Why are sick kids out and about?

As a new Mom this is really bothering me lately.

I understand if a kid has a cold and goes to daycare. Daycare is something where you expect a child to get more colds etc because theres a lot of germs and a child cant always stay home etc.

TOTALLY get that and understand.

But why do I see kids coughing and hacking and sneezing in Target, at the library, at the bookstore and grocery store etc?

Do those kids NEED to be there?

I guess b/c Noah has his 1st cold , Im a little crazy about it b/c we were out a lot this week and there were a lot of sick kids and now HE'S sick and Im annoyed.

Am I overreacting?

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

I don't think so at all! I see kids out with their moms, and being preggers, I just sit there thinking - Was what you are buying right now sooooo important that it couldn't wait?

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

OK, I agree on many levels, but also I can see where taking your sneezing, snotty kid out can be something that you might not think twice about. Granted I don't have a sneezing, snotty, coughing kid right now, but even if I did, she gets so antsy in the house and gets bored easily, so we really need to get out to save our sanity. Having a really energetic toddler can be difficult in the house all the time.
That being said, this world is also full of inconsiderate people. So I'd probably imagine many people with the sick, snotty kid are just in that category, too. Kind of like the woman who snotted into her hand in the supermarket on Tuesday, then picked up cream cheese with the same snotty hand, and decided to put it back down

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Posted by prncss

Kind of like the woman who snotted into her hand in the supermarket on Tuesday, then picked up cream cheese with the same snotty hand, and decided to put it back down

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

I hattttttttttttttttttttttttte that...Its disrespectful and neglectful. I understand if itsd urgent or something that has to be done but to shop or the mall or some crap its wrong.
I guess these women haven't heard of the "Mercer virus" all from a common cold. Then again.if they were concerned they wouldnt be out and about.

The dk what its like to take care of a baby with a bad cold with asthma and u have to call 911 or something...but don't get me started.

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Some parents just don't care, they look at it like hey, my kid is sick already who cares if I get another kid sick... I never bring my child to a store or even out period when shes sick.

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

totally not overactng

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

ITA and its one of the reasons we dont shop as a family right now. I just dont want to take the chance my girls get sick.

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Posted by VegasLisa

Posted by prncss

Kind of like the woman who snotted into her hand in the supermarket on Tuesday, then picked up cream cheese with the same snotty hand, and decided to put it back down

Ok... I HATE people like that!

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Big pet peeve of mine!! The last time we were at the mall. This little kid sort of comes over to my buggy to look at me daughters. He then starts hacking all over them. I moved the buggy away from him so quickly. And of course his mother said NOTHING!!!

Patrick had a problem with sinus' & sometimes has a cough. But, everytime he coughs I say "cover" (90% of the time he has his mouth covered anyway)

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

A child can have a cough or a runny nose for weeks and still feel good. If dd isn't sick in any other sense, I take her out with me. She would be miserable locked up in the house if she was feeling good and just had a runny nose.

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

I completely agree. I have basically been stuck in this house since last Wed. since Jack had such a bad cold. First off, why would I take him out when he feels crappy and going out in this weather wouldn't make him feel any better?

Second, I would never want to be THAT mommy that everyone looks at me saying "Why is her child here?" I've been that mommy before talking about other women! lol!

Unless there is an absolute need for you to be out and about the child should be home. I also understand the need for toddlers who get antsy and need to get out of the house though.

I had to miss my favorite - Storytime - this week because of his little cold!

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Okay, the first cold Josh caught, I was livid. Then rosela came and I know the kid who gave it to him. I wanted to find the mother and beat her down.

I know he is going to get sick, just being homebound is such a killer.

This last neverending cold though...ughhh..I kept him in for over a week. Still had runny nose and cough. We had to get out. We went to the library and grocery shopping and the park.

I gave it a week, I could not give it much longer. We stayed away from his friends and little playcenter. I called the dr and he said the cough is going to linger.

Now, I honestly believe its allergies. Mine are acting up too. So, I will be the mom out with the sneeze case, but he had this in the spring and now fall. I think its a season change thing, I get it as well. So, maybe the kids are allergy kiddies and not really colds.

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

I agree with the moms who say it's hard to stay home with your sick child - and after letting it's run it's course you can't stay home forever. And, going out to public places is different IMO. There are germs everywhere at the mall and stores and stuff.

BUT, I am talking more along the lines of Storytime - or a Mommy and Me class. If your child is sick - and is going to be in SUCH close contact with other children I don't think it's fair to go. That's the thing. You are knowingly letting your child sit next to - or play with - other kids when he is sick.

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

I don't really agree with you. If my kid was sick the one place I wouldn't take them to was daycare...thats not fair. Going to Target or something, well that wouldn't bother me.I wouldn't stay at home with my kids unless they were really sick, like v&d bugs that might be contagious. I wouldn't stay home with a cold, so why should they???

Sneezing and hacking etc is misleading, because Noah has asthma and he hacks and coughs all the time. It doesn't mean he is sick...

Message edited 11/24/2007 9:39:25 AM.

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Posted by Summerrluvv

Posted by racheeeee

I don't really agree with you. If my kid was sick the one place I wouldn't take them to was daycare...thats not fair. Going to Target or something, well that wouldn't bother me.I wouldn't stay at home with my kids unless they were really sick, like v&d bugs that might be contagious. I wouldn't stay home with a cold, so why should they???

Sneezing and hacking etc is misleading, because Noah has asthma and he hacks and coughs all the time. It doesn't mean he is sick...

The only time DD has stayed home from daycare is when she was running a fever and one time her cough sounded wheezey to me (but turned out to be nothing more than just a cough). The runny nose and cough, well it's unavoidable with that many kids in one building so she goes. If I stayed home from work everytime her nose ran I wouldn't have a job. She's perfectly healthy right now but I'm sure when she goes back next week she's bound to catch another cold. I also think it's expected that your child will get sick from going to daycare.

Now a place like Gymboree, Storytime, etc...I wouldn't take my child if they were sick. I think a little common courtesy goes a long way in a situation like that

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

the class i take my kid is a mommy and me class. one parent is a parent of twins. one wasn't sick and the other.. ugh! he was! why couldn't she stay at home w the kids?? why did she have to take them to class?? the boy's snot kept on running. he sneezed adn a huge stream came out. all i kept on thinking about is my DS! i constantly whispered to my DH to scoot over and away from them. the mom wiped her son's snot away. not all but she did her best. waht did she do w the tissue?! she tossed it aside and left it there! argh! idiota!

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

Just wait!!!! I am so ******!!!!!!!
I would rather see them hacking in target in open spaces then in daycare where the kids are chewing on the same toys. I believe they dont belong anywhere when fully sick but honestly...dd has become prone to being sick weekly bc no one else can keep their kids home.

Re: Why are sick kids out and about?

This is just my opinion.... but I think its because some kids are just sick all the time so parents just think its normal...I have a couple of friends who's kids are always sneezing or have a runny nose. So to them it just a kid thing. I would never subject someone else to my sick child and I think its crazy when people bring a kid into my house and say that its OK b/c "he only has a cold"...well that "cold" caused my DS to have Bronchiolitis!!! UGH..