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Original poster

Isolating from young kids

34 replies

Yellow85 · 16/10/2021 12:57

I’ve tested positive on ltf, PCR results for whole house pending. My kids are 5 and 7 - what have people been doing re isolating from kids? My husband is here whilst we await results, but if he’s negative he’ll likely revert to daily LTFs and go back to work as he doesn’t get paid and double jabbed. He also works outside and can be on his own.

That would leave me with the kids at home whilst I try to work (can’t get them to school). It’s not practical to isolate fully, but have people just been cracking on as normal at home or have you all be a bit smarter with getting too close/hugs etc?

I don’t know what’s for the best tbh. Part of me hopes we all just come back positive and can have some time together at home as normal.

OP posts:
SickAndTiredAgain · 16/10/2021 13:14

I wouldn’t isolate from my child unless they were medically vulnerable. I’d behave as I would with any illness, a bit more attention around hygiene, we don’t ever really share cups or anything but if we did I wouldn’t do that if ill, that sort of thing. I wouldn’t distance.

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 16/10/2021 13:18

I tested positive on Monday and have a 2 and 4 year old. My DH has been doing daily LFT and all negative. He has worked from home this week so that he could do the school drop offs and pick ups and I and the 2 year old home with me as I only work part time.

DH has been sleeping in the spare room and has taken the 2 year old in bed with him when she wakes in the night instead of me doing it. We’ve got the windows open and are washing hands, that’s about all. I can’t isolate from the children.

Original poster
Yellow85 · 16/10/2021 13:18

Thanks @SickAndTiredAgain we were leaning towards normal with some extra mitigation’s, but out government website (scotland) says we shouldn’t share a kitchen or be in the same room without a face covering. Not really sure what the point is at that stage as they’ve been all over me up until now anyways.

OP posts:
Tigerwhocameforsupper · 16/10/2021 13:23

@Yellow85

Thanks *@SickAndTiredAgain* we were leaning towards normal with some extra mitigation’s, but out government website (scotland) says we shouldn’t share a kitchen or be in the same room without a face covering. Not really sure what the point is at that stage as they’ve been all over me up until now anyways.
We’ve shared a kitchen as we only have 1 funnily enough! Using separate bathrooms.

Me and DH have put a mask on if we are in the same room for a period of time, but we are mainly avoiding each other as much as possible. The kids are going between us both as normal though.

Littlemiss74 · 16/10/2021 13:24

@Yellow85 i had a positive lateral flow this am so just been for pcr. Should I be getting the whole family pcr’s or wait to see if mines positive first?

SickAndTiredAgain · 16/10/2021 13:26

If you’re going to be home with kids I don’t really see how that advice is practical. Don’t share a kitchen, but I assume you’ll be making at least some of their food.

I wouldn’t wear a mask but I guess you could - does that advice only apply to the person who has tested positive (eg they wear a mask, the other person in the room doesn’t?), I wouldn’t have a young child in a mask at home.

FusionChefGeoff · 16/10/2021 13:26

DH got it - mine at 6 and 9. He isolated completely in the bedroom / en-suite pretty much. But then I was home so could look after DC no worries.

No one else got it which was good but in your shoes I'd be a bit careful but basically crack on with kids as normal - you don't have much choice really!

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 16/10/2021 13:26

[quote Littlemiss74]@Yellow85 i had a positive lateral flow this am so just been for pcr. Should I be getting the whole family pcr’s or wait to see if mines positive first?[/quote]
I waited for mine first. Then DH went for one as soon as it came back.

I don’t really see the point in doing it so soon though. It would have been too early for him to catch it from me anyway. 5 days after your positive would be the ideal time for a household member to take a PCR.

I haven’t done one at all on my 2 and 4 year old. I know where I got infected and so it didn’t come from them.

Original poster
Yellow85 · 16/10/2021 13:27

[quote Littlemiss74]@Yellow85 i had a positive lateral flow this am so just been for pcr. Should I be getting the whole family pcr’s or wait to see if mines positive first?[/quote]
I think the later is better. We did the whole family just so we knew who was what, but they’ll repeat in a couple of days if negative just to be sure they haven’t caught it from me.

Dh will go back to work after second PCR if negative and recently to daily ltf. Kids will need to isolate with me so their result doesn’t matter either way in terms of isolation. It’s really just so we know if we need to be more careful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yellow85 · 16/10/2021 13:34

@SickAndTiredAgain

If you’re going to be home with kids I don’t really see how that advice is practical. Don’t share a kitchen, but I assume you’ll be making at least some of their food.

I wouldn’t wear a mask but I guess you could - does that advice only apply to the person who has tested positive (eg they wear a mask, the other person in the room doesn’t?), I wouldn’t have a young child in a mask at home.

