Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Self isolation and children - is it just me or is there a lack of clear guidance?

55 replies

cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 18:23

Given this evening's latest update on self isolation, is anyone clear on what is recommended in the case of a young, dependent child showing symptoms of cough or fever? The advice seems clear enough for those living alone (no visitors, doorstep deliveries) or with other independent adults (avoid sharing common spaces as much as possible), but what are you supposed to do if your three year old comes home from nursery with a fever? Clearly it won't be possible to achieve any meaningful isolation from a toddler! So what does that mean for the adult carer? Should they self-isolate too? And if not, surely that defeats the object, since the chances to transmission from a child to their parent must be high? I guess the same goes for those caring for dependant adults too. I think there has been a real lack of clarity about what is expected of people one step removed from those in isolation.

OP posts:
Bimbabo · 12/03/2020 19:37

@glowingtwig I’m still bf my 9 month old. Advice from unicef is to continue to feed unless your too unwell as there is no evidence that the virus is in the breast milk so far. They advice to cover your nose and mouth so you don’t cough into the baby. I suppose it would also help stop wee hands going in mouths if your baby is like mine. Hope that’s helpful to you

MerryDeath · 12/03/2020 19:54

use your common sense... if i had to isolate my 3yo i'd be isolating myself with him

glowingtwig · 12/03/2020 20:11

Thank you for clarifying @cheeseismydownfall and for the bfp info @Bimbabo
She's 5 months and has had a dry little cough for about 3 weeks but no fever and the doctor checked her lungs when I was there for something else last week and said she was fine.
It's all just worrying isn't it?

Reginabambina · 12/03/2020 20:12

The advice has changed. The entire household is to isolate now in the even of fever or a new cough.

Bufferingkisses · 12/03/2020 20:20

Regina, where did you get that? The advice as of 5pm tonight was, very clearly, that this is not true yet but may happen in the coming weeks?

BertieDrapper · 12/03/2020 20:21

My DD started with a cough yesterday.
Kept her off childcare today as it's really bad and her breathing is... laboured? Very weezy and sucking in her stomach with each breath.
We called 111 this morning and told not to worry as kids don't get it... Hmm
I'm not overly concerned that she has it but childcare has banned anyone attending who has a cough or temperature. Thankfully I don't work at the mo and DH is WFH all next week .
So does that mean we cant go food shopping or anything? I know it sounds silly but we've got 111 saying kids can't get it yet we are meant to isolate...

Sexnotgender · 12/03/2020 20:30

@BertieDrapper if your DD is sucking in her stomach when breathing I’d get her checked out.
Are the spaces between her ribs going in when she breathes?

goldpendant · 12/03/2020 20:33

I have found myself in is position tonight, and no the guidance is not clear!

For example, can DH and I tag team the 7 days? Or should one of us isolate with DD (4)? Does it kick in tonight or tomorrow morning? What constitutes a 'high' fever (Hers was 38C this evening).

Lots of ambiguity

Breckenridged · 12/03/2020 20:35

Thanks for that link Seeline. I agree it is clear.

Our family is DH, me, 3 young children including a breastfed toddler. If DH gets symptoms we will be isolating him completely from the rest of the family (luckily we have a guest room with en suite. I’ll leave his meals outside the door). If I get symptoms then we will probably keep the whole family at home for the 7 days (and as long thereafter as required if others start to have symptoms). I am not worried about keeping the school aged child away from school in order to reduce the risk of spreading this.

Breckenridged · 12/03/2020 20:37

goldpendant Yes that’s a high fever. I would say it kicks in tonight but effectively that’s no different to tomorrow morning as I doubt your 4yo would be going out for the night in 7 days anyway?! :)

If one of you/DH is more able to WFH then yes it probably makes sense to choose that parent to isolate with your DD.

BertieDrapper · 12/03/2020 20:40

@sexnotgender no they aren't.
She's been vomiting too which isn't a symptom that I've seen mentioned anywhere .

Sexnotgender · 12/03/2020 20:45

I’m not just thinking coronavirus bertie just sickness generally.

BertieDrapper · 12/03/2020 20:47

@sexnotgender Arh I see
I am concerned it could be a Chest infection. Will see how she goes and keep a watch on her xx

notusedbysomeonealready · 12/03/2020 20:53

I'm in this scenario atm and don't know what to do!

DD(5) has been unwell all week. Sore throat, dry cough, fever. Slightly snuffly, but no actual runny nose, no mucous.

I've been home with her until now and obviously have been unable to isolate myself from her, infact she's been extra clingy. Her fever has been 39 tonight.

I'm due at work tomorrow and DH is due to be home from work with her. I work with vulnerable people, however given the current pressure on my workplace and staffing problems, me not turning up for work would have a considerable detrimental effect on said vulnerable people so I don't want to not go in. OTOH, I don't want to expose vulnerable people to potential infection. I have no symptoms.

Sexnotgender · 12/03/2020 20:55

Hope she’s ok @BertieDrapper, I’ve unfortunately got a load of experience with DD and pneumonia.

I’m honestly shitting myself about this virus, DD is 16 and has serious heart and lung issues.

Original poster
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 20:57

Thank you for the link - it's more comprehensive than the condensed version on the BBC. But I still don't think it is clear about what do do when it is the dependant child who is isolating. Exactly as goldpendant describes, is the expectation that one parent self isolates by proxy? Or can two parents tag team? Perhaps I'm being pedantic but I think this is a really important issue.

OP posts:
SudokuQueen · 12/03/2020 20:59

I think they expect people to use their common sense to a certain degree.

We are screwed if that's the case.

Original poster
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 21:01

@breckenridged, what do you plan to do if it is actually one of your children that first develops symptoms?

OP posts:
Breckenridged · 12/03/2020 21:33

cheese whole family stay home.

Breckenridged · 12/03/2020 21:35

I mean other families might prefer to isolate one parent with the affected child but DH and I have agreed upon this as our family’s plan. We would probably do things differently if we only had one child, for example.

nonicknameseemsavailable · 12/03/2020 21:47

my interpretation is that one parent isolates with them and does the main care giving as that way you would hopefully reduce the likelihood of two parents getting it at the same time and spreading it whilst in early stages before symptoms appear. I feel very relieved my two are older now and to some degree could fend for themselves a bit if hubby and I both get it (they can do basic cooking with instruction) and/or old enough to understand about keeping out of the way in their rooms as much as we can

FacingtheAbess · 12/03/2020 23:32

Bertie

Don't leave her, she may have something else respitory. Which needs attention.

FacingtheAbess · 12/03/2020 23:33

Families don't isolate if one has it.

Swipe left for the next trending thread