Anxiety about illnesses

[BestBelieveIt]

DS is 9 months and I go back to work part time in a couple of weeks. He’s going to be in a nursery for 3 days. I’m naturally anxious about leaving him but also because so many friends have said about how many illnesses their babies caught at nursery. I’ve done some research and apparently they can pick up about 12 illnesses in one year at nursery, illnesses like hand foot and mouth being a common one and of course colds and coughs.

This freaks me out a bit. When DS was first born he had bronchiolitis and covid at the same time and it was an awful experience so I’ve got a bit of the fear from it. He’s had the odd sniffle and cold/high temp since then but thankfully nothing as bad.

I suppose I’m asking other MNers for their experience of this and have their little ones got unwell quite often from nursery? I know it’s inevitable and part of life and the odd cold and cough I can get my head around but what do you do about work if that’s the case? I just can't imagine my work being best pleased about time off for my baby being ill as much as 12x times in one year. Especially as I've had 9 months of mat leave.

Any advice is appreciated.

Unfortunately my son was hit hard and was ill for 6 month.
He also done 3 days and the illness seemed to hit him the day he finished for the week.
So he didn't actually miss a lot tbh if he did grandparents had him. Emergency days hol.

Do you have family support around you?
DP can take days too if needed not just you

Mine were in full time from 4 months and 5 months respectively. They are now 3 and 6. Between them they’ve had less than 10 days off nursery and school in that time (excluding the week off with asymptomatic covid).

They’ve certainly been sent in dosed up on nurofen but only with colds.

I had them vaccinated against chicken pox at 9 months.

I am wary of saying this unless I jinx something.

mine has been in since he was 10 months (so only 6 weeks ago he started)

He has had a mild bout of conjunctivitis, we kept him off. He has had a mild cough and a cold, we sent him in.

so far, touch wood, nothing else, we had the dreaded email the other day re a sickness breakout but he stayed clear.

I will be getting him the chicken pox vaccine soon though. I’m not prepared to play ‘chicken’ with that one 🤣

My DS has just started nursery and I’m expecting him to get ill soon. It’s like starting a new term at school or uni, everyone passes their germs around and gets ill.

Most illnesses are just colds/sniffles etc and he’ll still be able to go to nursery.

I know it’s stressful, especially when you’ve had a scary experience with illness before, but worrying won’t change anything. I’m trying not to stress about it and just see what comes.

Thanks all. The nursery is quite small - about 9 babies max in the baby room so I'm hoping it won't be too bad.

@welshweasel @Skinnermarink
I've never heard of a chicken pox vaccine! Will look into that.

@SunshineClouds1 thank you. I luckily do have a very good support network but my sister has a 2.5 year old and a newborn by the new year so that wouldn't make sense and all grandparents still working. Yes DH can take some time off too - it's more just the worry of him being with people he's not 100% comfortable with (albeit professionals) if he's under the weather. I think I'm making it worse in my head.