Starting nursery

[Carleton]

Hi. My son is due to start nursery next week,hes almost 3. He ll only be going a few mornings a week but its on my mind about all the viruses he ll pick up especially this year as we have come out of lockdown. I dont need him to go its purely for him.and the social side of it. The closer it gets the more I think about changing my mind. I know some people will say well he ll just pick them up at school aged 5 instead, but do they really pick as much stuff up, 5 year olds dont tend to put fingers in mouth /share potties/chew ontoys etc. I have a baby too so this is another concern. Are there any mums who wouldn't send there child if didn't need to for this reason? Thanks

DS has had plenty via nursery, especially in the last 6 months before he starts school but mostly just coughs and colds, it's normal though....

You seem a bit anxious & preoccupied? What’s troubling you?
Yes your son will pick up infection/virus at nursery And unless he’s immunocompromised he’ll be just fine
In fact he’ll acquire immunity through exposure, it’ll supercharge his immune system. Exposure to microbes will build immunity and strengthen immune system.

My little one got
Conjunctivitis
Chickenpox
Hand,foot mouth disease
…and since this exposure has been hale and healthy

You should send him, a few bugs is no big deal, they all pick them up. It will be so good for him and his development.

My little one brings a bug home every week and baby gets it too. They need it for their immune system

Could you ease in gently? Start with maybe one morning a week?

I think there's a healthy balance and I'd look into how much time they spend outdoors.
Tbh I think some illnesses can be good to build up immune system and at your son's age he should he fine. I didn't send any of my kids to childcare until 2 and half and everyone who had sent their dcs to nursery as small babies said that my kids would pick up everything, they didn't but I brought them outside everyday after childcare/nursery and they were all breastfed until 18 months. I have to say that colds and mild viruses can benefit immunity but repeated gastro bugs or chest infections/ear infections etc definitely don't. Also a couple of my friend's babies got herpes from creches which was v grim. I have to agree that the older they get they aren't going to be putting things in their mouths , they know about cleaning hands etc. Is your DC around other kids ?

I think it depends on the child. I have 2 toddlers who go to the same nursery - the older is sick at least once a month with coughs/colds while the younger rarely gets anything and, if she does, bounces back really quickly.

Thanks for the replies. He gets time outside everyday . It's the covid situation that's making me concerned plus passing bugs on to the baby. If it's a constant thing it means no sleep. It just makes me question whether it's worth it for a few mornings a week when I'm home anyway. I shall try it out and we ll see.

@Carleton I think it's natural for them to go through a year of constant bugs but you can have some respite if they're just in term time for instance. And as they get better at fighting off illnesses they will sleep more. I'm sure that as they go into school they then pick up less bugs because their immune system has been strengthened. 3 year olds don't put things in their mouth anyway and primary kids are still grubby...picking nose, licking fingers etc

My DS goes 3 mornings a week, not going to lie he's had everything under the sun in the first 4 month.
Asides from being ill it's done him the world of good.
All the illness helps their immune systems and plenty things in place regarding Covid