Risk of catching a cold on tube or train

[tatty33]

As we're still in the middle of the cold season, if my 11 month ds is tucked away in his pushchair what do you think the probability is of him getting other people's germs if we take him on the tube and train?

Hope this doesn't sound too neurotic but every time he gets a cold it goes to his chest and affects his breathing.

Thanks

Its just one of those things isnt? Colds in children are unpleasant but unless you remain housebound throughout the winter, there is not much you can do about it.

I was quite laissez faire before, but after picking up measles at the doctors surgery (I think) my 8 month old has been really ill - I would avoid public enclosed spaces with him as much as possible.
It is horrible when they're ill, I don't think you're being neurotic at all...I wish I'd thought it through myself. Babies need a bit of protection as they can be more vulnerable to complications etc.

You can catch a cold anywhere, I dont think you can keep your self locked up as your child needs to be exposed to germs to build up his immunity to protect him in the future

Unless he has an immune deficiency condition, you're being neurotic.

The more you "protect" him the more likely it is he will be unwell when he does come into contact with something sa his immune system won't build up. Bacteria and viruses can linger in the air so being tucked up won't make a difference. The first winter is always the worst ime. Unless he has a medical susceptibilty to infection it isn't worth avoiding such situations any more than shopping centres, doctor's surgeries etc. Is he your first ?

I think it depends though Lizs...I've not thought about 'protecting' either of mine from these places before, although I do hate going on tubes because I don't like being crowded up with people coughing, I am actually neurotic about that! But when it is something that affects them badly, it can be very tiring and worrying and I think it can't do much harm to avoid regular exposure to loads of new germs, if practical...I know what you're saying about a little exposure being a good thing, but I wish I had been more careful with my baby until he had had his injections, it puts a different slant on it...he would probably not have caught measles at all had I waited till after his MMR before taking him into the surgery.
Of course he could have got it anywhere but some places are more likely I think if they are full of ill people...

The best way to avoid colds is good handwashing whenever you've been out anywhere.

yeah soupy is spot on

your being neurotic. stop being neurotic

I always make sure we wash our hands coming home from school or Dr's, but I was lifting baby in and out of car seat and so on, and it didn't make a difference for us.

Sorry, am hyper sensitive about this atm as had no sleep with ill baby for about a week!

It is horrid when your baby is ill and you don't get any sleep. But avoiding public transport for fear of catching a cold is a bit neurotic, sorry. Everybody catches colds, you can't avoid them! And a bit of exposure to germs is definitely good for children - farmers' kids are less likely to develop allergic diseases because they are exposed to more germs...

I think, if your baby is prone to breathing difficulties on top of colds, taking some precautions is normal and sensible - not at all neurotic. 'Some precautions' is open to interpretation though - personally, with dd2 (who nearly died of bronchiolitis at 4 weeks, and has a narrow airway), I avoided taking her to crowded places as much as possible, washed hands a lot, and generally tried not to let sneezy people kiss her etc.

But public transport was inevitable sometimes, so was picking up dd1 from pre-school with her, etc. In any case, her greatest source of infection was her big sister - didn't stand a chance of avoiding colds, and has had them all winter long, with varying consequences (none of them as bad as last winter).

I wouldn't dream of labelling you neurotic, though - perhaps its because I'm only half British, but perhaps its just because I've experienced a baby with breathing difficulties and know how terrifying it can be.

Thanks, it has been a bad winter and without sounding defensive he has been very unwell, 4 admisions so far...

I agree its a balancing act and really don't mind if people think I'm being neurotic, one thing that does get my heckles however is when people ( not just you LIZS, its a phrase health profs love too) ask "is he your first?" Its got such connotations of worry wartness

I agree you can't protect them from everything but I think I've decided if I can avoid making unnecessary trips I will. I'm still trying to find out how high the risk is though - aren't most germs passed hand to hand rather than in the air?

dh (immune suppressed) say risk is negliable for most people.

Reason I ask is that dd was my 2nd and definitely more ill as an infant(bronchiolitis at 3 months). I would n't have been able to avoid situations where she'd catch things as ds was at preschool and I was isolated enough. We didn't really socialise and lived in a very "clean" environment yet she was still pretty ill, so avoiding such situations may just not work. Subsequently her immune system has been pretty robust though.

yes many infections pass hand to hand, but also hand to door handle, pc keyboard, phone, toilet flush, tap etc which you may also use and then tend to your baby, possibly transferring it. Droplets can linger in the air before landing on surfaces which you or your dc may touch.

He's much, much more likely to get a cold at toddler group than on a tube, I'd think.

That makes sense Liz. He is my first, but now at childminder 3 days a week and they go a playgroup so the risk is high there. I veer between wanting him to stay in with me and be healthy to wanting him (and me) to have an ordinary life and play with friends etc. Come on Spring!

Gosh, poor you, four admissions within a year is horrid

I can see exactly where you are coming from.

A lot of colds are about surfaces and hand washing, true, but nobody touched Ds2 at the docs and apparently the measles virus can stay airbourne and active (with potential to infect) for two hours after a person has left the room...

That's quite hardcore really isn't it!

I hope things improve, it must be a real worry.

Tatty33 - does your DS have a diagnosis of why he's getting so ill through catching a cold? It sounds very stressful for you.

Kind of, they're treating it as chronic asthma even though he's so young. They've ruled out some of major illness, cystic fibrosis, immune problems, allergies and thankfully all clear. Although its obviously a relief all tests have come back clear we're left v. stressed as we don't know why he can't get through colds without it affecting his breathing so badly. He did his first cold at home last month, but in again last week overnight. Noone can believe its just bad luck yet everything is coming back clear...

I'm so blue

((tatty)) understand the blue. Is it possible your ds has a narrow airway, or have they checked that too? My dd has one due to a floppy larynx (she's a very noisy breather when lying down, instant give-away, so doubt its that for your ds) and a friend's ds has a narrow airway for no particular reason - its just 'small tubes' - and has been hospitalized with chesty/coldy things many times. If its any consolation - probably isn't - narrow airway stuff is normally grown out of by the time they're 2ish.

Wishing you a run of cold free happier time, xx

yyy vile dirty people. more worrisome for parents who have to touch rails than children in a pushchair, not sure i believe there is a miasma in the air.

Tatty33 - the reason I asked (and I'm glad you say they've ruled it out) is that one of my children has CF and I absolutely dread her getting a cold. Like I said, handwashing is vital and I was also told that keeping their nose warm in cold air eg with a light scarf, can help prevent the inhalation of harmful bacteria. Ultimately though we're at the mercy of the bugs

I reckon your DC will probably be fine tucked away under his blankies etc but you'll probably be more likely to catch something from touching doors/escalators etc and then pass it to your DC.