Does it ever get better?!

[c0uldibeanymoretired]

I was always told “wait until nursery to understand real illness in your baby” and just assumed people were being OTT.

How wrong I was 😩

DS started nursery 3 weeks ago for 3 days a week, he’s been ill everyday since his first day and no signs of getting better. Probably doesn’t help that his back teeth have just come through as well.

Is this the beginning phase as he’s around new babies and new germs or does it genuinely never get better?

He used to sleep 7pm - 7am with no wake ups. Now since his first week, he only settles in my bed with me and wakes up every 2-3 hours. If I dare move him to his cot he just screams.

Really debating taking him out of nursery until he’s older, he turns 1 next week so have time to start again. Then at the same time they’re a lovely nursery and he settled in quickly and I think it’s great for his social skills.

What will you do about work if you pull him out? Most people dont have the option but maybe you do?

It will get better in the summer and it won't be as bad next winter.

But nursery holds no benefit for babies (unless they are in a less than ideal home environment) so if you don't need nursery for childcare then do take him out.

My role allows me to choose my own hours so I can do evenings, weekends and days where family will help out

His immune system will get stronger, his teeth will come through. Cuddles at night? Can't comment as I liked them as much as my babies did so they did go on for a while.

This will pass and then you face the next thing but it can't be that bad as I went in to have three more. I miss those days.

It does get better, but prepare yourself for a good couple of years of illness. To be honest it’s much worse in the winter, summer is a bit better.

It’s horrific, and we’ve not even had it the worst of everyone I know. 6 months in and it’s worse if anything. Everyone I know with same age kids having same problems, up to and including hospital admissions, having to and live with parents so they can work as the child is just never well enough to be at nursery, Victorian era illnesses like Scarlett fever, scabies… hate it.

Forgot to mention I had to pick him up early from nursery 2 days ago because he was 1 degree over what he was meant to be… meanwhile they sent an email out saying the baby room has cases of conjunctivitis and they can’t send those babies home?? Make it make sense.
Can’t wait for him to catch that next!

I think it's harder when they're younger as they put things in their mouths and have had less exposure to germs compared to older kids so catch more. I'm sure it will get better when we get into spring as there's more to catch at this time of year.

If you do decide to pull him out and wait until he's a little older, my DS started nursery at 2 years old and honestly it hasn't been too bad. He was past putting stuff in his mouth by then and was able to wash his hands which definitely helps! He's had several colds, a few viruses and flu but he's been there a year and a half now and he's not ill constantly and never has been. No stomach bugs, chicken pox, impetigo, etc. He does go through phases but honestly some illnesses come from playdates, softplay, etc too.

The first 6 months are the worst for it and it's worse if you have an autumn or winter starter and if the child is younger. Mine started at 9 months in spring 10 months autumn, 11 months autumn. My middle child was the most ill which included several A&E visits (once sent by 111 and twice sent by the GP during appointments) and one hospital admission. I stopped breastfeeding them about a month before they started nursery which in hindsight I sort of regret now. I continued breastfeeding DC3 purely because I hoped it would help and though he's still being ill A LOT it hasn't been as often and crucially not as severe as my poor middle child so it does seem to be helping.

As they get older they build their immune systems and they are still ill frequently but nothing like that first baby winter at nursery, honestly.

It’ll get better. They pick up all the germs at first but after a few months it gets better. My daughter was super clingy after starting nursery aged 1 (she was also super snotty) but this got much better as well. If he enjoys it I wouldn’t disturb his new routine as his immune system will catch up