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Original poster

Nursery are very concerned about DD's health

86 replies

nutcracker · 01/04/2004 16:58

Have just got back from dd2's parents meeting at nursery. Her teacher started the meeting by saying that herself and the head nursery teacher are very concerned about my dd. They said that she seems to be constantly tired and lethargic, and that it is affecting her work.
When she said it, i wasn't really all that surprised as i had thought the same thing about a week before. They said that she just sort of sits there with a tired, glazed look on her face like she's on another planet. To demonstrate to me what they meant they showed me two pictures that they had asked her to do. They asked her to draw something(can't remember what but something she new) and then left her for half an hour to do it (she wasn't on her own, other kids were drawing too). All there is on the page is two lines and thats it. It was done at 11-11:30.
I am now very worried and slightly confused too. She goes to bed no later than 7:30 and gets up at 7, so she's getting enough sleep. Her diet isn't particularly brilliant as she's quite a faddy eater but that has only just started really, she used to eat well. She has a multi vitamin every day, and will quite happily eat the fruit bowl if you give it her.
I know that what they are saying is true as i've had her complain of being tired at 10am when she's done nothing. She's definatly not an active child and is quite content to lie around all day.
She got up at 7am today, and apart from walking to school, she hasn't done much, but she's just fell asleep on the settee.
If i take her to the doc's what will they do ????
They will probably think i'm over reacting but she shouldn't be like this should she ?? What could it be.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 01/04/2004 17:01

I don't know what it could be or what your doctor might do (blood tests I guess?) but I'd definitely take her to see the doc.

Does the multivitamin have iron in it?

Jaybee · 01/04/2004 17:02

How old is she Nutcracker? Is it just at this time of the day that she seems tired - maybe she needs a nap. If they are concerned and so are you I would take her to see the gp - just tell him that your nursery has recommended that you take her. They may take a few simple tests to put your mind at ease.
Not sure what else to say - they are a worry

Original poster
nutcracker · 01/04/2004 17:04

Yep it does Soupy. I think they are multi vits with iron. They are only cheap Superdrug ones, but that doesn't make a difference does it.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 01/04/2004 17:04

Nutty how about glandular fever or something like that? Would def get it checked out. Hope she is better soon.

Janh · 01/04/2004 17:05

I was going to ask about iron too, nutty. She could be anaemic. If the multivits don't have iron in, get some that do (Tescos kids vits are good) and give her some orange juice to drink at the same time as it aids iron absorption.

Might be a good idea to get her checked out anyway.

Freckle · 01/04/2004 17:06

I would definitely take her to the drs. He/she will be able to tell a lot by looking at her skin, eyes, inside her mouth, etc. They won't necessarily do anything invasive, such as take bloods, but that might be the best thing.

If you feel in your gut that she isn't right, take her. Poor diet alone wouldn't necessarily cause this. If it did, all 3 of mine would have been like this at one point or another as they faddy eat for England. At least you will gain peace of mind knowing that you've done your best, even if the dr. just says that this is the way she is. Hope you get some answers.

Original poster
nutcracker · 01/04/2004 17:07

Jaybee, she is 4, but hasn't had a nap in the day since she was about 3.

OP posts:
Janh · 01/04/2004 17:10

Have a look at this . You've mentioned before that she doesn't eat very well, haven't you?

aloha · 01/04/2004 17:10

Def take her to the drs. Trust your gut instinct as a mother. Don't underplay it to the GP either - tell her it's not normal for her and her nursery is concerned. It may be something quite simple, but if you have noticed something then it's got to be worth a trip to your GP. Good luck.

Janh · 01/04/2004 17:17

Oh, I didn't read your first post properly, sorry, nutty, I thought she'd been like this for ages, not just for a week. She could possibly just have a low-grade virus that doesn't give her any symptoms but knocks her out but yes, you should definitely take her to the doc's ASAP, she's not right. And keep her off nursery while she's like this and let her sleep as much as she needs to.

Angeliz · 01/04/2004 17:18

no advice nutty but i hope she's o.k and feeling better soon+++++++++++++++++

Original poster
nutcracker · 01/04/2004 17:19

What are other signs of anemia then, other than tiredness ???

