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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

One week in and we're dropping like flies, please tell me this improves and is worth it!!!

24 replies

JRsandCoffee · 12/01/2014 20:41

Just that really. The darling child is almost certain to be an only and is now 14 months, I've gone back to work three days a week and she is going to a wonderful outdoorsy nursery on two of those days. She got a horrid cold after settling and after only one week she's got another one and now ear pain as well, out of hours GP this morning after a pretty sleepless night and anticipating another.

So yes, that's it really, I feel terrible that my super healthy, smiley, hungry for her food, bouncing babe is a snuffling tearful little scrap of incoherent, off her food, humanity, just so I can go back to work and keep a toe on the ladder and a fabulously convenient job, close to home with child friendly hours.

How long does it last that they get one bug after another and is there anything I can do to help her? She can't live on calpol and antibiotics until spring! If necessary I will pack it in and we'll cope but I'd like her to have the social time, particularly as no other children in the family and we couldn't afford that if I don't work.

Ugh, apologies if melodramatic, now in bed myself with apparently blow torched sinuses!!! Any words of wisdom (particularly magic immune boosting potions) very gratefully received!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BikeRunSki · 12/01/2014 20:43

I have to say, I don't think were ever as poorly as the first year ds was at nursery. Except for maybe the first year dd was at nursery. You'll all get used to the bugs soon enough.

gallicgirl · 12/01/2014 20:46

4 to 6 months.
Get used to it because you're all going to get more colds than you thought possible.

On the plus side, she'll be more immune when she starts school.

Littlefish · 12/01/2014 20:47

I agree with BikeRunSki - it takes about a year. Would a nanny or childminder be an option? You might find that she picks up fewer bugs.

MissOtisRegretsMadam · 12/01/2014 20:49

And the more time she spends outdoors the better she will be.

AmandinePoulain · 12/01/2014 20:50

I'd second the 6 months thing! But...dd1 went through it when she started nursery at 1 and now at 5 is very rarely ill...she's not had any time off so far this school year. I think all children go through it, if you don't now you will when she starts school! Dd2 started nursery in May and we've (hopefully) come out the other side now

missmagnum · 12/01/2014 20:52

We had a tough first 6 months when ds started at nursery. Felt like he was always ill, it was hard going. However he now rarely even catches a cold, he has a fantastic immune system now. Hang in there.

KnottedAnchorChief · 12/01/2014 20:52

Ditto. We are 3 months in and dd has brought some delightful things home that we've all been laid up with. I'm lucky I've got a fairly accommodating job but even so...

Original poster

JRsandCoffee · 12/01/2014 20:53

Gah, think I'll hide under my duvet until spring! I was rather hoping that since she clearly learned her kissing technique from the dog (who she regularly snogs) and I'm a bit bleach shy she'd have a bit of an immune system already.

Thank you for your honesty, I think! Has it been worth it in the end? This has to be the nicest nursery I've been to, it really is outdoor child heaven and if we can get through this I honestly think it will be brilliant for her so kind of don't want to give up before we've begun. Thinking summer will be better if we can just get there and by next autumn hopefully a bit more resistance?

OP posts:

happyyonisleepyyoni · 12/01/2014 20:53

First winter in nursery is always he worst. Not your fault at all but it's not a great time of year to start them in child care, it was the same for me with DD. On the plus side, toddlers recover faster than older children from viruses, so she is likely to miss less school when she is older. Grit your teeth and prepare to use up some annual leave on sickness, but at least u don't need to save all your leave for school hols, which is my problem!

AmandinePoulain · 12/01/2014 21:00

Unfortunately the summer will bring the sickness bugs (it did for both of mine anyway). It will be worth it though, it sounds like a lovely nursery. I've never regretted sending mine, they both seemed to enjoy it. In fact last Friday when dh dropped dd2 for her first session in weeks she pushed him away and ran to hug one of the nursery nurses, she'd obviously missed her

Original poster

JRsandCoffee · 12/01/2014 21:01

Only sixteen weeks till the start of May, woo hoooo! Will attempt to fortify myself with thoughts of fabulous immune system in the future!

