2yo constantly sick

[BroomAdventures]

My DS started playgroup this year, he attends 3 days per week. At the end of his first week he woke with temperature and that was the start of it - he has been sick since!!

I expected him to pick up colds and bugs but wasn’t expecting him to be constantly unwell since he started, he’s up tonight again with a temperature of 38.4 and vomiting. Is this normal? 😩 when we keep him home he’s sick as soon as he returns. They do have a policy not to send kids when they’re sick but they don’t seem to follow up on it or send kids home.

I’ve missed so much work since he started, we’ve been to the GP multiple times and OOH. He’s had 3 courses of antibiotics, steroids and been prescribed inhalers. I feel like it’s cruel for us to send him at this point, he has missed out on parties, play dates and days out that we had planned because he’s so poorly. He doesn’t ‘need’ to go as he we had family for childcare but we wanted to send him for some socialisation as everyone said he needed to be around kids his own age but he’s constantly sick and miserable now.

My DN is the same age and started nursery at the same time and he’s had the odd cold/cough but nothing compared to DS?

That does sound quite excessive. Some coughs and colds and runny noses is normal enough but my youngest has been at nursery 3 days a week for the past year and he has never been off sick at all. DC1 had 1 vomiting bug and an ear infection in 3 years of nursery.

Do you give multivitamins? If you don't need to use paid childcare I would probably pull him out at this point, but bear in mind that once he starts school you'll have to deal with it all over again!

My little one started at childminders in September. He's had a cough and colds since starting and a nasty ear infection too. He went back last week finally ok and after 3 days there his nose is running again and he's developed a cough. I knew he was going to get some but blimey I didn't expect it to be a constant 😒

For perspective, both of mine got sick alllll the time at nursery

My eldest is now 4 and much better and doesn't get sick nearly as much. But he did have every cold going, HFM, conjunctivitis, chicken pox the lot. But thankfully never really Ill.

My youngest is 21 months and she's in nursery 5 days. In the last 6 months alone she's been in hospital 3 times. Once for a 3 day stay as she got a sickness bug coupled with tonsillitis and eventually sepsis. Another for viral wheeze following the cold from nursery and most recently pneumonia again from a cold or cough and off the back of chickenpox.

It is RELENTLESS. We don't have a choice and she has to go 5 days a week but I feel your pain. I just keep thinking to myself that my oldest seems to have a better immune system now so I'm hoping she goes the same way.

In your position would I potentially pull him out of nursery if he didn't need to be there for the time being, maybe yes. Or just sending him once a week for the social side but that may confuse him in terms of routine?

You have my sympathies. It is tough

Thanks for the responses. At least we’re not completely alone! It’s so hard though. I would be beside myself if he ended up in hospital, especially so many times @febbabies2023

He does take a multivitamin every day, they’re the chewy ones so he thinks it’s a sweet so thankfully we’ve no problems getting him to take it!

Unfortunately we have to send him a minimum of 3 days or he loses his place but I think we’ll just call it a day. It is relentless and he’s miserable!

Part of me thinks it’ll strengthen his immune system for preschool next year but the other part of me thinks it’s just not worth it.

It's been tough at times for sure but thankfully our hospital have always been amazing with her and treated her so quickly. Awful to see them so poorly and she definitely hates any form of medical appointment now, and I don't blame her!

It's a catch 22 situation isn't it. Only you know what is best for him, and kids are resilient so if it's the social side you're worried about now, I'm sure he'll pick that back up again. Many kids don't go to nursery or pre school and are fine when it comes to school! :)

Our DS was getting ill all the time very much like you’ve stated. When we took him to the walk in centre one weekend they flagged it seemed odd how often he was being ill and recommended some blood tests were done. It has come back that he has no antibodies to Pneumococcal and HIB B, the vaccines he had as a baby. Boosters have been given but waiting to see if they worked and to find out why his body didn’t accept the vaccines.

They keep asking me if he’s up to date on his vaccines every time I have him up. He’s just been prescribed another antibiotic as he’s had a temperature for 6 days. I’m wondering if this is worth mentioning if he’s sick again?

Hope the boosters help your LO x