I'm at a loss with my sons nursery.

[WJM2020]

My DS's nursery is so wonderful. The staff are amazing and he absolutely loves going. He's 14 months now and has been going since he was 9 months old.
Since then we have had an 8 week cough, 5-6 colds (I've lost count), norovirus. Hand foot and mouth TWICE in 6 weeks and now he has conjunctivitis and the worst cough and cold he's had to date.
Not covid I must add.
He gets around a weeks break and then he's poorly again.
I can't stand to see him so poorly and I keep having to have time off work. DH doesn't as if he doesn't go in he doesn't get paid and I do.
I really feel like I need to pull him out and send him to a child minder instead.
I'm at a loss and me and DH really don't know what to do.
We both have to work, we can afford for me to stay home.
I just don't know what to do?
Does it get any better??? 😔😔😔

Yep, kids are gross and rarely cover their mouths when they cough. Everything goes in their mouths too. It sucks but it builds an immune system. If it doesn't happen now, it'll happen when they start school. Dd had a permanent cold for months but is much more resistant to things now.

It's a bad year for bugs this year, with there having been so little exposure generally since Covid.

We moved from the nursery we used for my older 2 due to Covid, and DC3 started at a childminder when I went back to work. I've found them much better from a bugs perspective. I would however add that once they get to age about 3 they get a lot more out of the social side at a nursery. You might be able to find a childminder who did wrap around care around a preschool, otherwise you might find yourself feeling like you should move again - would that be manageable?

That sounds fairly normal to me. A childminder might expose him to slightly less now but it could mean he’ll be in a similar situation when he starts school. Or he might be just as unwell with a childminder and will be introduced to new people and new germs so will start over again.

Hi OP. I started a thread called ‘anyone else at the end of their tether with toddler illness’. Feel free to pop over if you want a bit of solidarity 😊 no advice obviously as I felt the need to start such a thread

Sorry he's so poorly. My DD is 3 and is a constant snot bag. She's been at nursery since she was 12 months and throughout the pandemic as I'm a keyworker. The last few months have been terrible for illness. I think its where everyone has been shut away on lockdown and now everyone's mixing.

I refuse to take DD out of nursery as she and I love it and she only has 8 months left there. Sorry, I have no suggestions but can offer solidarity!

I don't think a childminder would make much difference - he just needs to build up his immunity. The only difference with a child minder is that maybe they'd be more flexible about still having him if he is a bit off colour - nurseries probably follow stricter protocols around sickness.

A childminder wouldn't make much difference. If I had my time again, I'd take my child to nursery before I went back to work. They all catch all the things.

But on the upside, when they start school which is a complete nightmare anyway, while other children who have been at home are falling like flies, your child will be bombproof.

I work in a nursery, this term (we do term times) has been the worst ever for illness. I suppose because bugs weren’t getting to do the rounds so much last year. Now it’s all hell let loose! Staff sickness has been terrible too.
Hang on in there, hopefully it will get better soon. It doesn’t help when some parents refuse to keep their blatantly ill kids at home so they come in and it spreads like wildfire - and yes I do understand about work commitments.

I’m a childminder - nearly all of my mindees are experiencing the same bugs I’m afraid. Ive been a childminder for 12 years and this is the worst I’ve known it, I’m putting it down to the lack of socialising in the last 18 months. It’s miserable for them and you have my sympathies.

Thank you all so much. Sounds like we just need to ride this one out eh! 🥴
He does really love nursery and he absolutely loves the ladies that look after him.
@Clymene your post made me chuckle! Here's hoping DS does end up bombproof! That would be nice. 💪🏻
I think you are all right about the germs. Being cooped up has caused an explosion of illness, everywhere!
I'll just keep him off nursery tomorrow to get him better as he doesn't sleep at nursery and sleep is an amazing healer. Plus I'll most likely be at the GP tomorrow with his conjunctivitis.
I did call 111 earlier but 6 hours later still nothing! I called as I wanted a prescription today but that's clearly not happening now so I'll just go to the docs with him tomorrow instead!
Oh the joys eh!

Oh it's the same for us. Since Sept, I've had one full week of my 3 being in school. Every other at least one has been off for at least one day. Fortunately I can work from home!

@trevthecat I work from home on a Monday and when required but I work in residential conveyancing, so trying to legal work and drafting legal documents with a sick 1 year old is impossible! I either work or I don't.
Sorry to say it is reassuring to know all of you are/were in the same position as me ☹️

I took ds out of daycare for that reason and used a childminder. He wasn't ill after that.

Very normal for all child care facilities and if he doesn't go through it now it will happen when he starts school. It is so hard with work tho totally sympathise there. Especially if it's all on u to take time off. It will improve in time.

To those saying a childminder would be no difference, that's not been my experience. The smaller setting seems to mean the bugs come more slowly, and they get more chance to recover from the last one before the next one hits - so they don't get as run down and don't seem to get as ill with it. DS (aged 2 so older) has only had a couple of days off due to sickness, the rest of the time he's been sniffly and admittedly sleeping badly with whatever cold it is this time but fine to go in. My niece in a nursery has had bug after bug without a break to recover in between at such a rate she's lost quite a bit of weight, it's no wonder she's struggling to fight them off. If he's settled I doubt it's worth moving him though.