they get enough outside play and fresh air? That can help with immunity.

I do think some kids are more prone to them for whatever reason.

Touch wood they haven’t been something we’ve had loads of, although DS had a phase of getting various things in around yr5.

Its more colds than sick bugs that my two got in primary and still get in secondary.

We are quite good at not spreading things round the house when someone does get a bug but some just so pass however you try to be very hygienic!

It does sound a lot. We seem to get sick bugs every 3 or 4 years only. DD4 has only had one, DS8 has had two.

Dd still has regular sniffles but they don't bother her and we don't seem to get them.

We did have a horrible flu this year and they were both off for 3 days. First time DS had missed school and he is in Year 3. It seems we have been lucky.

I wouldn't say it is hygiene as mine can be as grubby as any other kid! They do have a varied and healthy diet though, maybe it helps somewhat.

I think it's also genetics, DH and I don't really get ill and DH has never vomited from a bug in his life! As an emetophobe I am very jealous but grateful for passing on his iron stomach to our kids!!

You don't need laundry sanitiser. Towels, bedding, flannels, pants (daily), tea towels, oven gloves, dishcloths, all need to be washed at 60 or over with an appropriate detergent regularly, at least weekly. Use disinfectant (not anti-bac) on surfaces, wash and dry hands after toilet. Paper tissues for noses, not toilet paper.