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

When teething that, comes colds, nappy rash and ear ache. x

It's not so much them as me - I wish someone had told me that every bug they picked up I'd come down with it too - never had so many colds, stomach bugs etc... in my life since the girls have come along.

Constipation - both my girls suffered from this when they were babies

Another vote for Mesenteric Adenitis. So worrying to have constant tummy pains and no obvious cause.

I really wish someone had told me about the possibility if stuttering and how to prevent it. DS still stutters and although therapy has helped somewhat, some days it's so bad and I find it all unfair because he sometimes gets teased.

Colic was the first frightening baby problem for me.

Molluscum which both my kids had, and have "diagnosed" at least a dozen other friends kids as having it too. Had never heard of it before.

Definitely conjunctivitis, my daughter suffers from it so much in one eye, was down the hospital the other night with her because she said it was hurting and couldn't look at the light but they said i was just to carry on with the compresses and eye drops, I feel so sorry for her every time she gets it!

Tongue tie
Lactose intolerance
Dairy intolerance

Midwives, health visitors and GPs (can) know nothing about these and Dr Google has too much variation. I don't understand how in the 21st century we can't have some hard data on this .

The sheer amount of rashes that babies / kids get that mean absolutely nothing! haha

Snotty noses. Trying to keep it unblocked so little un can breathe was a nightmare

I would have to say conjunctivivitis. As babies all of my boys have suffered. Initally the doctors seemed happy to prescribe drops but when I took my six month old they told me they no longer give drops. Having suffered with conjuctivitis myself I know how irritating it can be. Pink eye, as it is otherwise known causes a scratchy almost sand in the eye feeling that causes a build up of discharge. Babies get it often because their tear ducts are so small. I looked for other ways to soothe the discomfort. Cotton balls in cooled boiled water are a good way to cleanse but I also read that the tanin in cold teabags also helps. I am not sure if it is true but it is something that I always do.

I'd second scarlett fever, my youngest was hospitalised for 5 days with it having been misdiagnosed by 2 GP's and 2 hospital consultants. She caught it from a child at nursery with impetigo. I had no idea they're from the same strain and can enter the bloodstream via any tiny break in the skin and become scarlet fever.

Molluscumm. Nasty, nasty. My son (7) was stared at as though he had leprosy. I felt sorry for him having to get changed for PE & swimming, where nobody else had even heard of it. And when we knocked the top off one it would bleed. We'd never heard of Molludab. It lasted for almost 2 years, then they all dried up as if overnight - and his verrucas disappeared along with it! I wished we could have helped him.

My son had an apnea attack at 5 weeks old and i had to resuscitate him in the car. It was a horrible experience but luckily we got him to A&E and they managed to save him. I did NCT classes but i think that first aid courses should be more easily available to all new parents. I acted on instinct and on this occasion was successful but to be honest i had no idea what i was doing!

That you would get soooo many sleepless nights when they are children not just babies and its exhausting when they are ill

Constipation was quite a surprise , had to try and "go" in a warm bath

The amount of colds they get in the first couple of years.

Hand, foot and mouth! My daughter had it when she was really young and I freaked out when her hands started to blister. I had no idea what it was, but have since found out it is very common.

I've never heard of molluscum until my eldest had it, but apart from that luckily my two haven't had anything apart from the old cold and recently the eldest has flu. I've heard of some diseases floating around, but thankfully nothing has been in my area and fingers crossed it stays that way.

Bronchiolitis - both DS's have been admitted to hospital with it.

Molloscum - is it a new thing? How come me nor any of my siblings or friends had it when we were young?

Mesenteric adenitis - all sorts of scary things came up when I googled ds1's symptoms. Thankfully the GP was able to diagnose and put my mind at rest.

Snot. The gallons that one small boy can produce on a constant basis is unbelievable!

Not a health niggle, but boys and their obsession with their penis' (penii?!). I was the first time I saw ds1 with an erection. Now they're older (9 and 6) it's no better!

Croup sounds scarier than it actually is!!

Hand foot and mouth. A basic guide to common illnesses would have been helpful especially what is ok and what is not so you don't get PPS (Panicky Parent Syndrome). There is so much out there to scare you when actually most things are normal.

Nits, when I was a kid we had our heads checked by the school nurse for the little critters, and I completely forgot about the little nasties, until my son came home with a dose of them and passed them to me too!!

Nits!