I just allowed my toddler to interact with another child

[Lissy23]

I know I’ll otobabky get flamed for this. But please be kind, my mental health is in tatters as it is.
We don’t have a garden, so we take our 19 month DS to the park regularly. We took him about an hour ago and while walking through a more secluded area of the park, we bumped into a toddler he goes to nursery with, he hadn’t been going to nursery long before this started up, but they seem to recognise each other and the other child started chasing DS around in a circle and DS was giggling. They ended up standing very close to each other and smiling. I started feeling really tearful that this interaction was the first one he’d had with another child in 8 weeks (he’s an only child). And he looked so happy, the other toddler did too. His parent asked us if we were ok with it and my DP said yes, before I had a chance to speak. It was literally a 3 minute interaction, if that, but I feel like we’ve done something awful now and I can’t stop thinking about it.
Is this what it’s come to?!
He’s always been a very sociable little boy and was thriving at nursery. He also loved playgroup with the other children, it makes me so sad 😞

Unless you are supposed to be shielding or are very high risk I'm sure it will be fine.

They'll both be fine and happier for it I'm sure. If children are to be considered safe to go to nursery perhaps they should be allowed to play with one or two other children beforehand, which is much less likely to raise the number of cases. It's very hard, I feel like the current advice is missing the urgent need to factor in the reopening of social aspects of life.

@NuffSaidSam No we’re not shielding or high risk.

@MRex thank you, he just looked so happy, they both did.

They will both be fine please dont stress your son has been out and about in the fresh air and seen a friend.

Don't feel awful. I would have done the same. Kids need social interaction with other kids. Ignore all the posters who will come along and tell you how wrong you were.

DD is an older only, we cycled to her best friends house to drop off a birthday present. They both understood and kept their distance but she was so happy afterwards to have seen her and chat properly instead of skyping. Its tough on onlys.

The rate of transmission in the community is low so highly unlikely they or you would have spread anything. Don’t feel guilty!

I bet the other mum is at home thinking the same thing! Both children had a few minutes of fun - please don’t stress.

There was a report in NHS nurseries yesterday in the Times. In over 50 nurseries looking after the children of NHS staff - so those most exposed - there was just one infected child and no case of child to child transmission.

Your DS will be absolutely fine. Small children pass it in much much less than adults.

The risk is tiny compared to the benefit it gave both children. I would be arranging to bump into the other child again.

It's done now you can't change it so no point in worrying.

Don’t worry about it.

In over 50 nurseries looking after the children of NHS staff - so those most exposed - there was just one infected child and no case of child to child transmission.

Were they all tested? Or just going by symptoms?

Well it’s done now, you chose to let it happen and you can’t change it so I’d put it out of your mind. You’ve gone against social distancing advice, but you knew that. Both children will probably be fine.

dementor alert

I have become very nervous about going out but your post has made me smile as I can just picture the two little ones running around giggling. They must have been so confused and then so excited to see each other.

If you are worried then wash his clothes and him as soon as possible and keep a closer eye on him for illness.

I'd have done the same. Ds is 4 and he hasn't seen another child for 7 weeks and tbh I'm devastated for him.

@Eyewhisker do you have the link? I would love to share it with a friend xx

Sounds like a lovely interaction that has probably done all of you the power of good.

Enjoy thinking about it as a positive thing that has happened to you all today - don't stress over it.

We're expanding our (older) childrens' social circle one kid at a time. So distanced play date. Wait ten days. Another distanced play date, etc.

I only think we're going to be mixing with three kids per kid this summer!

YANBU

Baby steps toward normalcy - in your case, literally baby steps , are healthy!

Finger shaking, tut-tutting Dementor alert!

I like all the patronus-mums on here!

I’m in a park right now with DD2. There are lots of small children here and several groups playing together who are clearly not from the same family. Yesterday we bumped into one of our NCT friends in another park and DD played with their toddler for 10mins while we chatted. Both had a brilliant time. Before that she’d barely interacted with another child for 8 weeks. Tiny children are social animals and can’t be expected to socially distance indefinitely - it would be extremely detrimental to their development. I think many people are quietly weighing up the risks and teaching the same conclusion. I really wouldn’t worry about it OP.