starting nursery in winter?

[newmummyAS]

Hi, my son is Nov born,14 month old now, and I am planning to send him to nursery when he turns two. I have heard some horrific stories about baby getting ill during winter in nursery and not sure if starting in winter is a good idea. I understand the first winter is always difficult and my son got ill all the time this winder even when at home, but since he will be two that time, I am hoping he be ill less frequently even in nursery. Maybe it's just my wishful thinking, any experience on this pls? Thanks.

It sounds as if he has been out and about, mixing with others, and picking up their germs this Winter, so will have already started to pick up some immunity.

I suspect those that succumb to multiple illnesses when they start Nursery will mostly be those for whom it is the first time mixing with other dc.

Start hi at Nursery when it works for you as a family. I wouldn't factor that in at all.

My son started nursery in January 24, at 13 months old. He had a a nasty virus shortly after starting and needed a week off (think it was flu as we all had it and felt awful), but otherwise no time off in the winter.

I'd start when works for you - especially as he's older and had some bugs anyway he'll hopefully have some immunity

Thank you both. Yes we do take him out sometimes. He has weekly swimming class, library session and Sunday school, just half an hour to an hour or so but he got bronchiolitis once (admitted to hospital for 3 days), sore throats, and cold every other week. Really hope his immunity has built up a bit and next winder would be easier.

It doesn’t make a huge difference when they start in this regards, new starters will catch a fair bit initially.

They'll get what they get regardless of who they've mixed with previously, what they've had before etc.

My 3rd baby has just started nursery, she's 9 months old. She's caught everything going from her older siblings; noro, scarlet fever, coughs, colds. She's still come back from nursery with conjunctivitis, colds, ear infections from viral infections etc

IME it's just par for the course

I work in a nursery and so far this winter we have had
Hand foot and mouth, croup, D+V, cold/viruses, conjunctivitis and chicken pox going around (this is rife in one of the rooms, most of the children have had it). It's better they catch them now though before they start school so they can build up some immunity. But things will still go round at other times of the year so just do it whenever works best for you

My LO started the early Jan and she's already had:
Persistent cold
Conjunctivitis
Ear infection
Throat infection

We'd attended loads of baby classes etc previously but it's not the same.

She's been so miserable, but hoping this is the worst of it and spring will be a bit better...