Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Covid

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

Flip

1 2

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:

Original poster

Lawree · 05/10/2021 07:58

I don't doubt the school are right, I was simply asking advice on what to do with my son

OP posts:

Remmy123 · 05/10/2021 09:56

I did a Pcr on my 3 year old. Next time I'll just keep him off as it wasn't nice for him

vickyc90 · 05/10/2021 10:04

Could you do the home test, order it and do it whilst he asleep or do the drive through and go for a long drive before hand so he's asleep in the back. I don't think we should be testing kids, its being let to run through them it would be better to bring back shielding for 6 months and get it over and done with in kids.

darcy77 · 05/10/2021 10:06

I have children with sensory processing difficulties so really struggle with tests.
One child was asymptomatic but was tested because of contact with a confirmed case at school - they were surprisingly positive. They weren't tested after this because they were isolating but the rest of the family were tested a LOT so we could still go about our business and go to school. However I have said before I'd take the 10 days isolation for my eldest as he is pretty traumatised by the tests. We have allowed him to do it himself recently and although he is still not happy it's worked better. It's probably not the most thorough test but he has had Covid fairly recently so I'm hoping he is lower risk anyway.
My tip is if you do it - do it as quickly as you can with as little build up as possible. I get a home PCR test for this where possible. I usually say 'we may have to do a test' and talk about why (without committing to it) well ahead of doing it. Then when I do it - it's a 2 person job and as quick as possible. Mine seem to get traumatised by the build up alone if they know they are getting it done soon.

Bitofachinwag · 05/10/2021 10:08

@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.

Don't do that.

Jellyfishnchips · 05/10/2021 10:29

We were in similar position a week ago with our 3 yr old DC. Horrible cold symptoms so we did a PCR test, it was stressful to do as is so unpleasant for little ones but was the right thing to do and glad we did compared with the 10 day isolation alternative. Test came back negative. DC was so anxious about the nose one, we rang 119 (dedicated Covid line) and they advised that just doing either throat OR nose was fine.

Bizawit · 05/10/2021 18:32

@Angel2702

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.

That was for the benefit of your children though.

crazyguineapiglady · 05/10/2021 18:36

I'd keep him off. Don't fake the test or lie about the result.

FWBNC · 05/10/2021 18:37

@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.

Well, that's just brilliant for ECV people isn't it! Absolutely no protection for them anymore.

Bitofachinwag · 05/10/2021 18:37

But Bizawit testing your child will benefit others, that's good, isn't it?

CottonSock · 05/10/2021 18:40

I'd do the test. Well that's what I've done so far. Gradually my worst child is getting slightly better at it. I bribed her last time.... significantly

DriftingBlue · 05/10/2021 18:54

Op, I understand why you are torn on testing vs isolation. You know your son best, so I don’t think any of us can really make that call for you.

To the people claiming they would lie,
Please think for a moment about the unlucky children who get held down for tests and procedures all the time. Many of those children are at higher risk from Covid. My dd is now a teenager, but I will never forget what it was like to have to hold her still while she screamed just to get through yet another necessary medical procedure. Please don’t blithely add Covid to those families concerns.

santabetterwashhishands · 05/10/2021 19:08

I'd get him tested rather than him isolate,he could be isolating every month through winter if you don't get him used to testing

SnugKnights · 05/10/2021 19:18

Please don’t fake the result. I lost a friend in her early 40’s last month to Covid. She caught it off her 11 year old, who caught it from school.
Just because you’ve all had a cold and been negative, doesn’t mean your DC definitely doesn’t have Covid.

Plotato · 05/10/2021 19:32

In response to posters saying it's an ordeal for their child I'm not sure any 3 year olds react well to it to be honest - I can't even hold mine down well enough to do the test, my 6 foot 2 husband has to, and she genuinely screams like we are going to murder her. I do think there's a degree of personal choice at this stage and accept the argument that we're subjecting children to a procedure which doesn't benefit them, but please don't suggest those of us who have recently tested young children have children who magically aren't distressed by the process. Personally, I still felt it was preferable to isolating.

Miramax · 08/10/2021 23:11

@Lostinacloud

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.

... What!

Covidworries · 09/10/2021 07:25

@Lostinacloud

Some schools want proof of negative before sending into school

firef1y · 09/10/2021 09:26

@user1471530109

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

Did you care that your common or garden cold could make someone seriously ill or kill them before covid? The double standards over this is seriously pissing me off. No-one cared if sending their 3yo into preschool with the sniffles could put my son in to hospital. And tbh I wouldn't have expected any different.

user1471530109 · 09/10/2021 09:41

A very bizarre post @firef1y
Are you complaining because I stated passing on covid to someone else could cause them to be extremely ill? You're upset with that? Because your son could be extremely ill if he caught a cold?

I'm very sorry if I've misunderstood. Surely my original comment is actually protecting your son? I don't understand? it sounds like you are in a very difficult situation. Your poor son.
I am ECV and a teacher. Unfortunately, the case is that most ECV wouldn't be severely ill after a common cold. We locked down because of the numbers of people who would likely be extremely ill. The way our society works unfortunately, is that we are expected to carry on with school and work with a common cold. The major problem with covid is how many more people are ill with it. Have I missed something? How is that double standards? Your son would be ill with a cold and I am very very sorry to hear that. Surely it would be 1000x worse if he caught covid?

RedToothBrush · 09/10/2021 09:48

@Whinge

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.

Cos I quite like my child, and testing isn't 100 reliable anyway. Not bothered about him staying home tbh. Its not ideal but there are worse things than spending time with your own child. Its appalling home many people can't wait to get rid of their children as they actively dislike them or are annoyed by them.

This morning there is talk of ending free mass testing.

I don't know how the 'do 10,000 tests a day brigade' are going to cope with it.

No i absolutely wouldn't test a 3 year old unless I had no other alternative.

Miramax · 09/10/2021 11:04

Yes some schools are asking which is good isnt it?

I was surprise about the decission of sending a non-tested kid to school saying she was negative. What next?.. saying that a positive child is negative and sending to school?
Why cant we just follow what the school is asking with some honesty?

WoMandalorian · 09/10/2021 11:12

I'd ask him what he wants to do. I recently had to give my 2yo a pcr and it won't be happening again as he thrashed a lot, so I can see why you wouldn't want to. Could you bribe him? Say he gets a kinder egg if he does it?

Sockwomble · 09/10/2021 12:33

"Not bothered about him staying home tbh. Its not ideal but there are worse things than spending time with your own child. Its appalling home many people can't wait to get rid of their children as they actively dislike them or are annoyed by them."

I think it is the staying indoors for 10 days that is the issue, not the spending time with the child. A large number of children would find this more upsetting than a few minutes upset during a test.

Crunchymum · 09/10/2021 13:50

What choice do you have? It's either test or DC is off for 10 days.

All the rest is moot to be honest.

Mine are all - touch wood - OK with being tested (even DC3 who is disabled and has additional needs, we do nostrils with her though). Its a necessary evil these days.

Whinge · 09/10/2021 13:59

Not bothered about him staying home tbh. Its not ideal but there are worse things than spending time with your own child.

I love that you think people have a choice to stay home for 10 days.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread