Relentless

[SarahJeffers341]

Coming to vent.. I have a 3 year old who is at nursery and a childminder and always poorly. I know this is what happens but since Covid became a thing, it’s just made life so much harder!!! We all got a cough and sinus issues over a month ago and did tests (negative) but have been left with the lingering cough. Now my son has a new streaming nose and chesty cough and has coughed ALL night. Doing the PCR’s on him is near impossible, he’s traumatised by it (understandably because they’re a fucking joke!) and gets so upset and won’t let you do it. I know we have to find a way as I can’t isolate for ten days every single time he coughs just because we don’t know for sure!

Booked for PCR today at test centre as I need result ASAP and the only way I can do it is to get snot on it.. basically sorry TMI but he gets in such a state we get as much snot on it as possible! I can’t get it up his nose, he’s in his car seat, he moves his head and screams and we don’t want to hurt him.

Did a LFT with as much snot as possible (basically blow his nose and let the snot hang from his nose all over swab)

What else can we do?

Anyone else thoroughly fed up??

I work two days but rarely manage to go in every week now as this KEEPS happening!!

Are you a single parent? Or can your partner cover some of the days? It's so tough isn't it! It's the waiting for the tests that's the annoying bit. I know it needs to be done. You might find a postal test easier? As they can lie down at home. If you order one now then you've got one in stock and you just have to call to register it next time you need it.

The swabs are a joke for young children. I have no issue with testing but the swabs as massive. I can barely get it in my toddlers nostril let alone up her nose! She is also a child who screams & cries when we test, it’s horrible.

You’ll get some people along in a minute telling you if you think a swab is traumatising you need to get a grip cos there add kids going through much worse. Which of course they are but my toddler has no fucking idea about perspective. Should I tell my 18 month old to stop crying cos other children have it far worse?! Funnily enough, I don’t think they’ll understand! This is the most traumatising thing I’ve ever done to them so she gets extremely upset.

It’s tough OP. We are having endless tests this winter. I’m so fed up of it. I’m starting to make a judgement call on things now to be honest. I can’t keep my child off school for endless days for her 10th cough or cold of the year. I may make the wrong call at some point I guess but I’ll do my best. All the parents I know are doing much the same. Kids are germ machines.

It's awful isn't it? I don't know how kids have coped. Especially the littlest.

I don't know what I'd have done when mine were small but I wouldn't have wanted to keep testing them because covid is bloody rife all the time.

my daughter in law says the best time to do the test are when they are asleep she was advised to do lft this way and home pcr as well

I agree with you OP and don't test anymore sick of it

Thankfully our nursery are of the opinion that it’s winter and the babies/toddlers will have coughs and colds and do not encourage testing for every little sniffle. my little one has been there since September and there have been no covid cases. I refuse to PCR test a 14 month old it’s too traumatic. As @Bobholll said I’m doing my best and using my judgment and that’s all I’m willing to do.

Stop testing them!!!

@Whyisitsodifficult

Stop testing them!!!

So how are they meant to go to nursery?

Do nurseries ban them with a cough? I'm glad ours doesn't

My sons nursery said we have to have a PCR if a new cough, temp or loss of taste. My boy has had a cough forever! PCR came back negative today thankfully. Childminder has also said PCR for the same! So if we don’t test we can’t send him!

I’m not a single parent luckily but husband earns so much more and has such an important job that him taking time off doesn’t make sense. Luckily my boy has improved and as negative can go to nursery tomorrow and Friday. Until the next cough