Sick of getting my 2.5 year old tested

[Welllllllwellllllllwellllllll]

She's come down with a cold, no covid symptoms yet but, as always it's highly likely a cough will develop. She can't blow her nose so gets all get phlegmy at the back of her nose.

She's had FIVE tests and I'm sick of it, she gets distressed everytime, it has been negative everytime. Children get coughs and colds so regularly and everytime she's coughed previously I've got frustrated with her because it's like HERE WE GO AGAIN. My friend's child to isolate when they had croup, the doctor even diagnosed croup! I'm just done now. Couldn't give a flying farting space about bloody COVID-19.

@HazeyJaneII From what she said, she told the nursery her daughter had a runny nose over the weekend. They had test kits and insisted she be tested there and then before she was allowed near anyone. They were going to do the test but she screamed so much my colleague had to do it and then they had to wait in the car until the result was negative. We're working in an office and it was either do the test or miss work. Thankfully our manager has said if it happens again she can work from home.

Have you ordered the free home tests? You get 7 sent to you or you can pick up 14 tests for free.

Mine luckily never really gets sick but drove to a test centre 25 minutes ago a few weeks ago and don't want to do that again. I'd rather test at home with duggie in the background lol

Glad my nursery are lax! In any case aren’t little kids more likely to have covid asymptomatically. And what is the chance I’d even be able to do the swab my rabid 2 year old correctly to get an accurate result. It seems...a bit pointless.

The fast Lateral Flow tests are not for testing people with symptoms and are not supposed to be used in children under 11.

@MilduraS the nursery should not have done that - firstly because of the above, secondly because they should not be performing tests on children (were any forms filled out?) and thirdly because they should not have been involved in causing such trauma to a child - there is so much wrong with that scenario that I am amazed your colleague went along with it. That would be cause for a huge complain against the nursery.

[quote Welllllllwellllllllwellllllll]@Freddiefox when people say 'it's not a nice test' it's patronising and annoying. Have you had to test a nursery aged child? It's not just 'not nice', it's awful and distressing especially when it's just a cold and all for a negative test. PP used the word barbaric, that is more accurate.[/quote]
Well I wasn’t trying to be patronising at all, just trying to explain that asking parents to test isn’t something I do at the drop off a hat because I’m aware of how difficult it is, but don’t worry I’m
just being annoying. I leave you to it.

Fwiw, yes I’ve had to test my own.

Oh and I was trying to express that as staff we are grateful that parents support us.. but I’ll leave you to it.

I completely understand and agree OP. My 3 year old has had 6 tests for coughs she has had with a cold, all negative. The test is brutal but she needs it before nursery will have her back. I don't know what the solution is? I'm just hoping the summer months mean fewer illness and that things may be different by autumn.

@cheesebubble yes we have them, they are lateral flow tests and if symptomatic you are supposed to get a PCR test. Lateral flow tests don't suffice unfortunately.

Stop being so damn selfish and test the child or isolate. You might not care about covid thinking your child just has a cold, but do you know for my child a cold is a lot worse than needing a covid test, multiple times a year and in fact at times multiple times a month they end up in hospital with tubes up their nose, oxygen masks on their face, lines into whereever they can site them sometimes that means into the scalp so yes I would prefer if everyone else just sucked it up and got their child tested for covid when they had symptoms to protect my child and many others like it who will end up suffering serious consequences from covid.

And yes i get its unpleasant but believe me, all of the above is extremely distressing for both mother and child and if a few second swab prevents even one child having to undergo the procedures above should your child spread covid to them then its worth it

I totally sympathise! My 1 year old has actually been better than my older child. My 4 year old is petrified of the tests now (again it's a choice of test or miss nursery and work for ten days each time which we can't afford to do!) She screams, cries and yanks them out of her nose - had to do three last week just to get it in. All the bribes in the world don't work now as she knows what it feels like and knows she doesn't like it! Me and DH trying to pin her down to get that swab up her nose is bloody barbaric!! I hate it and hope they invent an easier way of testing. It's not fair on small kids at all.

@gallbladderpain would you shut up. Do not call me selfish for venting frustration based on barbaric testing for small children.

I have not once said I'm not going to test or isolate, I will test her if she develops any covid symptoms so don't go assuming or you'll just make a tit of yourself. I was simply venting about how awful it is for small children who don't understand. Suggest you go back to bed and wake up of the right side.

My DDs (and I) spike temperatures with ever little cold. Boiling hot for a day... then a runny nose or sore throat.

It's been fun every time DD1 goes back to school.

@gallbladderpain

Stop being so damn selfish and test the child or isolate. You might not care about covid thinking your child just has a cold, but do you know for my child a cold is a lot worse than needing a covid test, multiple times a year and in fact at times multiple times a month they end up in hospital with tubes up their nose, oxygen masks on their face, lines into whereever they can site them sometimes that means into the scalp so yes I would prefer if everyone else just sucked it up and got their child tested for covid when they had symptoms to protect my child and many others like it who will end up suffering serious consequences from covid.

And yes i get its unpleasant but believe me, all of the above is extremely distressing for both mother and child and if a few second swab prevents even one child having to undergo the procedures above should your child spread covid to them then its worth it

Absolutely this.

Op, you're coming across as whiny and self absorbed. Everyone needs to play their part to keep everyone safe.

@Crumpsly

I wouldn’t test her again. She’s not going to get ill and it’s distressing. I’d tell the nursery I had tested her if asked and maybe take a test myself. Children have had to give up enough for a disease which mainly effects the elderly.

On a different note it’s all so contradictory about the vaccines and transmission.

