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Original poster

Should i make my 3 Yr old have a covid test for school?

50 replies

Lawree · 05/10/2021 02:03

So today my son was sent home early from school as he was coughing, my whole house hold has had a horrible cold (mine turned into a chest infection and sinus infection) when we all first got it we all had home tests (lateral flow) all came back negative . My partner works in a covid hotel and gets tested every few days and I had to go and have a pcr test for work all our test have been negative but I've been informed by the school today I either have to take my son for a test or he misses 10 days of school which he loves my son is 3 when having a test he screams, cries and you have to hold him down it really is torture for him. I'm at a loss I don't know whether to force him to have a test which is like torturing him or keep him off for 10 days which he's hysterical about.

I'd also like to point out my son has no high temp no loss of smell or taste he simply has a cough and a runny nose, his cough is made worse by his tonsils which are constantly enlarged (already have a referral for E. N. T) his tonsils cause him to gag after he coughs which make it worse.

Thank you in advance
One torn momma

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 05/10/2021 02:09

He's 3. Keep him off.

Plotato · 05/10/2021 06:17

@MrsTerryPratchett

He's 3. Keep him off.
I'd rather test my 3 year old than isolate her for 10 days. She screams bloody murder but it's over in seconds. I think missing out on things is much worse.
Plotato · 05/10/2021 06:20

Also, friend's 3 year old has just tested positive after a few coughs on one day. She was completely surprised he had it. I believe the current rates in children are 1 on 20 so not at all unlikely he has it. If you and your husband are double jabbed then your LFT results are largely irrelevant to the chances of your son having it.

Ridiculousradish · 05/10/2021 06:24

I'd just keep them off, sod the test.

notasillysausage · 05/10/2021 06:26

Hmm, it is only 5 seconds up each nostril for a 3 year old. I would test them.

Mybalconyiscracking · 05/10/2021 06:27

Fake the test!
Not sure what we gain from torturing small children at this stage of the game. Might as well let everything just play out now.

Lostinacloud · 05/10/2021 06:28

Surely the school don’t ask to see evidence of the result? Just tell them it’s negative.
Sorry to all the posters this will cause severe outrage to but he’s 3, the tests are not nice and the rest of the family are negative repeatedly. Other coughs do still exist and at some point we all have to get over this crazy hysteria and testing for every cold symptom.

user1471530109 · 05/10/2021 06:30

It's PCR tests for symptoms OP. Not the useless LFT. I really don't understand why people still don't get this. The amount of times I have this conversation (work in a school with an outbreak Hmm).

I think children his age are allowed to just use the nose for tests? But I could be wrong. Either isolate or test. I'd have no choice but to test as I have to work and that's why my DC were in nursery.

Rainallnight · 05/10/2021 06:31

Lots of people are in exactly the same position as you and it’s a personal choice whether to test or keep off. We’ve always tested, because we think DS is better off in pre-school than home (again!) with me, for the sake of a few seconds discomfort.

But at the same time, I know he hates the tests and I wish this wasn’t what the world is like at the moment. Sad

user1471530109 · 05/10/2021 06:34

To the pp who would potentially risk passing on covid to anyone else who could be severely ill. Could you live with that? For a few seconds of uncomfortable-ness? I've had to hold down a small child for much worse medical tests. It's not pleasant. But come on Hmm!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/10/2021 06:34

I've just had two well children home for 10 days. Take the test.
(They were positive, just one had a headache so school insisted, the had no symptoms whatsoever. Definitely caught at school.)

Mumobag · 05/10/2021 06:37

Test.
We have to physically pin DS down to test while he's screaming and writhing and it's horrible, but I'd rather that than risk him having it without isolating, and passing it on to someone who might be seriously ill with it.
The discomfort lasts for a few seconds, isolation is a long boring 10 days stuck in the house and it could happen multiple times over the winter with all the colds that are going round.

