Reception child - ill more than average?

[Katemmeli]

Hi. I'm wondering if any other mums of reception aged children are finding they are ill a lot. My little boy has already had 11 days off school since Sept and has now got chicken pox just in time for the new term starting so will be having more days off if it hasn't cleared up.

Since Sept he has had hfm (1 day off), the blisters became infected with impetigo on his face (4 days off till it cleared up), d&v (2 days ill then futher 48 hours off due to school policy), viral infection (2 days off) and now chicken pox.

Does this seem normal for a child just starting school? Worried he may be getting more ill than normal and also worried school are going to be on my back about all the time off. Thanks

Poor boy. Did he go to nursery?
If he's ill he can't go to school. Just keep a record of why he's off. And if they write to you don't panic. It'll be computer generated.

This is the same thing when they start nursery they catch absolutely everything!
I'm assuming he didn't go nursery? Or maybe he was extremely lucky not to catch anything until he started school. It won't last forever, his body will build up an immune system from all the viruses.

We have had a standard letter as her attendance is below 90% had about 2 and a half weeks off, she has broken her leg, had 2 sickness bugs and virus.
It is what it is. Far better they are home getting better than spreading things round.
He is exposed to all the new germs going round at school so it will take a while for his immune system to catch up.
The school may send you a standard letter, but they certainly don't want you to send a poorly child to school.

Thank you for the quick replies, they've made me feel a bit better. He went to preschool 2 days a week and only caught coughs and colds from there, he missed the chicken pox going around then. Hopefully his immune system will catch up soon. I think I'll have a word with his teacher when school starts. Thanks again.

I am sure it will. They can get very tired and susceptible to bugs in the early weeks at school. Hope he's better soon.

They are still only little- although difficult please try not to stress over the attendance letters. They’re only number crunching and it’s for ofsted/ stats etc. It’s a load of bollocks as twatish parents send their kids in unwell hence why it spreads. Then they’re the ones who get the good health certificate for 100 percent attendance at the end of term. Utterly bonkers and so infuriating.

If your child is unwell, then they are unwell. It sounds pretty normal to me for reception age. Other measures I would maybe take are that you are fastidious with DS
( especially after School and when getting in from School) and maybe try a daily probiotic and an immune booster.

Hope DS feels better.

sorry, left out fastidious with handwashing

We have the same issue. I think my little boy has had about 15 days off, which is a lot! I think he had 1 day off at preschool, but he was only there for a few months.
He gets bad colds and they always go to his chest. He was hospitalised many times between the ages of 2 and 3 1/2 so we have to keep an eye on him.
His school goes back tomorrow but he currently has an ear and throat infection and his cough is horrendous. I doubt he will be in school tomorrow.
We had a letter and it makes me feel so bad that he is off so much, and also I have had people say to me that they have never known a child that gets ill so often! What do you say to that??! Do they think I am making it up?!
My DH says just ignore it, if he's ill he's ill, and stays off school until he's better.

It is significantly more than average, however if he is ill there is nothing we can do. Statistically based on my own interpretation (so not scientific). Those with working parents have less time off.