So down. Son always ill. Feel like the worst parent

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My son is 14 months and is just always ill.

I know people say it's a slog when they start nursery catching everything going but I wasn't expecting this. My family or friends can't believe it when I say he's poorly again. Even nursery, the last time I told them he wouldn't be in for yet another illness said "aw he's always poorly".

He's been hospitalised 3 times, taken by ambulance twice. Multiple times on antibiotics for various things.

I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

The last time he was taken to hospital by ambulance I'd been at the GP 3 times telling them j thought something wasn't right and was sent away every time, asked if I was suffering with anxiety etc..

I try so hard to look after him well, feed him good foods, be active, good sleep etc etc and yet he's just so poorly all the time. It's really getting to me.

You're not doing anything wrong. Gosh I could remember when mine had started nursery, he couldn't go 2 straight weeks without catching something. In and out of the GP, just like you; only to be turned away saying its normal. 2 years on there's been a massive improvement with his immune system, he still gets ill but not far as much as he use to...Hang in there mama; you're doing great.

Oh bless you, you're not doing anything wrong! Many kids are constantly ill at that young age. They vary obviously, but it's not uncommon! He'll be super bug resistant by the time he goes to school. Oh, I remember those toddler years, just graft!

You really aren't doing anything wrong. We went through this and it lasted about the first 7 months since starting nursery feel so sorry for the little things but it is quite usual. DC was off more than in. Perhaps one week off, one week in type of thing. Financially not great but we got through it and now he's rarely sick anymore. Or if he is then recovers faster. I was tempted to pull him out but then we really needed the childcare and I may have just prolonged the inevitable when he did go back. Good luck, hang in there

If Covid has taught us anything it’s how differently everyone can react to a virus or bug. Some breeze through it, some get hit more severely and everything in between. I reckon it must be the same with kids. They are all catching the same bugs but what will cause simply a snotty nose for one will cause a temperature and severe cough or rash in another. There is nothing you can do about that, it’s just unfortunate luck. There is nothing to feel guilty about.

My DD 18months is the same, as has been since being a few months old, so before childcare even started. Most people started to be surprised if she wasn’t ill.

I was told initially it was due to COvid lockdowns, and nursery (when she started) and it’s normal it shall pass. I was (and still am) struggling to balance everything with DD, work and feeling so guilty, like I was missing something. Don’t feel bad or guilty, it is common for them to catch things at such a young age. It may just be a case of riding the storm, and hopefully your DS will build up his immune system quickly.

Although, my DD is under paediatrician and a chest X-ray shows she’s got she has perihilar peribronchial thickening and increased haziness on her lungs. She also has a very low antibody and white blood cell count, so her ability to fight things off is limited. She’s been on daily antibiotics for 8 weeks now and has improved so much, but everytime she comes off them (as a trial) her temp rises to 40plus, and cough and infections return. We are awaiting ENT and immunologists. Her infections where the same every time, and she does have enlarged tonsils / adenoids, which is causing sleep apnea and delayed swallowed. So I don’t think it’s a phase which would have passed, if you feel like this recurrent and similar infections each time, I would ask your GP for a referral or blood test.