Bug after bug since October! Should I look at other childcare options?

[Highlandmama]

My LO I s 14m old and started nursery in September and has been ill more or less continuously since. Two bouts of HFM one of which was really bad, slap cheek, numerous chesty colds and has ended up with an inhaler. We have missed every swimming lesson this term and have made mother and toddler once. I have been off work lots, especially in the last 6 weeks to care for him. IS THIS NORMAL for starting nursery or should I look into other childcare options? I’m at my wits end. I’m catching lots of these bugs too including HFM and a vomiting bug at the moment. Know it’s lots of little illnesses and nothing serious but it’s really adding up :( maybe this is normal and we just need to weather it?? thanks

I think it's quite normal for this time of year in nurserys. I think the other option where it might be better would be childminder.

when my DS started nursery he was a similar age, hadn't really mixed much with other filthy little beasts, he was ill for practically the entire summer it was awful. but now he's as strong as an ox and moved to a new nursery.. fully expecting the same thing... not even a sniffle.

Completely normal for starting nursery. The first year of my little one at nursery was like this. Loads of time off work. Had mum guilt and work guilt. It passes though. He is 7 and strong as an ox as a pp said x

It's normal. I went through it last year. Daughter had 17 illnesses (yes I started counting) son ended up in hospital at 14 months old. Absolutely horrible. Stressful. Night mare. I didn't work so in my case we had a holiday by the coast for two weeks (had it booked anyway) I made the decision to cut her hours back. From April this year until now we've had just two or three mild colds. Although my son's ill with a virus this week and he's properly rough with it.

I would look into other options if you can. Yes they need to catch stuff to build up their immune system. But personally no I don't think being exposed to virus on top of a virus so young is good. Their little bodies are taking a huge battering which is why my son ended up in hospital. It's better to build it up by playing outside and yes mixing. I never attended nursery and sickness isn't really something I've ever suffered from. Usually healthy and strong. When my child started nursery it was like we were getting a battering too. It's miserable. Nurseries are disgusting breeding grounds for germs. Nobody of my age has ever had HFM. Yet most kids have these things now. Yuck!

Sadly it is fairly normal & unfortunately your son has started right at the start of the dreaded winter period! My daughter started at 12 months in May 2018 & didn’t get ill at all until the October. Then it hit us like a train. She was ill all winter, mostly colds & chest infections. It was exhausting & frustrating but we have no option but to send her to nursery as we both need to work & my parents have a few health issues so only manage once a week.

Come April this year, we had no illnesses until October again! But so far this winter has been SO much better. She’s had a couple bad colds, a couple associated coughs ‘ chicken pox. Her immune system is seemingly much improved!

Our nursery are meticulous cleaners. On the occasions I’ve dropped my daughter off late, the kids have all been playing outside & some staff are in scrubbing the toys, hoovering, mopping! Similarity, when I’ve picked her up after 5pm, they’ll be washing all the dolls and anti-baccing shelves & surfaces! Which is good to see!

Hope you have a kinder run soon! It’s no fun for anyone with poorly children

Definitely normal when starting at nursery - particularly if it coincides with a new school year when germs/bugs are rife. However, before long your child will have a super strong immune system and be able to fight off nearly anything. We had a few months of misery in terms of constant illness, but now DS is as fit as a fiddle!