Oh lovely. You and many others like you on this thread, I just hope none of you have children who attend school with mine. For the record my child has given up more than many, complete isolation for an entire year has been strictly shielding not even contact with a grandparent in that space of time and the only way it is safe for them to get some normality after this period of shielding ends is if everyone else can be trusted to test and isolate their children and not just send them on into childcare and educational settings because they won't get ill. Also I wouldn't count your chickens all at once over the 'won't get ill' my friend had the very same attitude and ended up spending Christmas in PICU with her 'healthy' child who contracted covid who 'wouldn't get ill.' Its very unlikely to happen to the vast majority of children with no underlying health conditions but there is still a chance.

I wouldn’t test her again. She’s not going to get ill and it’s distressing. I’d tell the nursery I had tested her if asked

Are you being serious?

Nursery staff are in very close contact with children. They offer intimate care and cuddles. They deserve to be kept as safe as possible.

I have tested my toddler. He was upset for a minute then fine. I feel it to be important in supporting the nursery and thanking them for showing him super care during lockdown when without nursery he would have been so lonely and sad with us working.

@HamFisted

Why was the nursery testing? Do they do PCR tests or were they using their own lateral flow tests (intended for their staff!) on a toddler? I sincerely hope not as they aren't approved for use in children (below secondary age) and the swabs contain chemicals that may not be great for such young children.

Hold the phone. There are potentially dangerous chemicals on the swab? What chemicals, and why have I been blithely swabbing my tonsils with them twice a week if their safety is in any way doubted?

@HamFisted

Please don't worry about it, they're perfectly safe. Some people, with NO knowledge saw a chemical on the packaging & decided it was dangerous. It's absolutely not, it's used in an incredibly minute amount for sterilisation of the swabs, it's been used for many many years, it's slightly dangerous when handled in large quantities fir a prolonged period.

There was a thread in it the other day with lots of actual info, but bottom line is, sbmbdoluteky nothing to worry about.

[quote Welllllllwellllllllwellllllll]@gallbladderpain would you shut up. Do not call me selfish for venting frustration based on barbaric testing for small children.

I have not once said I'm not going to test or isolate, I will test her if she develops any covid symptoms so don't go assuming or you'll just make a tit of yourself. I was simply venting about how awful it is for small children who don't understand. Suggest you go back to bed and wake up of the right side.[/quote]
Thats all we ask is that parents get children tested with symptoms, I thought your OP was implying that you wouldn't test with symptoms like many others on this thread who are refusing to test. It is awful for small children however it is far from barbaric, it is literally a few seconds and its over. My own DC are small as well so I do understand, we have had covid tests done for emergency hospital admissions over the last year.

My 18 month old has had multiple tests for nursery too for having short lived temps just over the threshold.(colds/ teething every time)

Interestingly my eldest was admitted for breathing issues and new sudden cough this week after 2 week history of runny nose no other symptoms. They were not thinking covid at any point(although tested twice as per hospital policy) and said the kids they see with it tend to have high fever and gastro symptoms.

He was diagnosed with virus induced asthma and we all have the same "cold" or virus but not as bad as him.

Totally feel you OP. Our LO just started nursery just last week, low and behold she has a cold. I remember when my eldest started nursery she caught everything going so it wasn't surprising. Couple that with the fact their immune systems have been in a false bubble for the last year, it was inevitable they would catch something.

My LO got tested yesterday, she was absolutely distraught and angry at me. She wouldn't talk to be for ages.

But the nursery expects a negative test before return.(although it's the last day of term now so...it's fairly pointless.

I totally feel you and I said to my husband I prob wouldn't test her next time, I'd just isolate for ten days.

They meant 'see' as in phone consultation/ over 111 etc - not that they'd had them in hospital.

@sherrystrull

Nursery staff are in very close contact with children. They offer intimate care and cuddles. They deserve to be kept as safe as possible.

I have tested my toddler. He was upset for a minute then fine. I feel it to be important in supporting the nursery and thanking them for showing him super care during lockdown when without nursery he would have been so lonely and sad with us working.

Exactly this. DD is three next week, I think she's had three tests, maybe four. I know it's not pleasant but it's quick. I'd recommend going to a drive through testing center if you can as it's a bit easier with them restrained in the car seat. I've never managed to get the swab in as far as the instructions say or for as long, but we've always gotten a result.

A bit of prep, a video during it, cheerful well done after and home for chocolate buttons. Not fun but not the end of the world, and as others have said, a world away from what kids with serious medical issues face.

It’s so tough OP. We are very, very lucky in that I’m currently a SAHM, DP is working from home and DD only attends nursery two days a week. We’ve never had to test her; where she’s occasionally had symptoms we’ve chosen to self-isolate, which is bad enough but still beats testing in my book (again, I appreciate we’re privileged in having the choice).

Obviously no direct experience of having to do it but have many friends and relatives who have and ‘barbaric’ is the word that comes up time and time again when they discuss it. It’s not fair on small children, who are least at risk from covid and appear less likely to transmit it. They really need to come up with a less invasive option if constant testing is to continue long term.

As a nursery practitioner currently struggling with long covid caught from a child in nursery I beg you to test, I know its awful but so was being hospitalised, DH caught it from me and what was truly barbaric was knowing he was in ICU with a ventilator down his throat and not being able to visit.
Turns out it wasn't "just a cold"
Covid just need to fuck off now.

As a nursery practitioner currently struggling with long covid caught from a child in nursery I beg you to test, I know its awful but so was being hospitalised, DH caught it from me and what was truly barbaric was knowing he was in ICU with a ventilator down his throat and not being able to visit.

Yes that's awful...! Hope you recover from long covid and your dh is ok.

Yes, it's unpleasant for children to be tested but the consequences of not getting tested are potentially much worse!