Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

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

Original poster

To take covid positive toddler for a walk

157 replies

Covidtrap · 02/11/2021 18:26

Really struggling mentally so just took covid positive toddler for a walk in pram. He had dummy in and raincover down and we avoided people i went out late as less people around and swerved the 3 people we did pass maintaining distance. I know its wrong but hes on day 4 of isolation and sees to have goten even more energy wrecking the place as just wants out. To add to the stress dp got admitted to hosp with covid yesterday hes on day 8 and they said he needs to be in for at least a week. His chest is deteriorating and hes starting clinical trials but worried as covid has already affected his liver quite badly but his chest has got worse and oxygen requirements are increasing daily. I just feel so stressed the fact i cant visit or bring him pjs or anything i know thats the last thing he needs but i feel useless. Is it wrong of me to just go out for a walk woth ds once daily? I am negative and double vaccinated. Ik its against the law but aside from the 2 bottles of wine ive ordered on the online shop i dont know how else to cope. No family nearby and ive had to send friends money to bring dp clean clothes wash bits etc

OP posts:
Bootskates · 02/11/2021 21:53

Very shocked by the amount of people saying this is ok. Having just spent 2 weeks in isolation with the whole family it never even occurred to me to leave the house. The rules have been reduced to the very bare minimum and now people can't even been bothered to isolate even if they actually have covid. Completely unacceptable in my opinion

You are not in the same position. Her partner is in hospital and she has sole care of a sick toddler. And it's not that she didnt "bother" to isolate. She went for a walk fgs. Probably did her the world of good. I'd rather someone did that than have a breakdown behind closed doors "sticking to the rules" she needs to keep herself well and today she did that, fresh air and exercise. Her only mistake was posting here for judgy people to rip into her.

Bizawit · 02/11/2021 21:55

For those of you saying that this is unreasonable.
Do you actually believe that a passing toddler, at a social distance, outside, in a pram, under a rain cover, poses a genuine transmission risk?
Or is it just about “the rules”?

Suzi888 · 02/11/2021 21:56

I honestly wouldn’t worry, you needed to get out and are under immense pressure.

My department has been lumbered with assessing the isolation grants and I can assure you that covid there’s a huge chunk of covid positive adults who are not isolating! They’re going out shopping, going to restaurants, pubs and cinemas- even on holiday! I don’t think your toddler is going to infect large swathes of people in his buggy.

LastToBePicked · 02/11/2021 21:59

Those of you who think you’d cope just fine isolating with a toddler for 10 days while your partner was very ill in hospital - well done on your mental resilience.

Personally I’d be losing my mind and would think a walk outside and a glass of wine would be the very least I’d need to get through it. Neither of which would be putting anyone in danger.

DancingQueen85 · 02/11/2021 22:10

Should we just scrap the isolation rules all together then? I really think it is not too much to expect that people stick to the bare minimum of staying inside when you are actually positive with covid.
In all likelihood the OP probably also has covid, so it's not just the toddler posing a risk. We had several negative tests before all testing positive.
I would have thought that the face that the OP's husband is in hospital would have made her even more aware of the serious nature of catching Covid and why it is important to isolate.

EezyOozy · 02/11/2021 22:12

Oh Op, I really feel for you. Ignore the twats saying they'd have done differently, what you did was not risky and you have to look after your mental health.

I'm on day 8 of isolation with two well but Covid positive toddlers and fuck me it's bleak. And my husband isn't in hospital.

Thanks
Bootskates · 02/11/2021 22:21

I would have thought that the face that the OP's husband is in hospital would have made her even more aware of the serious nature of catching Covid and why it is important to isolate

Which is why she went out later in the evening, put the raincover over her son and stayed out of peoples way. The chances of her or her child passing on covid today are minuscule.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 02/11/2021 22:22

If your child was running around and heading up to people could be seen different. As you say they were under a cover..and you yourself are allowed out. You matter too

Bootskates · 02/11/2021 22:26

Anyway, when DD and I had symptoms we had to walk a mile round trip to the covid test centre..no car and as we were isolating no other way to get there. And we passed more than 3 people..I was following the rules by walking there and not getting in a taxi etc...no different really.

MrsSkylerWhite · 02/11/2021 22:29

Today 19:43 FreshFreesias

YANBU. Ignore the Covid cultists who really should be too busy to comment as they will be washing their shopping.“

That’s a bit daft, isn’t it?
There’s a yawning gap between being considerate and staying home when you’re positive and washing your shopping.

TempsPerdu · 02/11/2021 23:32

Those of you who think you’d cope just fine isolating with a toddler for 10 days while your partner was very ill in hospital - well done on your mental resilience.

