3year old Ds not been the same seen tonsillitis back in October

[didsnbump]

Ds started nursery in the September at his older brothers school which he was thrilled about. Before nursery he went to two different preschools, and before that a crèche. He loved all of them and even wanted to go when really poorly as wanted to play and have fun. My mother in law helps out a lot taking him and picking him up, which he also loved. Since returning after half term, as the weeks have gone on he has changed in himself. Not wanted to go to nursery and hiding his face while he goes in. He doesn't get upset but isn't happy. He no longer wants his nanna to pick him up or take him and has had some big crying fits to be with me when with her.
He is quieter than normal with everyone, and is spending alot of time clinging to me or dh when he is home.
He is pale and tired quiet a lot, and has developed a cough in the last week, without any other cold symptons.
I will be getting a doctors appointment tomorrow but haven't done so far as I just know it will blamed on a viral something. I know he isn't the same little guy he was 2 months ago.
Any advise on what might be going on. He is 4 in feb with a brother who is 6 in jan x

The way you describe it, it sounds as if the issue is with him going to nursery. Why the hiding of his face (does he think if he can't see, he can't be seen? If so, from whom is he hiding and why?). He doesn't sound happy. The virus could stem from his being unhappy at school -being emotional is tiring, and leads to being rundown and suppressed immunity. OR it could be that he has had a virus building up which has made him feel awful, so he doesn't want to go to nursery and wants his mum to comfort him. Because he cries for you when he is not in nursery, so it may not be the nursery per se, he might just want to be at home. His paleness and lethargy could be physical, or they might be psychosomatic.

You are going to have to do a bit of detective work with him and the nursery.

Could you talk to him about his day at nursery, his friends, teachers and activities? Find out what happens there, but ask indirect questions, so he doesn't know what you are getting at. Can you ask the nursery people how he's getting on?

But you are right to take him to GP too. Don't assume they will say 'it's just a virus'. (I too have been there.) Make it clear that you are really concerned.

Good luck.