Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

I think it's just normal for daycare. I'm a SAHM so no daycare here and my DS rarely had even a cold for the first 3 years of his life. Now he's in nursery school and he gets sick a lot-- just mild runny noses, nothing to even go to the dr for, but still far far more illnesses in general than when he was home with me. I don't think it can be helped when you have all those children in close quarters with runny noses and coughs, stuff just spreads like wildfire.

Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

It depends on the kid, my son only got sick twice in his almost 3 years at daycare. Some kids are just more prone to getting sick than others.

Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

DD was not in daycare her first year sh ehad a babysitter now that she has been in daycare she has been sick a lot more

ETS: DD started daycare in september got a cold the next week and has been on and off with a cold/cough to present

Message edited 12/9/2009 4:28:03 PM.

Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

I just wanted to give you because DD has croup right now as well--and I know that *I* got the scare of my life when it started.

My DD was in daycare for about 4 months, and we were EXTREMELY lucky because she only got sick twice. BUT, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that the kids (even the infants) have their hands washed when they first come in, before and after every meal/snack, and after every diaper change. They are ANAL about that, and I really believe it's part of the reason she stayed healthy.

You may want to ask them how they handle handwashing.

Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

I think those first 6mo were the worst. AJ still gets sick a lot but not as severely as those first few months. Those were rough.

She's been on antibiotics more than 5times. She's had 7 either single or double ear infections in this first year of daycare. I'd say at least 3 nasty colds as well. But I can honestly say that at 15mo these colds last a LOT less time than a year ago.

She's been in daycare since 3.5mo

She is however going to a ENT for her ear infections because of my own hearing loss and history of ear infections. They said ear infections and colds are very common in daycare kids but they do NOT like to give antibiotics more than a few times. AJ was an exception due to the move. Its is assumed she may have allergies to boot. *sigh*

I know parents who SWEAR they wish they could have left their kids in daycare but it was just too much for them. Then later in life they had to start all over again when they started Kinder or pre-k.

I have no option to bring her home so my point of view on it is different, I guess. Daycare is a social environment, yes she'll get sick but she NEEDS those germs and she loves being there. *Shrug*

Still from your story, maybe a new doc is a good idea.

Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

The first year was the worst. She was sick from Sept to May. Then totally fine for the summer because I puller her out ( I'm a teacher) When she went back in Sept she has had a runny nose, 2 ear infections and a cough that has yet to go away.

Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

TTC crasher here, but I own a daycare and I can tell you, that yes kids absolutely get sick a lot in the first year. One of the main problems is that parent's bring their children sick and than those kids pass it off to other kids. It also takes kids a while to build up immunity to the normal colds and such. All can you do is wash your child's hands frequently, make sure that the daycare requires children to wash their hands and sterilizes toys regularly. For babies make sure to boil pacifiers and bottles regularly if they are sent home from daycare. Other children can pick up things that do not belong to them spreading their germs.

Re: Before I change pediatricians, do 1st year daycare children REALLY get sick THIS much??

Our pediatrician warned us that Alex would be sick at least twice a month for the first 6 months in daycare - and he was right. We went through every possible virus in that time (RSV, Cosackie, etc) and an uncountable number of ear infections.

But after that little hurdle, her immunities built up and she hasn't missed a day of school due to illness in over 2 years!