Angel2702 · 05/10/2021 06:37

I would test, it’s a few seconds of discomfort. There are lots of unpleasant necessities in life and this at the moment is one of them. My kids used to have full on meltdowns to take any medication it was extremely distressing and very upsetting for them and us but we still had to make sure they took it.

StrongerOrWeaker · 05/10/2021 06:40

Isn't coughing one of the symptoms? I would test, yes, and that would be with a pcr.

Whinge · 05/10/2021 06:43

The discomfort lasts for a few seconds, isolation is a long boring 10 days stuck in the house and it could happen multiple times over the winter with all the colds that are going round

Exactly. I don't understand why anyone would choose 10 days stuck at home over a few seconds of discomfort. OP please test. Just because yours wasn't Covid doesn't mean he doesn't have it.

Tailendofsummer · 05/10/2021 06:44

OP you had a cough and checked this out with an LFT?
I honestly wonder why I bother sometimes. Testing twice weekly for work, doing PCRs with symptoms, keeping kids home if I think they have something - it's like I'm doing what is required and some extra for all the people who can't be arsed.

Howshouldibehave · 05/10/2021 06:53

@Mybalconyiscracking

Fake the test! Not sure what we gain from torturing small children at this stage of the game. Might as well let everything just play out now.
Fake the test?

BrilliantConfused

BlibBlabBlob · 05/10/2021 06:59

@Tailendofsummer

OP you had a cough and checked this out with an LFT? I honestly wonder why I bother sometimes. Testing twice weekly for work, doing PCRs with symptoms, keeping kids home if I think they have something - it's like I'm doing what is required and some extra for all the people who can't be arsed.
OP did have a PCR test. Not just an LFT.
Iggly · 05/10/2021 07:02

OP your test may have been negative but you should test again within a few days to be sure.

I can’t believe someone is saying fake the test.

You can test him up the nose only with a PCR for both nostrils.

Vaccines are wearing off as we approach winter - definitely be cautious about this!!

Tailendofsummer · 05/10/2021 07:03

I'm pleased to hear a PCR test was done.

Covidworries · 05/10/2021 07:17

You have a choice.

PCR test or isolate for 10 days.

Do not FAKE the test as suggested by the irresponsible person up thread. You have no idea of the vunerabilities of children or staff at the school.
CEV have been told they have to go to work, CEV children have to go to school.

Its risky enough without people fake testing

Maskedstranger · 05/10/2021 07:20

School is right, obviously.

missbecks90 · 05/10/2021 07:21

My 4 year old hates having the tests to, but like yourself I was in a similar position where she hated the thought of not going to school more..I explained her options to her she could do the test quickly up her nose I'd count 5 up each nostril then it would all be done and if it was negative she can happily go back to school. Once I'd explained this to her she willingly let me go ahead because she didn't want to miss out on seeing her friends. I think if I remember rightly I may have offered her a cookie for afterwards to..I really don't test them unless I have no other option though.

stayathomer · 05/10/2021 07:32

Absolutely your choice but if 3 I don't understand why you she gets to be SO upset about being off, you don't make a deal of it you just casually tell her if people are sick they can't go in in case other people get ill. She's too young to rationalise it and she shouldn't have to. Kids don't need to know the nitty gritty, just tell her then move on to doing something fun to take her mind off!

Original poster
Lawree · 05/10/2021 07:54

I had a pcr test. We did the home test on the day we all got ill so that if we got a positive we would know straight away me and my partner had pcr tests the next day, I've asked my son what he wants to do and having the test scares the life out of him as he had to have loads of them whilst he was in hospital (2 months ago) and the tests cause him pain because of his tonsils. I will not be faking test results as I won't put anyone else at risk. I'm so torn as it is not a 5 second thing doing the test with my son it's a massive ordeal.
I didn't put this post up for people to get ratty I simply wanted advice yes people have their own opinions and I'm more than happy to hear them hence the post but there is no need to for rattiness were all adults let dicuss and offer advice like adult instead of snide comment and down right rudeness

OP posts: