Can you smell when your child is ill?

[baldpenguine]

DH thinks I'm Barmey!

I swear I can smell when DD is ill. I don't mean a seasonal cold or cough, like proper ill. I can tell before she's actually unwell due to the smell she gives off.

Is this an actual thing? Does anyone else do this?

It's not a bad smell, it's sorted of her own smell but heightened. A bit musky. Maybe I'm just nuts but interested to see if anyone else has this?

I think this is normal - yes, uh-oh, he smells like that, better arrange to WFH tomorrow (or whatever).

Yes, I can and I'm sure I googled it when I first noticed it! It's my son especially. He smells quite weird when he's sick or about to become sick

Yes! And poorly breath is a legitimate thing. I used to be able to tell when a child (any child) I looked after would come down with something the next day because of the smell of their breath.

I actually find this even when the illness is a common cold. My husband can sometimes tell too, but not as reliably

Yes absolutely this is a thing. Even DH can smell it when she's about to get really ill and he has a terrible sense of smell. I know nursery workers who can smell on it on the children in their care as well. I've always assumed its something evolutionary that has stayed with us.

No, all my friends say this and I’m just clueless !

Yes!!

Yeah. There's been a longish thread on here about it quite recently.

Apparently it's an evolutionary type thing. DH always thought I was mad.

Yes, totally, breath and just a general horrible smell!

Yes, my ds smells like sour snot when he's coming down with something. Lovely!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4988597-can-you-smell-if-your-kids-are-getting-sick?page=5

We've already had this this week.

I don't get it. But then I can't smell anything distinctive about my children or anyone else anyway. DH says he can smell the DC if they've been snuggling a particular blanket. I can't smell anything like that.