Is this normal (re DC)

MickeyM04

So DS has been in daycare since February. Since then, he's had an upper respiratory infection which led to pneumonia, about 4-5 colds, 3 ear infections, and looking at him today, possibly pink eye. I know DC breeds a ton of germs and they say the first year in daycare they will be sick constantly but really? If I add up every illness and if he does have pink eye now, that's 10-11 illnesses in 4 months, or 9-10 if you don't count the pneumonia as a separate illness, or 6-7 if you don't count the ear infections because those spring from the colds. In 4 months.

I think our daycare seems to be pretty stringent with its illness policy. Kids are sent home with fevers of 100.0 or higher, any unexplained rash not in the diaper area, 2 vomits or 2 diarrheas in one day, pus from the eye or eye discoloration, and if they can't participate in daily activities. For example, DS was sent home once when he didn't have a fever but was listless and falling asleep during morning activities. A couple weeks ago several kids were sent home with fevers and the teacher said she spent the entire day lysoling the entire room. I don't know if this is just par for the course since it's DS's first couple months in daycare and he wasn't exposed to much before then (in 2 years he probably had 8 colds, 1 GI bug and 1 ear infection) or if our DC is sub-par when it comes to cleanliness. Thoughts??

ASmallWonder

In my experience, that's within the normal range.  Unfortunately, kids are often in daycare spreading germs before they've met the criteria for being sent home so kids are already infected.  It also has to do with your kid and their medical tendencies.  Some kids get ear infections easily and some don't so you can't blame those on the daycare anyway, like you said.   Also, since he was home for 2 years, his immune system may not be as robust as other kids.

TheBorg7of9

Last May, my son was sick four separate times and missed 15 out of 20 days of daycare that month. I think it's normal, but very inconvenient of course.

MickeyM04

Yeah I'm not sure if his immune system is just kinda crappy. I mean DH never gets sick. In 8 years with him I can count his illnesses on one hand. I get sick probably 6 times a year. So maybe he got my immune system? I'm trying to rule out the ear infections because obviously you can't catch those but it's just hard to see your kid sick 2-3 weeks out of the month and think calmly and rationally. I mean I guess if you don't count the ears and you don't count the pneumonia since that was a direct add on to the upper respiratory infection, then he's has 1 URI and 4-5 colds and a GI bug. Nothing serious but it's so horrible to see him sick all the time. I'm also not used to it so it's extra hard. I'm not a seasoned DC mom yet.

MickeyM04

Additional question. If your child is one that is prone to illness, do you just chalk it up to genes and nothing you can do? Or is there any environmental component like something we could do to help? I am huge on hand washing so I don't think we are dirty or anything but is there something else we could do? I mean any time we come home from anywhere--daycare, store, playing outside--we wash our hands. When we are out and don't have access to a sink we use hand sanitizer. Am I missing something or is it just one of those it is what it is sort of things?

kikimeemee

Oh. My. Gosh. Awaiting the arrival of my baby in the fall and will be researching day cares soon. Had no idea THAT many illnesses was normal. Consider me warned!

ccam

I would vote normal.  I felt like DS was home more than he was at DC for the longest time.  I hope it gets better for you soon!

welly01

MickeyM04 said:

Additional question. If your child is one that is prone to illness, do you just chalk it up to genes and nothing you can do? Or is there any environmental component like something we could do to help? I am huge on hand washing so I don't think we are dirty or anything but is there something else we could do? I mean any time we come home from anywhere--daycare, store, playing outside--we wash our hands. When we are out and don't have access to a sink we use hand sanitizer. Am I missing something or is it just one of those it is what it is sort of things?

Have you done any research on natural remedies/prevention?  (Note: I don't have a kid prone to sickness and I'm a novice at home remedies).  I've recently discovered Elderberry syrup, which can be used to fight cold/flu and even taken daily as a preventative measure.  You can make your own at home and its completely natural so safe to give frequently.  Also, maybe probiotics might help?  I've also heard essential oils (maybe thieves oil?) might help with that but I have zero experience with those.

I think it might also just be a waiting game until his immune system is stronger.  

