Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Flip

Original poster

How long do the illnesses last?

14 replies

MilkyChopsKid · 02/11/2008 11:26

I've just gone back to work and DD has been going to the nursery for a month including settling-in days. So far she has had two colds that turn into coughs and last over a week and two lots of diarrhoea that also last a week each. At the moment she has a bad hacking cough, diarrhoea and conjunctivitis!

Of course we catch most of these as well so we are feeling very sorry for ourselves. How long does the continuous illness last - I don't think I can manage working if this goes on for months . I know that children get lots more bugs when they first start nursery but when does it let up?

OP posts:

Ewe · 02/11/2008 11:33

3 months and counting here...

Cough/chest infection

Sickness bug

Diarrhoea

Conjunctivitis x2

I've had something every week where she has needed doctor/not allowed to go in etc. I'm surprised I still have a job tbh!

Original poster

MilkyChopsKid · 02/11/2008 11:40

Much sympathy Ewe, glad your employer is tolerant!

Nurseries should get one taking them along months early so that one can get most of the bugs out of the way before work starts!

OP posts:

MurderousMarla · 02/11/2008 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ewe · 02/11/2008 11:46

Not sure if it will make any diff but I have started to give DD vitamin drops, might be worth a try if you are not already.

I think the key is just explaining to your employer why it is happening and how long term it will mean less illness later as your baby will have an excellent immune system (I am clinging on to this possibility, it's the only positive I can see!).

Original poster

MilkyChopsKid · 02/11/2008 11:48

This is sounding grim . How do you get through it? DH and I sleep separately so that only one of us gets disturbed in the night but as we are ill as well it isn't a good nights sleep.

Are there any drugs to get one through it - legal of course! I know about day/night nurse and night-time calpol.

OP posts:

catweazle · 02/11/2008 12:16

We had weeks and weeks when DD first started nursery when she was constantly ill. Fingers crossed she hasn't been sent home for a while. It does get better but you need to be prepared for a few months of it.

theautomatic · 03/11/2008 09:30

My dd was a very healthy little girl until she went to nursery at 6 months. In her first month at nursery she had a cold, cough and more worryingly a sickness and diarrohea bug which meant she had to be hospitalised for 2 days... I remember how awful this time was, my dh and I felt slightly hysterical, we were worried sick about our baby and at the same time trying to go to work. I took so much time off work I thought I'd get sacked! Luckily things did improve (and my employer was understanding. I'd say after a year at nursery she finally developed some form of immunity.

Hope things improve for you soon milkychops, much sympathy. I think most working mums have been where you are.

SarahPT · 04/11/2008 12:54

Sorry to hijack someone elses post but you might be able to help me too!

My DS started nursery yesterday and after him making it through 10 months with the occassional cold he's now got diarohea (sp?) and gloopy eyes and had a temperature by the middle of yesterday afternoon

Am I being over-protective to take him to GP today as reading MN posts it sounds like he could have picked up conjunctivitis?

Egg · 04/11/2008 13:01

My DTs have been at nursery 6 months and were better in the summer but have now been ill almost constantly with either upset stomachs, cough, colds and conjunctivitis for weeks. They only go one day a week and keep on getting sent home even though though they seemed apparently healthy when I dropped them off.

Trouble is we all still send the kids to nursery with colds, so they just get passed around and around. We are told not to send ours in within 72 hours of them having vomited or had a baaaaaaad nappy, but am sure lots of people do.

As for when it gets better, I think maybe in Spring . WHen DS1 was baby he was ill on and off all autumn / winter mainly with coughs. Happened again the next year too but better this year now he is 2.8.

Sarah - if the eye/eyes are gloopy and still keep returning to being gloopy despite you cleaning them (use cooled boiled water and cotton wool and only use each piece once to avoid reinfection), then does sound like conjunctivitis. Esp, if eyes are all red and he keeps rubbing them. If he is under 2 you will need to get eyedrops prescribed by the doc as not available over the counter, but sounds like he needs to be checked out if he has temp and dodgy tummy as well!

SarahPT · 04/11/2008 13:08

Thanks Egg!

Have cleaned his eyes this morning twice and - like you say - they keep returning to being gloopy

He spent yesterday pm when he came home from nursery rubbing his eyes but I just thought he was worn out after all the new experiences of him being there all day

He is under 2 - he's 11 months this week so will get on phone to GP now

Thanks again - knew MN would rescue me !!

Egg · 04/11/2008 13:15

I am a conjunctivitis expert now. DS1 has had it 3 times, and DD was more or less born with a gloopy eye (although that turned out to be a blocked duct, and was just gloopy, without bothering her or being itchy or red). Both DTs had conjunctivitis a couple of weeks ago. I can tell you having to clean four eyes while two babies are screaming blue murder is not fun .

Must add, it can/should go away on its own but will take longer, meaning they are upset for longer, and can sometimes get worse. Also our nursery wont take them unless they have already been taking prescription drops for 24 hours...

Finally...change his bedsheets / wash any blankies etc if they get eye gunk on them as this can also reinfect him. Must be honest, I got a bit fed up and ran out of clean dry sheets for both cots so got a bit slack and they still cleared up ok.

And don't touch your own eyes!

There. I am finished now .

Pendulum · 04/11/2008 13:31

I have just been talking to a colleague about this.

With DD1 we had around 6 months of seemingly constant illness- I was convinced I would get the sack and it just felt desperate.

Not sure whether 6 months is the magic number or just whether it coincided with warmer weather (may/ june) but things got rapidly better, then in the following 3 1/2 years I can count on one hand the number of days off sick she has had. She has the constitution of an ox.

DD2 does not go to nursery yet but I fully expect her to experience the same thing when she begins.

Hope that is reassuring!

SarahPT · 04/11/2008 13:34

Thanks (again!) Egg !

Have got appointment with GP for this pm

Did a bit of surfing and - like you say - it should clear up in a few days - but as I'm at home and don't start back at work for a few weeks I'd sooner take him to the GP to be on the safe side

And here was me thinking I'd have an easy ride for a few weeks before I went back to work with DS in nursery 3 days a week!!

Ho hum

Thanks again

theautomatic · 04/11/2008 20:53

Just when I said things improved on the illness front, my dd came down with another shocking cold yesterday. Dh and I had the usual conversation about who'd be able to take time off work to stay with her luckily dh was able to. Oh well, I suppose it is winter so I should be prepared for lots of coughs and sneezes! Guess I'm going to have to save up all my holiday leave!

Flip