Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

DD is 6.5 months old now and we started her in daycare about 6 weeks ago.
Now I know kids will get sick in daycare...but she is getting sick almost every weekend (no exageration). In this short time she's already had 3 colds, 2 ear infections, a stomach bug and a UTI.

I've goten so upset about I've seroiusly considered quitting my job until she gets healthier...which is fine for now, but in the long run not a good decision. I could probably stay out of work for about a year, but then I'd have to go back. Right now I have a good job that I enjoy and the daycare facility is in the same building...I might not be able to find that again.

Do other parents of kids in daycare feel this way too...or is every weekend a bit much. Am I being irrational/emotional just picking up and quitting my job?

Your thoughts....
TIA

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

I know its convenient but have you tried switching daycares every weekend is alot but kids do get sick in daycare.

I had a baby sitter until DD was 1 then she went to daycare with the baby sitter she had maybe 1 - 2 colds that year with the daycare she has a constant runny nose but not really sick but she is two now and it really does not keep her from playing

Message edited 10/24/2010 2:37:46 PM.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

I know this statement might not help you right now... but it will get better. DS started daycare just shy of 12 months. Up until that point he had only runny nose. As soon as he started the colds, fevers, and ear infections began. It was a rough Spring. DH and I are both teachers, so he was home for the summer and when he returned in the Fall, he was much better. His ear infections continued, but that was a separate issue and was resolved completely with tubes (this would have happened if he had never gone to daycare). They build up immunity. I know it is difficult to see them suffer. I know it is difficult to have to take time off from work after returning from maternity leave. It will get better. Hang in there.. and try to stay healthy yourself. That was a big problem at our house too... passing germs from one person to another.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

Posted by july0105

I know this statement might not help you right now... but it will get better. DS started daycare just shy of 12 months. Up until that point he had only runny nose. As soon as he started the colds, fevers, and ear infections began. It was a rough Spring. DH and I are both teachers, so he was home for the summer and when he returned in the Fall, he was much better. His ear infections continued, but that was a separate issue and was resolved completely with tubes (this would have happened if he had never gone to daycare). They build up immunity. I know it is difficult to see them suffer. I know it is difficult to have to take time off from work after returning from maternity leave. It will get better. Hang in there.. and try to stay healthy yourself. That was a big problem at our house too... passing germs from one person to another.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

It WILL get better. My kids were never in daycare, and when Genevieve started Pre-K she was sick for a good few months before her body got stronger.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

DD was never in daycare. when she started prek last year is when the colds/illness started. Shes in her 2nsd year of prek now. Ill be honest...everyone keep saying to me itll get better....but she is still getting sick yet again this year. I hope her body adjusts before she starts kindegarten next year. Her ped says its very normal and usually takes 2 full years in prek or daycare to build up strength to fight off all of the germs they encounter. DD was fine all summer and got a cold as soon as she went back to school. I know how you feel. It is SO hard.

Do I think staying home a year would make a difference? no. IMO..get it over with now. I had DD home with me or with my sister (or has no children) while I was working so she wasnever around other kids a lot...as I said...it started with prek. So itll just start when you go back to work in a year.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

DD is on her 5th ear infection right now since she started. She is on antibiotics all the time. Her nose has not stopped running since August. It is a nightmare. I will tell you though that I went through this with my son too at 3 different daycares and it happened at all of them. it is inevitable regardless of how clean they are.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

DS has been sick since he started daycare in late August. As soon as a cold disappears, it's days before another one starts. I just hope it makes him stronger and healthier in the long run. My ped is not worried, so I'm not.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

I think it's normal. My DS was never in daycare but when he started nursery school he was sick the entire winter and would pass it along to my infant. I was so upset. I relaly though there was something wrong with him but it passed.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

Unfortuantely kids do get sick in daycare very often. The UTI would bother me though because either they had a diaper on too long, the poop got into the pee pee area somehow (although with a big bm that could happen even if DC was home), or they didn't wipe in the right direction. I would ask them what their ifection control policy is (not their sick policy, but what they do to actually prevent illness). Do they wear gloves? Sanitize toys and changing tables, etc? I would also ask that DC's hands and face be wiped down throughout the day. This isnt a cure-all by any means because of the rate babies put things in their mouths.

Just a bit of advice though, although I do not believe that daycare improves immune systems much, have you ever changed your job? I know the first week I am in a new job I get sick and then am sick for about a month after...one germ after the next. My point is, eventually DC will have to start daycare again, and they will have the same thing happen...germ after germ after germ. I wouldnt quit your job over it...especially in these times.

I understand where you are comming from though and its hard to see your baby sick. I would just make sure of your daycares germ control policy and make sure they actually follow it.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...

In my DD's first 3 months of daycare, she had a runny nose for 2 months, accompanied on and off by a cough & fever (which kept her out for 2-3 days at various times), her first ever ear infection, and full blown pnuemonia which kept her out for a solid 3 weeks.

I wouldn't be so hasty to quit your job and pull your child out of care. Tis the cough and cold (and flu) season.

Re: Parents of kids who keep getting sick....your opinions please...