MickeyM04

Thanks for everyone's input so far! I'm so sorry to hear this is normal but also kind of relieved if that makes sense. I will def have to look into home remedies. I'm a novice at that stuff but totally willing to learn of course!

ss265

I remember making trips to the pediatrician at least once a month when DS1 started DC and he was an infant when he started. Your DS could be getting sick more because older kids play with each other and have more contact with each other. Maybe start a vitamin C supplement to help his immune system? Otherwise, I think you just have to wait it out until his immune system adjusts.

BP607

For a while we were going to the pedi every other week and it really seems like it's always something now.  I think what you have listed is in the normal range.  I know other kids that are in day care are sick even more than DS. 

I stayed home with him for the first year and we literally did not have 1 sick baby visit the first year, but we still took him out and about.  So, the amount of sicknesses he has had in the last year has been overwhelming compared to his first year in DC. 

Mustardseed2007

I vote normal also. The worst for us was going to the pedi and hearing there was nothing that could be given for it - none of it was serious illnesses it was all colds, but it seemed like he had a continuous cold from October through March basically, with small breaks in between when he did actually get antibiotics.

 

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dashofreality

We have been extremely lucky, my kids are rarely sick. DD got HFM and Fifth's disease, and DS has had a few colds, but neither has an ear infection and they have each only had a fever once. We did in-home when they were little, which helps, but they  have been in a center for almost a year.

I realize that a lot is just luck, but I do some give some natural remedies. There have been some studies with K9 and M18 oral probiotics, so I give the kids these https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Plus-Childrens-Probiotic-Chewable/dp/B002NJNPKI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402930546&sr=8-1&keywords=animal+parade+tooth+fairy 

I have also noticed with myself that Vitamin D really impacts my immunity so I give them this too: https://www.amazon.com/Barleans-Organic-Oils-Lemonade-8-Ounce/dp/B002VLZ8AS/ref=sr_1_10?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1402930923&sr=1-10&keywords=cod+oil+liquid 

They both have vitamin D, so you do need to watch, I don't give them daily, one or the other a few times a week, maybe a bit more if they seem to be getting sick.

Also during flu season I give my kids a tsp of equal parts Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey (only over 1 year old), and Water.

I have no idea if any of this really makes a difference, but it makes me feel like I am doing something, and like I said my kids are rarely sick.

jf198400

Totally normal for the first 6 months or so. Good news is that summer is here so the illnesses should greatly decrease (until October). Sorry you and LO are going through this!

Curls218

Unfortunately it's normal.  DS was hospitalized for RSV in January.  We then switched dc centers (for various reasons) and was on oral steriods for another respiratory infection in February then was hospitalized again for a respiratory virus in April.  We ended up pulling him out of dc because he is so young and the doctors said that his little body just can't handle the germs right now.  Though we are going to try dc again after next flu/rsv season and hope his immune system is better by then.

litzo27

I've been luck in that when my boys started daycares (shortly before they turned 2) they only had 3-4 illnesses in the subsequent six months. But my mom dealt with exactly the same thing with me - any time she sent me to daycare I would be there for two weeks and then home sick for two weeks. For months. I was just a kid with a horribly weak immune system. After a year of that, when I was 4, she started to look into improving my immune system. She does not remember all the things that she did but she did introduce some probiotics, she would fill the tub with lukewarm water and have me walk in place in it for five minutes and then rub the feet really dry (somehow the cold water stimulate the nerve endings and forces the body to do something or other), she started making fruit smoothies and add very small amount of onion and garlic to it. She doesn't remember what else but withing several months I stopped getting as sick all the time.
I would definitely look into naturopathic ways to boost your LOs immune system.

Tink112011

That doesn't seem out of the range of normal.  DS was sick very frequently for his first year in daycare.  Then all of sudden it stopped and he's hardly ever sick anymore.  But from 3 months - 12 months he was ALWAYS sick.  Ear infections, diarrhea, pink eye, RSV... and luckily he avoided the hand foot and mouth that went around a few times.

Hang in there.  It will get better.  DS is only 2.5 and its been over a year since I've had to take a sick day from work for him. 

MickeyM04

Wow it sounds like it gets so much better over time. I will have to look into probiotics and other remedies. That saline spray idea every night sounds very interesting! Lord knows my little guy is a snot factory anyway. Sounds like I've got some research to do tonight. Right after we do our pink eye drops. Oy.

ashleysbf

I asked this same question a few months ago. I was also shocked at how often they get sick. My dd has basically had a cold since around December. So, another vote for normal!