If your kid started daycare after 2...

afc1189

I'm in nursing school and thinking about sending my 2.5 year old DD to full time preschool/daycare. I am trying to weigh my options, as we don't really have backup care and I cannot miss my clinicals. Our current babysitter comes whether she's sick or not. It's my understanding that when infants/young toddlers begin daycare they go through a few months of recurrent colds- but I don't know whether that is due to their younger age and more immature immune systems or if it's something that all kids go through regardless of age. 

If you started your kiddo at a daycare/preschool after 2 for the first time, did they go through a period of sickness? And if so, how long? 

 Thanks, ladies:) 

jess60

DS is 2 1/2 & we started him in daycare a few months ago.  He's been fighting a cold off & on for the past month or so with pink eye in between (only lasted 3 days).

Before that my SO was a SAHD.  DS still had the occassional cold & so did we.

He's able to go to DCP with a cold as long as he doesn't have a fever.

J+MS

I started my daughter in an in home daycare when I started RT clinicals this past summer. My baby sitter has 2-3 kids including my daughter and Izzy has been sick off and on. DCP allows them to come as long as they are fever, diarrhea, and vomit free for 24 hours. There have been a couple times when I had to call family to watch Izz because she had a fever. If you don't have a back up plan, I would stick with your current situation. I fully understand that you can't miss clinicals, don't take any chances. 

flyingsaucer

Most kids go through a sick period their first time in group care, regardless of age.  I have a friend whose kid never went to daycare and spent half of kindergarten sick!  I swear by getting the kids the flu shot, practicing good hand washing and making sure they get plenty of rest.  Other than that, not much you can do

katlizabeth

Ds was 2.5 when he started daycare and he got a cold a month or so in.  He had pinkeye about four months after he started.  That's been it in the past 15 months.

Mrs.V

DS1 was 3 when he started daycare. He and his younger brother have both been sick since they started. Not more sick than when they had a nanny but that didn't affect our work. It's hard when we have to leave work now if they're sick!