I assume it only applies to the person that’s positive. That’s why we just got us all tested today to know where we are at. I really don’t want to wear a mask at home, DS1 has been a bit scared of the whole thing so our house has always been the place where we don’t have to worry about any of that.
OP posts:
Tigerblue · 16/10/2021 13:39

If you want to protect your family, then I'd isolate from them until DH goes to work - that'll decrease the risk of DH getting it and at least he can spend as much time as possible with your DC when he's home. If you don't feel too bad with it, then keep windows open and wear a mask.

idontlikealdi · 16/10/2021 13:46

Nothing. We were in a caravan when we got they first positive so isolated there. If I was at home I wouldn't isolate from my kids.

premierinnfan · 16/10/2021 13:52

One of my sons got it in January, the middle had it a month ago (no symptoms- we tested because he was told he was a contact).
We haven't isolated within the home at all. We all were in the car together for quite a long time the day before he tested positive, boys take baths together, eat together etc. Despite this and LOTS of testing no one else has tested positive on each occasion. I'm hoping this means we've either had a previous infection and been asymptomatic and/or our vaccines are working well.
I'm amazed the positive child in January didn't pass it to his brother then (or if he did he has had it a second time).
I would make more of an effort to isolate within the home if we were high risk but we aren't. There seems little chance of properly isolating one member of the family with v small children who require high levels of care- I just don't think we'd manage it.

DancingQueen85 · 16/10/2021 13:58

If it's possible to isolate completely I would do that.

My DH tested positive on Sunday, the rest of our tests were negative. DC tested positive from a subsequent test on Tuesday and other DC and myself from a test taken on Thursday.

From our experience I would say that if you don't isolate everyone in the household will get it. And I would therefore get everyone in the family to isolate.

Also I would absolutely not rely on lateral flows. We had numerous negatives before a positive PCR

OliveTree75 · 16/10/2021 14:11

My dp got it first. He Stayed upstairs away from us but I had already caught it and was also positive 2 days later. I didn't isolate at all from my kids and my dp just rejoined us at this point. My 8yo did catch it. My 5yo and 10 month old didn't catch it despite bed sharing and being in the same room as us all day.

BigSquareRoom · 16/10/2021 14:14

We isolated in the house as soon as dd got her positive lateral flow. But it was too late by then - the rest of us came down with it a few days later

Original poster
Yellow85 · 16/10/2021 14:18

Thanks everyone. On another note, did you all keep testing the kids after first PCR. If negative, do I need to put them through a daily ltf (youngest is only 4) or did you all just symptom watch?

OP posts:
hopjumpskipstone · 16/10/2021 14:22

We all caught it from DS 5, although my 2 yo was the last to get it despite sharing drinks and DS coughing on her. It took 5 days from DS positive for her to test positive on a lateral flow test . Only 1.5 days for DH and 4 days for me to catch it. Obviously DS probably contagious before positive lateral flow test.

OliveTree75 · 16/10/2021 14:22

@Yellow85

Thanks everyone. On another note, did you all keep testing the kids after first PCR. If negative, do I need to put them through a daily ltf (youngest is only 4) or did you all just symptom watch?
Symptom watch.
hopjumpskipstone · 16/10/2021 14:23

You can lateral flow their noses when they are asleep. Although my 5 year old and 2 year old were fine with it.

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 16/10/2021 14:24

@Yellow85

Thanks everyone. On another note, did you all keep testing the kids after first PCR. If negative, do I need to put them through a daily ltf (youngest is only 4) or did you all just symptom watch?
I’m just symptom watching. I won’t put my small children through regular testing. They are home with me for the remainder of my isolation now anyway as it’s half term.
Bobholll · 16/10/2021 15:12

If you aren’t sending them to school, why are you even considering testing them daily? Does it matter? You are all isolating anyway. If they develop symptoms then test them. If not, it’s pointless & completely unnecessary.

My kids are 4 & a toddler. No way on earth was I isolating from my kids or wearing a mask or not hugging them. Where has our humanity gone?! They are just kids. Covid is mild for them & not a risk. To be honest, better you all get it over & done with at once. Then you’ll all have some immunity for a few months!

I’m just out of isolation, we fully cracked on as normal. Hugged, kissed, cuddled loved, shared beds. My husband & two girls haven’t caught it. We’ve tested twice on PCR’s & a couple lateral flows. No symptoms at all.

Bobholll · 16/10/2021 15:17

Honestly. I despair that people are even considering isolating from their kids. Just why?! Excluding those with vulnerabilities obviously. I don’t understand this fear of covid anymore if you are reasonably young & healthy and in particular young kids who barely get symptoms.. do you hide away when you have a cold?! Cos to kids & young, vaccinated adults, that’s basically what it. I’ve felt pretty poorly for a few days but it was like a super bad cold. Now I’m better I’m happy to take my chances catching it again so long as life can be fairly normal.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 16/10/2021 15:21

I caught Covid in August and would not have considered isolating from DS for a second. He did catch it from me but it was barely a cold for him.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 16/10/2021 15:24

@Bobholll

Honestly. I despair that people are even considering isolating from their kids. Just why?! Excluding those with vulnerabilities obviously. I don’t understand this fear of covid anymore if you are reasonably young & healthy and in particular young kids who barely get symptoms.. do you hide away when you have a cold?! Cos to kids & young, vaccinated adults, that’s basically what it. I’ve felt pretty poorly for a few days but it was like a super bad cold. Now I’m better I’m happy to take my chances catching it again so long as life can be fairly normal.
Agree. Isolating from young kids is probably worse for them than catching Covid.