When does it end!?

talkytalktalk · 2022-10-25T23:49:23+00:00

Okay so I was expecting some illness with DD starting nursery a month ago but my god, so far out of 12 sessions she's been in for 5. She's had 1 bad cold, 2 viral infections, 2 sickness bugs and has just been sick everywhere again. Is this average for starting nursery? Feel like we can't catch a break atm!

Wednesdaywobbles · 26/10/2022 00:53

I have 3.5 year old twins. DT1 is exactly the same as your little one, catches everything and is always off. DT2 much more robust and barely has any time off. So I think it depends entirely on each child

it’s very annoying & part of me dreads them going back next week after having 2 weeks off 😞

Marmee53 · 26/10/2022 00:57

It's honestly crap.

I'm not sure how old your DD is but I wanna say they get more immune as they get older so less likely to fall ill.

My 19 month old started nursery when she was 10 months and I swear she caught everything. She's started again this academic year and hasn't caught anything so far and hopefully it stays that way!

Maybe they just get used to the nursery germs??

Original poster

talkytalktalk · 26/10/2022 09:31

Thanks for the replies @Wednesdaywobbles & @Marmee53 yes it just feels like one thing after the other! She's just turned three so had just started in local authority but was at playgroup last year and was nothing like this, I'm not sure if it's just the time of year for it also. It's just such a shame as she was settling so well to begin with but all the illness had totally thrown her off. Hopefully her immunity doesn't take too long to build.

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ellieboolou · 26/10/2022 10:06

Remember feeling exactly like this with my first child, never ending doctor appointments, I felt like a neurotic mother. The doctor at the time said to me the first 5 years of a child's life is the most time you'll ever spend at the GP's! He was right!

My second child has been unwell with cough / cold / virus's for months 😖

Original poster

talkytalktalk · 26/10/2022 11:39

@ellieboolou I know the feeling, its relentless isn't it!

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Perfect28 · 26/10/2022 11:42

It gets better! Last academic year, my first teaching year, my son 6-17 months had 31 days off. In a 39 week term you can do the maths. This year he's been sent home early once so seems we are over the worst! What helped me was realising nearly every other working parent experienced the same.

RedWingBoots · 26/10/2022 11:42

3 months to a year.

Depends on the child.

Oh and that's not including them catching chicken pox.

Original poster

talkytalktalk · 26/10/2022 11:53

Yes @Perfect28 thankfully work have been very understanding this far but we're only about 6 weeks in! It's a wonder how some working parents actually cope. I'm just hoping that getting it all over with now should mean that she shouldn't be as bad when she starts school (fingers crossed)

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Marmee53 · 26/10/2022 11:56

talkytalktalk · 26/10/2022 11:53

Yes @Perfect28 thankfully work have been very understanding this far but we're only about 6 weeks in! It's a wonder how some working parents actually cope. I'm just hoping that getting it all over with now should mean that she shouldn't be as bad when she starts school (fingers crossed)

It's so hard when you're working and they typically only want mum.

I eventually learned that work is work and they'll find a way to cope without me, but ultimately my daughter comes first.

There were times I had to leave work to go pick her up, because she was so poorly.

I used to alternate staying home with hubby so at least I wasn't off work every time she was ill.

Original poster

talkytalktalk · 26/10/2022 12:22

@Marmee53 yes I definitely agree she comes first, DH is the higher earner between us so it doesn't make sense for him to stay home with her when he wouldn't get paid so it usually falls to me anyway. We're currently expecting our second so I've just accepted that this will be us for the next couple of years!

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Marmee53 · 26/10/2022 12:23

talkytalktalk · 26/10/2022 12:22

@Marmee53 yes I definitely agree she comes first, DH is the higher earner between us so it doesn't make sense for him to stay home with her when he wouldn't get paid so it usually falls to me anyway. We're currently expecting our second so I've just accepted that this will be us for the next couple of years!

Whaaaat he doesn't get paid for sick child?

Is this normal for most professions?

Hubby works in the NHS and I'm a teacher and it's the first time I've heard of unpaid leave for sick child.

Original poster

talkytalktalk · 26/10/2022 12:30

@Marmee53 yes as far as I know your employer doesn't have to pay you but can if they want, it's normal in his industry so he has to take it as unpaid leave.
I don't get paid either but am able to make up my hours as and when I can from home so don't lose out thankfully.

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mummatoI · 26/10/2022 12:44

I don't know how true this is, but when my DD started nursery she was off constantly with sickness and I was at my wits end. I ended up crying in the drs surgery that something must be wrong. The dr told me they normally say 6-9months for a child immune system to settle after starting nursery but because of covid and everyone covering everything in antibac they are saying it's about double the time now. Like I said, I don't know how true that is! My DD has now been in nursery 2 years (started at 9m) and the last 4-6months she's settled down with illness although I do just feel like I jinxed myself!

Original poster

talkytalktalk · 26/10/2022 13:05

@mummatoI that makes a lot of sense actually, the world has gone a bit max with cleanliness it was nothing like this when we were growing up! Having barely any contact with other children for the first two years of her life has definitely not helped. That's good news though, I hope the worst of it is behind you!

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