Will prior exposure to colds and bugs help DD cope when she starts nursery?

[chocolatecheesecake]

DD is 9 months old and starts nursery in January. A lot of my friends' babies have just started nursery and are constantly ill with colds and stomach bugs. Will I help build her immune system by letting her catch these bugs from the other babies, or will it make no difference to how many times she gets ill in January? I suspect the answer is no difference, but am hoping not!

By then they will be a different strain of virus circualting so probably not

I feared as much. Thanks lizs

I'm sure a child doesnt build up full immunity until 7yrs old (not entirely sure if its 5 or 7).

I would assume good resistance is prob gene related too. If you a both pretty strong then yr child will have a good chance.

Its a strange thing as my children sometimes dont catch a thing from school/nursery and other times will pick up the odd horrific virus which isnt too bad for them but body blowing to us parents (days off work!). I'm lucky we dont have sickily children and would say they are strong - their bodies seem to be able to cope.

Good lifestyle, dog in house, plenty of dirt, playing on floor, outdoor all weathers, dirty fingers all good in my eyes. (I also swear by the use of the dummy - plenty of continual germs - may be scientific???)

Both boys started nursery at 9 months but were not continually ill.