Toddler recovery post pneumonia

[Ppan12]

Hi,

My 2 year old was recently hospitalised for a chest infection for a week. He's home now and has completed his antibiotic treatment. The doctors have advised us to take it easy and get him to rest for 2-4 weeks. I am just looking for advice and experience from parents who've been through something similar.

1. When did you start sending them back to nursery/childminder?
2. Is it okay to take them outdoors, grocery shopping or a stroll in the park?
3. How long did you avoid social gatherings?

Thanks for any replies and sorry for the long post.

1- after my first was hospitalized I kept him out of daycare for about a week, and short days for a while more
my youngest just had pneumonia at 2.5 but wasn’t hospitalized. He went back after a week but is only in a half day program anyway

2- yes outdoors is great, either short walks or bundled up and sitting. Just make sure they don’t start running around. If they’ll still sit in a push chair that’s ideal. I also do things like painting outside to get fresh air. Come in if tired or before, or extra layers and an outdoors nap

Groceries etc are okay if you need to, but try and do small errands then a rest. Errands give my kids something interesting going on without as much activity

I can’t remember for socializing - definitely had them see cousins on tye weekend so they didn’t get stir crazy. But I think your toddler was a bit more poorly so it’s hard to tell.

@Ellepff those are some great suggestions. I think I'll hold off sending him to the childminder for another week. But I'll try and take him outdoors (with extra layers) coz he gets so bored being at home all day.
Thank you so much for sharing

I took a few weeks off work so I could stay at home with DS2 in similar circumstances. He was very seriously ill, but I was comfortable taking him anywhere outside really (although I kept him away from any child at the playground with an obvious cold!) It was in summer though, so less bugs going around. I still think fresh air is pretty much never a bad call though if everyone is wrapped up.

With socialising we stuck to family only (we live closer to grandparents and cousins) until he was more obviously himself again, partly because I trusted that they wouldn't come over if they had any illnesses, and partly because DS2 was really not up for anything initially.