Which children’s health niggles do you wish you were told about before you became a parent? Tell MolluDab for a chance to win a £150 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[KathrynMumsnet]

MolluDab have asked us to find out which children’s health niggles Mumsnetters wish they’d know about before they became a parent.

Here’s what MolluDab say, “Becoming a parent throws up many challenges none more so than the countless, often highly contagious, health niggles your children can pick up. One of which is Molluscum contagiosum. Molluscum contagiosum or ‘water warts’ is a common and relatively harmless (but highly contagious) viral infection of the skin. The spots are easily recognised, and are small dome-like shiny pimples often grouped together. Molluscum contagiosum occurs most frequently in children and young adults, most frequently pre-schoolers aged 1-4 years. The condition usually clears within 12-18 months without treatment but can last longer and causes those affected much embarrassment and self-consciousness. MolluDab is a new and proven treatment for Molluscum Contagiosum, available on prescription or from the pharmacist.”

So, which children’s health niggles had you not heard of before becoming a parent that you wish you had? What advice or information would you pass on about children’s health niggles to other Mumsnetters? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Everyone who posts below will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £150 voucher for Jojo Maman Bebe.

The comments on this thread may be used (anonymously) by MolluDab in future marketing material, so please only post if you’re happy with this.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Quite, quezy! Isn't the point that we learn about it as we go along. I agree that issues affecting neonates should be discussed in more detail before birth. Such as tongue tie. Because we need to spot them pretty quick.

still not got a clue about hand foot mouth/slapped cheek that have been mentioned up thread.

toddler diarrhoea... that digestive problems can come with autism... (he hads been diagnosed two years and I have only just discovered the connection)

strep b in pregnancy.

Yyto croup.utterly terrifying in the middle of the night. I thought DD was chocking on something.

Croup!! I had never heard of it until my son had it and it was very frightening.

Worms. Might have made me change my mind about being a parent though

Yes to croup as well.

I'd never heard of impetigo, croup or hand, foot and mouth. Nor did I realise how serious chicken pox could be. My DC haven't had this yet and I'm dreading it

I hadn't heard of molluscum contagiousum until my 2 year old was diagnosed with it a couple of days ago. When the nurse practitioner told me what it was I thought she was quoting a Harry Potter spell at me. I'm so glad to have a diagnosis and even more glad to know that Molludab exists!

Toddler diarrhoea and constipation (not the same children!) Both caused immense problems and one still does. Croup too, that was horrid, It just sounds so awful.

He fact that they bring home every single bug from nursery...which I guess is good for their immune system' but then we catch them all too.

And headlice and worms. yuck.

And that the most drastic vomiting might just be only a 24 hour bug.

Hand, foot and mouth - would have saved us a trip to the GP if I'd known what it was and that it was self-limiting

Colic and reflux. For too long I went on thinking my baby struggling to wind and feed was normal. It almost broke us! Endless crying and sleepless nights. I would have liked to have been given more information on how to identify and treat it.

Another vote for constipation here. 2 out of my 3 children had problems which lead to being scared of going to the toilet and months of problems. Finally have come through the other side now but it was a nightmare time.

Reflux and croup and toddler constipation should all be covered briefly at antenatal classes, as should what a post viral rash is (I'd bet 90% of people, like me, needlessly take their pfb to the doctor with their first post viral rash). Agree croup is absolutely terrifying the first time. Scarlet fever was also alarming - I thought it was anaphylaxis, his face turned so red and mottled so very fast...

Why is molludab so expensive when it is just 5% potassium hydroxide. I could get potassium hydroxide solution and dilute it for a lot less than 25 quid.

Sticky eye/ blocked lacrimal ducts is newborn eyes. I panicked and thought she had conjunctivitis. I actually found mumsnet really helpful for baby health niggles, as somebody had always asked my question before.

Worms we have had it twice and there is nothing to prepare you for when you shine a torch on your childs bottom in the middle of the night to be faced with a tiny wiggling cotton like worm wiggling at you. I will never lose that image!

Officer we were warned about the newborn 'period' at NCT classes so I knew what to expect. Not sure if they mention it as other antenatal classes but they definitely should as it would be really scary if you didn't know it was normal!

Viral rash, scary stuff when you don't know what it is!

How tough it is to look after sick babies when you're sick yourself. Even just with a cold, although the week we all came down with norovirus was particularly noteworthy.

That if a child went to nursery fro 2 years she could get around 50 viral infections and give them to her mummy!!!

Nits (never had them in my life until the children started at school. I've got them from the DCs four times- GRRR!)

Sickness (thankfully not much D&V in this house) and how it can just appear out of nowhere, sometimes last for 12 hours, sometimes for 24 and sometimes for days on end...

Dealing with very high temps in children particularly during summer months.

All the illnesses such as 'slapped cheek' and 'hand, foot & mouth' which didn't seem to exist when we were children and came as a complete surprise when the DCs had them!

Earache!

YY to bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis - I'd never heard of it and was beside myself when DD was immediately sent to a&E by the gp at 12 weeks with it

Bronchiolitis, I nearly lost my DD at 4 months old, she spent a week on a ventilator in intensive care. I didn't call an ambulance, I waited for a 6pm doctors appointment after calling in at 8.30am. The doctor immediately called an ambulance. I had no idea my daughter was so ill.

Hand, foot and mouth disease - wow, what was that all about and where did that one come from? Totally threw us that one. Poor little fella.