Is a 6-month-old very different from a 1-year-old?

GASuzuki

Immunity-wise, that is... We are sending Quinny to a sitter starting September and the sitter is actually watching her own son, who is 16 months, and then another little boy, who is 9 months. The 9-month-old is going to be attending daycare four of the five days of the week. I'm wondering whether the daycare germs will impact Quinny more?

Any light anyone could shed on this issue would be greatly appreciated!

Snowy_Owl

It sounds like Quinn will be one of 3, but the 9 month old is also going to a center?

The 9 month old will get sick and so will Q I bet - but it's actually good for them - they need to use their immune systems and can't you only get a specific cold once?  So she'll actually end up building her immunity.

madhatter2003

as my pedi put it, they either get sick now or in kindergarten.  But yes, the older they are the 'better' they can handle some things as they've had more overall exposure to dirt and germs.

Snooks

I'm a high school teacher and bring home tons of germs I'm sure... DD has never been sick.  When she was 3 mos old until 5 mos she was also at an in home place with another little boy who was 2 and he was sick frequently and she never got anything.  I attribute most of it to breastfeeding.

GASuzuki

Snowy_Owl:

It sounds like Quinn will be one of 3, but the 9 month old is also going to a center?

The 9 month old will get sick and so will Q I bet - but it's actually good for them - they need to use their immune systems and can't you only get a specific cold once?  So she'll actually end up building her immunity.

Thanks, Snowy! You're so kind with your replies to my constant barrage of questions!

thumbkin

I read on the babycenter website that around 9 months old is when a child is more likely to become sick.  At that point they have lost all of the immunity that they have received from their mom at birth.  Something like that anyway.