I sympathise with having to save up leave, difficult. Mother in law is helping out tomorrow but can't expect her to drop everything all the time.

We're they literally I'll all the time or did you get the odd week off?

OP posts:

AmandinePoulain · 12/01/2014 21:03

Not all of the time, no. I'd say generally snotty all of last autumn but only ill enough to miss nursery or see a GP maybe 3 times?

Original poster

JRsandCoffee · 12/01/2014 21:03

Deflated at thought of summer sicky bugs, I thought they were on the winter menu!

OP posts:

fishybits · 12/01/2014 21:09

At least 6 months DD has been swapping spit with the dogs since the day she came home and I'm not exactly house proud. DD's nursery is also heavy on the outdoors which I'm sure helps with their immune systems but she and us was knocked sideways by the bugs. She did recovered swiftly though and a year down the line seems to shrug any bugs off before they take hold.

shallweshop · 12/01/2014 21:10

Oh yes. My two only went one day a week but still came home with all sorts. I had never heard of illnesses liked 'slapped cheek' and 'hand, foot and mouth' until they started going to nursery. I'm afraid it is a rite of passage and can't be avoided. However, although my two caught loads of stuff at nursery and pre-school, they rarely have any time off school now - fingers crossed!

KnottedAnchorChief · 12/01/2014 21:13

Dd started nursery just after DS started school, so they both brought different stuff home and passed it around. Most of the time it was just virusy/coldy things but pretty much low level. More a constantly annoying really. However we did have a very persistent cough appear, and some nasty high temperatures which ended with a trip to GP.
The most recent thing was a horrible sore tongue and ulcers, which we all got and felt like a very burned mouth. GP just said we were all run down.

I'm a bit of a softy and don't send them in if they're miserable though, I'd rather be at home with them. But like I say I have work that can be pretty flexible and there's nobody else to look after them but me and DH anyway. The worst thing for me is the tiredness if they're not sleeping well. I'm useless without sleep.

bumbumsmummy · 12/01/2014 21:25

We are in the same boat Leon's cold buster is amazing no idea why it works it just does

RandomMess · 12/01/2014 21:28

Wait until the puking starts

NotCitrus · 12/01/2014 21:28

About 6 months of colds (and ds started in August), but no sickness bugs for us. Nothing bad enough to make ds miss a day (3 days a week), but we did collect him early when possible if he was snuffly.

HVs said the alternative is they get all the colds when they start preschool or school and moan a lot more about it - at least toddlers don't mind snot so much!

missmagnum · 12/01/2014 21:35

There was the odd week of being ok, it sounds awful but it all passed quickly and definitely worth it. It just gets it all out of the way earlier. Make sure you're taking vitamins etc so you can dodge as much as possible. Good luck!

AmeliaToppingLovesShopping · 12/01/2014 22:44

My DD3 started nursery at 6 months and it is only this winter (aged 3.5 now) that she hasn't had a permanent cold. The first 2 winters the cold started in about September and stayed pretty much constantly until about May/June. She had a runny nose so often that people actually commented on it, a lot!

The other 2 DDs were so bad :)

TeamSouthfields · 13/01/2014 16:36

Yep, will be poorly for afew months, with most things going and.she'll probably catch things you have never heard of.

In afew years time her immune system will be so strong. Tough it out. Your both get there in the end...

CallingAllEngels · 13/01/2014 17:50

DS started nursery at 10 months in August 2012. The winter was hideous - we got a flu type virus 5 times between October and April (and I say we because we all got it!) not to mention d&v a few times for DS.

I thought my immune system was good - being a teacher I get exposed to so much - but obviously not. My sick record took a battering.

Now half way through our second winter in nursery things are much better. I think I've only had to keep him off for one day.

It will get better!

EatDessertFirst · 18/01/2014 21:03

DD had tonsillitis (twice), chicken pox which she very kindly shared with Daddy and DS, then 15months and countless colds and sniffles in the first year at nursery. She was only part time!! Loads of time outside in all weathers, just the way it should be.

On the plus side, she started Reception in September '13, and hasn't had one day off.

Kids need germs to build their immune system. To quote a famous MN phrase....THIS TOO SHALL PASS!! XX

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