Baby constantly ill starting nursery

[Emmaaa1990]

Hi all

My baby started nursery on the 15th feb and has only done 2 weeks there due to her constantly being ill! She got a cold after her first week that lingered for 3 weeks then went into be a chest infection and needed antibiotics. We had to get a covid test so couldn't send her back til we had that result so we xz kept her off and she went back in last week and she's got another cold and is coughing constantly! She's keeping us all awake and is really struggling. I don't understand how she's getting so ill constantly! Is this normal or is the nursery just not clean enough?

It's hard enough having a baby during lockdown but now I'm back at work it's so stressful trying to sort it all out! Is one cold after the other normal? Or is there something wrong? Thanks

Completely and utterly normal. The first year in childcare is hell on earth for parents and little ones. I had never had so much time off work than I did that first year. It does get better the second year I promise you. I can only imagine it is probably worse with all the social distancing we have done the past year, so the immune system has had no chance to fight off any bugs they may come in contact with on a day to day basis.

It's normal. When DD started nursery, she didn't manage a full week for almost a year. She's now 4 and after the first year, her health has been much better. She's also had all of the usual childhood illnesses, so I'm hoping that when she starts school, she won't end up being off sick too often.

Unfortunately it is normal and possibly more so right now. Your DD has presumably not seen many/any other children to catch germs from before so is being exposed to a whole new set now. The babies will be sharing toys etc and not socially distancing so germs spread easily. It is really hard though as a working parent, and not nice for your DD. I guess you can cross your fingers we are nearly through the main cold season.

Thankyou everyone for replying I have read that babies tend to pick up everything when they first start just didn't realise it would be this quick and frequent! Haven't had a well baby for almost 6 weeks now 😓 just feel really sorry for her! Yeah definitely worse because of all the covid stuff for sure! Definitely stressful when you work and still have to pay for the nursery they are getting it from and then not getting paid from work when you are off 🙈 thanks all

Its is perfectly normal. I would try to have things and techniques to ease her symptoms. Would vitamins help? Propping the head end of the bed up a foot can help with breathing in the night as they are on a slant. For what its worth, and I think a lot of people found this, during lockdown we all as a family barely had a cold. Oldest teen went back to school last September, within a week he had a cold. With the best will in the world, kids spread bugs

@PurpleMustang worst timing isn't it! I've actually just got her some vitamins so started them today. Unfortunately she's such a wriggler in her crib I don't think slanting it would help. I have got Calpol plug, snuffle babe, nose spray and ive just ordered a vaporiser and some olbas oil. I'm trying to help her as much as I can :( Thankyou :)

It's normal. Dd (3) kept getting colds very regularly when she started pre-school. In fact, she kept getting colds and all sorts even before as I took her to play groups quite regularly (pre-covid). Every other week she had something. And when she gets a cough her cough lasts a long while. My gp confirmed that it's normal for children to keep catching viruses/bugs when they go to play groups/nursery. She told me to expect something every couple of weeks. Since dd started taking a vitamin d supplement she's hardly had a cold but her taking vitamin d coincided with covid and the preschool are very strict on hand hygiene now, so not sure if it's the vitamin d or better hand hygiene at school that's prevented her from getting a cold so far, perhaps it's a bit of both.

Absolutely normal, the only advice I give new parents is to put them in nursery one day a week 4-6weeks before the end of maternity because of this.

Hang in there it’s normally bad for 2-3 months then settles! It’s rough!

@5lilducks oh wow it's actually insane how often it is though isn't it! Makes me feel better though that it's normal! I was starting to think the nursery isn't clean! Oh that's good with the vitamins we got some abidec I think it's called and started that today hopefully it helps her somewhat! Thankyou :)

@IggyAce that is a brilliant idea! Wish I thought of that!!

@Marvelwife123 Thankyou :) I hope so!

Normal, myself and DP had 52 days off between us in the first year .

It massively improved after a year though, she hasnt had a single day off since end of Jan when she went back.

Totally normal im afraid. My son had a consrant cold for about 4 months. Add a chest infection and antibiotics in there too. Hes been at nursery for about 8 months now and I cant remember the last cold he had. Its good for the immune system!

It is totally normal but they are not getting it from the nursery as you state, they are picking up bugs from the other people they seduce coming into contact with
The nursery is not the source

Totally normal, 3 months of illness to be expected when they start, literally one thing after another.

@Bluey18 oh my god! That's actually crazy isn't it! It's so hard juggling work and children. Oh that's good though I guess it's good for their immunity just hard going through it isn't it.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene oh bless him! Yeah we've just had a chest infection with antibiotics I think it may be back though she's so chesty and coughing up phlegm now, so going back to the doctors tomorrow in case she needs something again. At least it got better I'm hoping it builds her up :)

@insancerre yeah I guess especially as she has had very limited socialisation since she's been born during lockdown. Makes sense definitely

Is there any asthma in the family ?

Yes, most people I know start children in nursery (even if just a couple of half days) at least a month before starting or returning to work.

One of mine even managed a vomiting bug after the first settling in session.

@DinosaurDiana my partner had it when he was younger yeah, we didn't think of that but she's not wheezing or anything just chesty cough sounds painful when she does cough tho.

@SoWhyNot oh my god no way! It's crazy how quick the germs can spread!