How frequently do toddlers get stomach bugs?

[lolly792]

Dd (21 months) is on her 4th tummy bug since starting nursery at am11 months old. No temperature and seems bright enough between vomiting. Each bug has lasted about 24-36 hours.

I'm worried this is more than average? Or is this normal? I'm following the standard advice about keeping her hydrated

TIA

Oh gosh yes all the time. When my DC started nursery one of them was poorly with something or another nearly every week - it's horrible isn't it. Hope your child is ok

U have immersed yr child into a germ central, they all put everything in their mouths so once one gets it they all will.

Mayb a childminder would be a better option, less children so less germs.

Yes, there is just a time like that. Usually when they go to nursery or toddler groups for the first time. It's absolutely bloody awful. I take it you mean 4 bugs in ten months - that's not excessive, unfortunately! As long as she is bouncing back in between. I was told to keep a supply of electrolyte drinks in the house and give these as well as water. The first sign of dehydration is that they become a bit distant and vague and listless.

So 4 in 10 months? I think that’s quite a lot, I wonder if other parents at nursery are not keeping their children off when they should or it could just be bad luck. I reckon we’ve had 3 in 2 years for one DC but only 1 for other DC which makes me think one of mine is more prone to them than the other

@Skybluepinky definitely not switching from nursery as it's great, she's settled and loves it.
Yes 4th tummy bug in 10 months.

All the time if at nursery or if they have school aged siblings, barely ever if an only child normally cared for at home.

All of those bugs infections, coughs and colds are building up the immune system which means hell be off and sick less when he goes to school.

I wish my son was only poorly 4 times in that time period from nursery 😂 sometimes it feels like he's sent home every week 😂

I think that’s a lot. DD7 has had 1 and DS3 has had 2, 1 was caught from A&E after breaking his arm. Both went to/are at nursery. Coughs and colds are non stop though!

We have had 3 tummy bugs since march and then colds on top of that too!

@grumpytoddler1 the permanent snotty nose is a thing too. I'm feeling more reassured now that it's pretty normal to catch all the bugs at nursery and at least it means their immune system is working to build resistance - and probably better now than when she starts school

Mine has had one in his life, he's 30 months. He's not really one for colds/runny noses/coughs either. He's been going to nursery for a year.

But he has friends who are ill a lot more, and I know a toddler who is on their 9th sickness bug of the year already, so it's really variable.

Our nursery is really hot on hygiene and not allowing unwell children in, so there's rarely illness going around so far touches all wood.

That does sound quite a lot. I think generally my DD has had 1 or 2 vomiting bugs every year. But an awful lot of other illnesses / viruses as well. Sometimes back to back. Its hard.

I think it depends on the child. Mine never did- but neither do DP and I. But some poor things are sick all the time. Are the nursery strict about handwashing?

The nursery seem very good on hygiene and of course at this age the children are all supervised with an adult hand washing for them so probably better than when they're in reception class and taking themselves off to the toilet.

Dd is a very active outdoorsy child and is in the outdoor play area every nursery session and still young enough that she's putting god knows what in her mouth so that might account for some of it. And of course if one child catches a bug it goes round like wildfire. By the time symptoms show, they've probably been contagious for 24 hours so the damage is done. I expect dd has done her fair share of spreading. I keep her off if she's actually sick but the contagious phase is likely to be before that

For those saying that getting bugs now helps build their immune system, that's not strictly true unfortunately. This link explains it well. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/is-the-hygiene-hypothesis-true

I'll find some other links too that might be helpful with regard to reducing spread of airborne infections in daycare (tummy bugs can also spread through fomites of course which can be harder to control but they can also spread through airborne means so even if we just reduce the airborne transmission we will still be winning). It's also worth bearing in mind that covid infection damages our immune system so makes it harder to fight other bugs off, contributing to the spread of illnesses :-(

Thank you for keeping her off whilst poorly OP and really hope she feels better soon 💐

This study using HEPA air purifiers in children's daycare in Finland showed sick days cut by a third, we all need to be asking our prospective MPs about HEPA filters for all these nursery places they're planning!
https://yle.fi/a/74-20062381

This is also a really interesting study showing protective factors from lack of exposure to infections for babies during lockdown
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/02/240229124144.htm?source=email-11-march-covid-action&link_id=18&can_id=bf6c790e07b12289968100a0482bbb34&email_referrer=email_2237359&email_subject=11-march-campaign-call-sars2-holding-governments-accountable-with-desmond-whyms&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2wL4jELgia27JyxfhDLhDoXPyLVVmdMd9XH7sukeqQm-u01BaMtkpU8QM_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw