Baby constantly sick since starting DC

valeivegas

My DD started DC at 3.5 mos old - she goes 3 full days/week.  She's literally had a runny nose & been sick since the week she started (she's been there about 3 mos now).  She's already had a few bad colds and this runny nose/congestion will not go away!  Anyone else have a similar experience?  It really kills me sending her there, but I don't really have any other choice (they do take great care of her & wash her hands a lot, I just feel so bad b/c she's getting sick from there).  Would nursing her at the daycare at pickup provide extra immunity to the germs there? 

djm31012

Unfortunately thats just the way it goes. DS has had a cough for almost a month at this point. Plus its the time of year now with weather changing etc. The way I think of it..either go through it now, or go through it when they are 4 and going to pre school. Its so sad for me too, and was worse when it interrupted his sleep patterns but thats much better now. Just do what you can to keep her comfortable. we do steam showers before bed every night and vicks vapor rub on his chest...it seems to help. Also elevate her crib mattress so she can sleep better (i asked day care to do this for him as well).

valeivegas

Glad to know I'm not alone!  My DS (who's almost 3 now) started DC in the summer so it was totally different - he didn't really get sick.  You're right - it is the changing weather, etc.  And her sleep patterns are totally messed up from it - she used to sleep straight from 8pm-3:30am - now she wakes up every 2-3 hours  =(   I hate it - I stare at the clock counting the hours until I have to 'wake up'...!

jschmidt6

Our LO was sick with a cough and congestion for a month. After the first week we called the pedi who said saline spray in the nose and the nasal aspirator every couple hours. He didn't get any better and by week 4 he developed a cough so I called back. They ended up giving us amoxicillen (sp) in case he had a sinus infection. Within 3 days he was completely cleared up. He is feeling and sleeping so much better.

litzo27

I'm sorry - it sucks but it's par of the course for the little ones starting daycare. I don't think nursing her right there would make a difference. Just by kissing her and touching her you are getting exposed to the same germs and hopefully developing immunity that you can pass along. So I think it's fine to wait till you get home and get comfortable to nurse. But any extra nursing sessions would be good. And it sounds like she is reverse cycling - is she nursing when she wakes up at night? Personally, if she does, I wouldn't try to cut out these nursing session for the next couple of months as they are the height of the cold and flu season.

And I totally hear you on the staring at the clock thing. This was the worst thing about having a baby for me - even when the baby would sleep I would be some mentally wired that I'll have to wake up soon to nurse anyway I wouldn't be able to fall asleep.

It will get better - hang in there!

aglenn

I think it can also be worse with the second kid because they get germs from their sibling and all their sibling's classmates in addition to the kids in their own class.  Poor DS was sick nonstop last fall/winter and it was driving me insane.  So far this year has been much, much better (knock on wood).

jennyelf

We were in the same situation last year. LO started at 3 months and from Sept to March it seemed like we were visiting the doctor every other week for something or staying home with LO because he was too sick for daycare.

It seems to get better though. LO has had the sniffles on occasion this winter, or a cough, but not been fussy or had a fever when it happens, and I haven't been getting as sick either. We've had a lot fewer sick days so far.

It sucks now, but it will get better.

daisy662

It sucks but quite honestly it's either now or later (kindergarten or nursery school). My son went through a phase of sniffles for weeks at a time. Just when I thought he was over it, it creeped back up again. Try not to beat yourself up. We bought him a humidifier for his room, one of those Vicks wall plug in things, some little noses, and all that seems to help... Good luck!

FemShep

That's totally normal.  I swear that every picture I have of DD1 during her first winter has snot coming out of her nose.  It's gross, and it sucks, but it gets *much* better, and as PPs have pointed out, it's critical immunity building that would happen now or later.

ccam

DS went through the same thing when we first started and for a while after.  I think it's all pretty normal.  Hope your LO feels better soon though!

SLGILL1978

I am in the same boat. When she went to a center she got sick once but it was pretty bad. She ended up having RSV. I was off work for the summer and she started at an in home daycare in August. Since then she has been sick with a runny nose or congestion that comes every few weeks for a few days.

DTNZ4Ever

DS started DC at 12weeks which was in the month of June. He proceeded to be on a 3 week sick 1 week heathly rotation until the April May the following year. However he will be 5 in March and has barely been sick the last few years. He may have runny nose but it lasts 2-3 days and he is good. The first year is the worst but it builds their immune system.

valeivegas

Thanks for all the input.  With DS (who's now almost 3) it got a lot better once he went to the toddler room at DC, so I know it does get better... just got to get thru this now with DD!!