Second baby gets more illnesses?

[Moonshine160]

DS2 is 4.5 months old and currently has his fourth ever cold, the last one being just before Christmas. We’ve just had night 3 of very little sleep because of his congestion and coughing. DS1 is three years old and goes to nursery three days a week and seems to pick up every illness going which is then passed to DS2. I assume this is normal? DS1 didn’t even get a cold until he was 9 months old.

Completely normal. With DC 1 you didn’t have anyone bringing the bugs home now you do.

This is where breastfeeding can be particularly beneficial because the new baby’s immune system can be supported by your own.

@PinkPlantCase both DC were/are breastfed. Luckily DS2 doesn’t get too poorly with it, no temperature or anything, but it’s the congestion and cough which are a killer because he just doesn’t sleep unless upright. Glad to hear it is normal though

I know this is no compensation now but they will both be as hard as nails immune system wise when they start school. It's rotten when you're going through this though OP.

Unfortunately yes; children get 10 colds a year and I was told the other day that 5 year olds and under have a virus of some sort 70% of the time.

Some viruses cause more symptoms than others and we can have two at the same time.

I remember the toddler years being dominated by content colds, coughs and mysterious rashes. Ds 1 now 10, managed to get scarlet fever twice. He seems to have been more susceptible to temps and coughs compared to ds2 and was later diagnosed with asthma.

It's the main reason why I extended bf as I could never find a good time to stop. Also meant I co slept so we all got sleep.

Glad to hear that your little DS doesn’t get too poorly but it is hard so see them so congested!

Is he old enough now for baby Vicks? I can’t remember the age on it. That helped us a bit.

I remember standing in the bathroom with the shower on full blast and a towel along the bottom of the door in the middle of the night to help clear the congestion if it helps.

It was v hard but it does pass

Sounds normal to me, DC1 didn’t have a cold until she was about 9 months old. DC2 had one at about 2 weeks old brought home from nursery by his big sister and has had most of what she’s had over the winter although not been too bad with most of it all things considered!