Personally I’d be losing my mind and would think a walk outside and a glass of wine would be the very least I’d need to get through it. Neither of which would be putting anyone in danger.

Absolutely this. Just the thought of being in the OP’s predicament is making me feel slightly panicky. No judgement whatsoever from me OP - YANBU and I’d definitely have done the same in your shoes.

The risk of outdoor transmission in a quiet place, with social distancing and the additional barrier of a rain cover, would be infinitesimally tiny. The risk of you completely losing it stuck indoors with a frustrated, hyperactive toddler is considerably higher. Just do what you need to do for your own sanity and ignore the Covid Puritans, for whom no degree of misery in the name of ‘defeating’ the virus can ever be considered too great.

Enjoy your wine and hope your partner is on the mend soon. Flowers

WannaDanceDanceDanceDance · 02/11/2021 23:35

Having literally held my 4 yr old down while she screamed until I was worried she would be sick in order to do an LFT I am completely in favour of the decision by the Welsh government. It was utterly barbaric.

There is covid in the house and she could not go to childcare without. We have to work.

MilduraS · 02/11/2021 23:38

Your toddler isn't feeling well, his dad suddenly isn't home and I'm sure that even if you're trying to hide your worry, he'll sense something isn't right. Short of encouraging him to go around licking people, do whatever you need to do to get through the day. The precautions you took sound very sensible.

LadyGAgain · 03/11/2021 00:37

I'd have done the same as you OP in the circumstances. How's your DP? Wishing you all well.

DidoAeneas · 03/11/2021 01:23

YANBU. I would have done the same. Flowers

containsnuts · 03/11/2021 04:49

@WannaDanceDanceDanceDance

Having literally held my 4 yr old down while she screamed until I was worried she would be sick in order to do an LFT I am completely in favour of the decision by the Welsh government. It was utterly barbaric.

There is covid in the house and she could not go to childcare without. We have to work.

Testing under 5s is a nightmare but I always do it because I want to know for the future if DD has ever been positive and when this happened. Who knows when you might need this info for reasons such as travel, future vaccine exemption, even to monitor for effects of covid longterm.
MimiDaisy11 · 03/11/2021 04:59

There’s always someone on a thread like this saying go out to your garden. Sadly many of us don’t have one. It’d be a lot easier to isolate with one.

stayathomer · 03/11/2021 05:39

You sound like you need the break op, hope everything eases for you soon.

EllieLeopard · 03/11/2021 05:45

my department has been lumbered with assessing the isolation grants and I can assure you that covid there’s a huge chunk of covid positive adults who are not isolating! They’re going out shopping, going to restaurants, pubs and cinemas- even on holiday!

Really? Wow. The selfish ignorance of people never fails to amaze me. Have any fines been issued to anyone breaking the law I wonder?
I bet the fuckers haven’t even bothered wearing masks either!

(Btw I don’t think you were unreasonable in your circumstances OP.)

Sleepyblueocean · 03/11/2021 06:13

I think it is reasonable in your circumstances.

"I really think it is not too much to expect that people stick to the bare minimum of staying inside when you are actually positive with covid."

In some circumstances it is and it is even in the guidelines that it is accepted that some people's circumstances are such that sometimes it will not be possible to fully self isolate.

LaBellina · 03/11/2021 09:02

I think it’s inhuman to demand that a small child stays completely indoors for 2 weeks if there’s a possibility to go outside to breathe some fresh air, in a safe way that will not put others at risk. Even the worst criminals have the right to go outside on a daily basis because as a society we recognize that it’s not fair to let people stay inside all the time. The toddler was in a buggy, under a rain cover, away from other people….I don’t think any person with a shred of empathy would have a problem with that. Esspecially not considering the op’s circumstances. Best wishes OP Flowers

LimitIsUp · 03/11/2021 09:28

I think this is absolutely fine - as long as you are walking when it's quiet and other pedestrians can be fully avoided

StarCat2020 · 03/11/2021 23:07

@Suzi888
When you process the grant forms are people so arrogant that it is obvious they are not isolating?

Changechangychange · 04/11/2021 01:59

@MimiDaisy11

There’s always someone on a thread like this saying go out to your garden. Sadly many of us don’t have one. It’d be a lot easier to isolate with one.
Quite. And people saying “I live rurally, and have no problems confining myself to our five acres of private land”.

Try isolating with kids in a small two bedroom flat with no garden or balcony, and judge OP then.

Littlebelina · 04/11/2021 07:19

Having done the full 2 weeks (back when it was 2 weeks) twice without leaving the house or garden I think YANBU. The second time with toddler dd almost broke me (and there were 2 other people to help distract her). Would definitely be tempted to do what you did if she tested postive and I wasn't

Swipe left for the next trending thread