Wrapped up in cotton wool...

[ChaCha]

Was just wondering how other families deal with their childrens sniffles/colds/illnesses etc. My DH would wrap our DS in cotton wool if he had his own way and does make me feel guilty whenever he shows sign of a cold/virus etc.
DS (13mths) and I had a terrible flu from Christmas onwards and couldn't get out for weeks - we're finally feeling better and I have arranged a few activities (tumble tots/drop in etc.) from mid-end week to keep the LO entertained and active. DH gets home from work last week and moans that DS has a runny nose because i've taken him to TTs and that it's not fair. What am i supposed to do? Wrap him in cotton wool and never go out or have any visitors?
I only have a few weeks left until next baby arrives and it is an effort (that DH just can't see) to arrange my mum's visit to help on these activity days, get to the classes (one of which miles away) and run around after DS - the easy option would most definitely to be just to stay in 'because it's too cold' but that isn't right.
Just feeling a bit guilty that DS has yet another runny nose, and probably a bit sorry for myself as this means even less sleep and a headache from DH. Is probably down to the fright he got when DS fell ill with a virus at 4 weeks old but hey...

Thanks, just tired and need to moan.

moan all you like!
I am a hard mum, who doesnt let a sniffle stop much. DH is from a family of mollycoddlers!! It drives me in sane!!!!
'ooo, you should have your coat on' 'oh have you seen the dr' 'oh, is that a tiny weeny little scratch, you should have a huge bandage and a dose of antibiotics!'

MIL and BIL have days off sick with a broken toenail!!!!

The only way he will build up a healthy immune system is to catch all these bugs.

I always think that if a child is well enough to want to go to an activity then they're almost certainly well enough to do it. Have been caught out once or twice though - vomit in back seat of car etc

I think you should be getting some rest, is there any friends with children who can come to yours and play - and make sure they help tidy up mess before they go home so you dont have to venture out if you dont feel like it but your ds can still play with his friends and you can still get some adult chat?

Tell your dp that children get colds and it is impossible to prevent them getting them. Best just to accept as soon as they start mixing with children they will get colds and its best to get them used to them at a young age so they can build up an immunity to them before they start school. Your ds will gain far more from mixing with children than he will by never getting a cold because he never leaves the house, plus its hardly fair of him to expect you to stay in with no interaction with anyone.

Your DH is being unreasonable and is expecting the impossible at this time of year everyone gets colds, if your ds didnt go to toddler groups he would catch it from family and friends anyway.

I would say that your dh is setting a dangerous precedent for the future re. his attitude to illness. Once your child goes to reception I can guarantee that he will catch every cold going in the first term - he will be almost permanently ill! - it goes with the territory. If your dh insists on keeping him off school every time he has a cold he will never be there. I remember working with a woman who kept her daughter off school for a week every time she had a cold (and took the time off work herself to look after her ). The daughter missed four weeks of school in a 9 week term!! (and the woman lost her job, obviously!)

Not that that helps you particularly just now, but that your dh needs to accept that bugs etc are a part of life, and by minimising your ds's exposure to them now, he is storing up trouble for his future.