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Original poster

If your toddler has/had snotty nose ... would you get them tested?

44 replies

SheilaTheThief · 21/03/2021 09:22

No other symptoms at all, attends nursery
So likely picked up there, but runny nose isn’t even major it’s mild but I was wondering how others would react

OP posts:
LouiseTrees · 21/03/2021 09:27

Is that a symptom of COVID now? Do they have a cough with it? Do they have a temperature or rash?

wingingit987 · 21/03/2021 09:27

I did the first and second time but once he has a cold every other week I didn't bother. If he had a persistent cough I would or his temperature started to peak but less it's the 3 main symptoms I haven't.

Doing that test on a toddler is really hard as well for both of you.

Shelovesamystery · 21/03/2021 09:29

Toddlers have runny noses all the time. No I wouldn't put a toddler through a test for this.

jupitermars1345 · 21/03/2021 09:29

Our school is asking that we isolate and test for just a snotty nose

Personally no I wouldn't otherwise for just a runny nose

TempsPerdu · 21/03/2021 09:33

No, I definitely wouldn’t put my toddler through such an unpleasant experience for the sake of a runny nose.

We’d have been testing pretty much weekly since October if that was the case.

Cornettoninja · 21/03/2021 09:59

Just a runny nose with no other symptoms, probably not. If using childcare though I would probably let them make the call whether they’re happy with that though and test if that was their preference.

I might just be lucky, but dd(5) has had a few tests now (never known her pick up so many chesty infections) and none have been traumatic or even close to it. The last time she asked straight away if it meant she was getting a magazine Grin. It less invasive than an injection imho.

GreenBalaclava · 21/03/2021 10:00

Not for just a runny nose, no.

whatswithtodaytoday · 21/03/2021 10:05

Christ no, my two year old has a constant runny nose. If he seemed ill with it then yes.

idontlikealdi · 21/03/2021 10:12

No

ComDummings · 21/03/2021 10:16

No

VoyageInTheDark · 21/03/2021 10:25

My 3yo has a runny nose at the moment. I haven't had her tested as no other symptoms. Preschool are fine with it.

bridgetjones1 · 21/03/2021 10:28

My 2 year old has been snotty almost constantly for about 3 months, unless there are other symptoms I wouldn’t put them or you through that trauma

Dustyhedge · 21/03/2021 14:18

No- you have to weigh up the fact that little ones have permanent snotty noses and the fact the test is not pleasant. No-one wants to see unnecessary testing for little ones although tbf my 1yo was less of a drama llama than my 4 year old for their last sets of tests.

yeOldeTrout · 21/03/2021 14:26

Heck No.

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 21/03/2021 14:27

No.

Twickerhun · 21/03/2021 14:28

Hell No. waste of a test and testing capacity. Someone has to staff labs 24/7 looking for actual covid.

TobyHouseMan · 21/03/2021 14:35

If there's one thing I've learned during this disaster is the kids are far far more resilient than we give them credit for.

Having a test isn't really that bad. Considering a fair number of them spend half their lives with their fingers up their noses anyway it's not really that much different.

Mine both have regular tests, know that they're part of the solution and not the problem, and actually feel pride they're taking part, in a small way, in ending this crap. It's part of their education and teaches them that in life sometimes we just buckle up and do something because its the right thing to do, even if it is 'slightly' uncomfortable.

whatswithtodaytoday · 21/03/2021 14:50

I think there's a vast difference between testing a two year old vs a four/five year old.

I would not test my (just) two year old unless I had to, because it's hellish and requires two adults to hold his head still. No amount of explaining helps. He's had three tests so far and I dread the next one. Hopefully by the time he needs another one he'll be a bit more amenable.

tappitytaptap · 21/03/2021 15:00

No, my 2 year old has a cold at the moment, picked up from my reception child. DH has also had it. No persistent cough or temperature so not tested. He does occasionally cough on the snot when he wakes up from a nap.

Dustyhedge · 21/03/2021 15:00

whatswithtodaytoday I agree. My 4yo was a pain but can be reasoned with, bribed etc. When we all had covid I just didn’t bother testing my completely asymptomatic 1yo (we were stuck in anyway).

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 21/03/2021 15:03

@TobyHouseMan

If there's one thing I've learned during this disaster is the kids are far far more resilient than we give them credit for.

Having a test isn't really that bad. Considering a fair number of them spend half their lives with their fingers up their noses anyway it's not really that much different.

Mine both have regular tests, know that they're part of the solution and not the problem, and actually feel pride they're taking part, in a small way, in ending this crap. It's part of their education and teaches them that in life sometimes we just buckle up and do something because its the right thing to do, even if it is 'slightly' uncomfortable.

Sadly my just turned 2 year old doesn’t have the understanding to realise he is being ‘part of the solution’, I’m in awe of toddlers who do.
HereComesATractor · 21/03/2021 15:04

@TobyHouseMan

If there's one thing I've learned during this disaster is the kids are far far more resilient than we give them credit for.

Having a test isn't really that bad. Considering a fair number of them spend half their lives with their fingers up their noses anyway it's not really that much different.

Mine both have regular tests, know that they're part of the solution and not the problem, and actually feel pride they're taking part, in a small way, in ending this crap. It's part of their education and teaches them that in life sometimes we just buckle up and do something because its the right thing to do, even if it is 'slightly' uncomfortable.

I needed you here to explain to my feverish 2yo (who has never picked his nose so far) that it really isn’t that bad and that he should feel pride that he’s doing his bit. That’s where I was going wrong, clearly.
HereComesATractor · 21/03/2021 15:06

I wouldn’t test for a snotty nose, no. As it happens, we all have the same mild snotty cold at the moment and my husband is testing frequently for work and they have all come back negative, so I’m confident this one isn’t covid.

Feelinglikepoop · 21/03/2021 15:07

No. My son has a snotty nose, and I do. We both clearly have colds so not testing.

BobBobBobbin · 21/03/2021 15:13

No I wouldn’t and haven’t.

Not that I would base my decision on it, but I personally find the tests really horrible (I struggle to complete them) and my 5 year old found them really horrible (we had to physically pin him down). I’ve not had to test my 3 year old yet but I am not looking forward to having to do it.

I know symptoms vary significantly from person to person but we all caught covid at the start of the pandemic and our symptoms were nothing like a cold. Zero snot was involved.

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