OP posts:
Janh · 01/04/2004 17:38

Just paleness inside mouth and eyelids I think but I'm not sure you'd spot that yourself.

hmb · 01/04/2004 18:21

If it gets very bad then people can end up breathless, but other things tend to be picked up earlier on. I hope she feels better soon.

Fio2 · 01/04/2004 18:22

it does sounds like low iron count to me too (cant spell the a word, having a thick day!)

roisin · 01/04/2004 18:23

Not sure I can add anything to the excellent advice here. Hope you get some good advice at the GP's.

Original poster
nutcracker · 01/04/2004 18:41

The only thing confusing me is that dd1 has a much worse diet then dd2 and she is fine. Plus i don't think dd2's diet is that bad. She has cherrios for brekkie and then a sandwhich, yoghurt and bananna/apple for lunch and then what ever for tea. Tonight was chicken supreme with rice.
She is quite pale, but then so is dd1 and me. Actually i would describe dd2's skin as grey sometimes rather than pale.

OP posts:
StripyMouse · 01/04/2004 18:44

Sorry to hear this nutty. If it were my daughter and had just been a recent prob. with no obvious external causes such as lack of sleep, poor diet etc. I would monitor it over Easter, watching diet really carefully and checking on exact amount of sleep etc. If there is no improvement I would then go to doctors with a sleep log and a week?s food diary and see what they say.
It sounds like something and nothing to me but worth keeping an eye on.
My main concern would be why the nursery had allowed her to sit for that long and do so little - I know she was with other children but I would expect a bit of adult encouragement and support at the time rather than leave her for 30 mins and let her do nothing. Perhaps she just didn?t feel like drawing! 30 mins is also a very long time for a 4 year ld to focus on one activity. When teaching, I wouldn?t leave an 11 year old with a single activity unaided for so long and expect them to stay on task let alone a 4 year old.

Original poster
nutcracker · 01/04/2004 18:51

I think they asked her to draw something that they knew she could draw. They also showed me another piece of work where she had had to copy the words and then draw a picture to go with it. Again there were just a couple of lines. The words were copied rather well though. Which made me think that maybe she was unsure of what she should be drawing.
I will keep a sleep diary though and a food one. Thanks for that idea.
I will feel truley awful if she is anemiac though.

OP posts:
Janh · 01/04/2004 19:05

Don't feel awful, won't be your fault - just one of those things. If she is maybe she just needs a bit more iron than average? Or could she have had a growth spurt recently? I think that can do it.

Original poster
nutcracker · 01/04/2004 19:07

Oh i don't know. Don't think she's had a growth spurt. I feel like a crap enough mother already and now it looks like i can't even feed her properly.

OP posts:
roisin · 01/04/2004 19:25

I felt bad when ds2 was anaemic, but GP told me that loads of young kids are. Iron's not easily absorbed into their system, and if they don't eat red meat, it's quite easy for them not to get enough. Sounds like you give her a really healthy diet actually.

Get her checked out, to put your mind at rest. I'm sure it could be any number of things. (Has it been ongoing long? I know my kids are utterly exhausted this week - this half term always seems the longest and they are just desparate for a holiday).

Btw do you get on well with your GP?

Agy · 01/04/2004 19:31

I don't believe for one moment that its anything you've done or not done. Sounds to me more like boredom at nursery! And I think its ok for her to be tired by 5 o'clock. She's had a busy day.

Original poster
nutcracker · 01/04/2004 19:46

Agy - I did think that maybe it was boredom, but she seems to really enjoy nursery, and to be fair to them i had already noticed the tiredness myself. She also complains that her legs hurt quite alot too, usually when we are walking to or from school.

Roisin - My g.p is pretty crap actually. If she doesn't take it seriously i will ask to speak to another doc, it is just the excuse i need to change actually.

OP posts:
roisin · 01/04/2004 20:07

Yes, make sure you get someone who will listen to you. Actually being able to say that the nursery staff have raised this concern should help. (Sad but true.)