Question

So my LO is a daycare baby. I feel like she is sick constantly. How do you moms handle this and keep your job? Also, when do I start blaming daycare for her constant sickness?  

Answer 1

Build up her/him immune system and give her vitamins, get a few babysitting when she/he is sick

Answer 2

I’m sorry but you can’t blame the daycare but other parents who bring their sick kids to daycare unless your daycare is filthy and you can see it. I am in home daycare provider and had a family who always brought their kids sick, ever since they left none of my current daycare kids are sick. I sanitize my toys every day after they leave and clean my house before I go to bed.  

Comments

@mellicent  

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Same. Well said.  

Answer 3

You definetly can’t blame the daycare for sickness. lol

Comments

@thurston you can if they never clean/sanitize.  

Answer 4

You need to hire a nanny to come into the house that's why most moms do that because they are exposed to too many germs and it's too much for them

Answer 5

You’d rather them be sick now than quarantine them and have them miss school when they are older. My son was in daycare - an in home daycare - run by my mother in law - as perfect and clean as humanly possible - and was still always sick. He never misses more than 5 days of school now. His immune system is great. Sickness happens when a lot of little kids are around each other. It’s no ones fault. By the time kids start showing symptoms of sickness they’ve already spread the germs. It’s just part of being a mom.  

Comments

@swithbert ☝☝This.  

Answer 6

The first year in daycare is tough then they build up their immune system. My kids were all in daycare, now that they are in school they are almost never sick. This too shall pass but it is tough while you’re in the thick of it.  

Answer 7

I don't know your exact situation but i moved mine out of public daycare and into a home daycare with a smaller population and it made a world of difference.  

Answer 8

It’s just a bad year with colds, flu, etc.  

Answer 9

My thoughts might not be popular but I don't think babies and small children should be in daycare settings I don't think it was ever meant to be that way they she was supposed to be meant to be at home. They shouldn't have to build up these kind of immunities at younger ages until they're ready

Comments

@pigling but what do you do if you have to work?  

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@aerie6 hire a nanny and if you can't afford one there are college nannies and they are cheaper and still very good care

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@pigling  

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@pigling I agree being home with your kids is great but that’s not what everyone can do. I stay home but that’s what we have chosen! I have good friends and family that work and that’s what they have chosen. She is asking for help to her daycare issue. Telling her she is a bad mom doesn’t help. She may already feel guilty about it but have no choice. She is doing the best she can.  

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@moro589 I totally agree I think so that being in a place with a child where is causing more damage than good then you have to look at another plan for the child's care if you have to work.  

Answer 10

If your child has never been in daycare before, they WILL get sick constantly until they build up an immunity. I work in a child care center and sadly it does not matter how clean or sanitized it is. Every sneeze or cough puts droplets in the air and spreads germs. And even if they aren't coughing or sneezing and something else is brewing, typically the exposure has already happened before the fever or other symptoms appear. We tell new parents to expect them to be sick, IT'S normal and unavoidable.  

Answer 11

Stick to a regular bedtime. Getting enough sleep is huge in preventing illness.  

Answer 12

I do a daily multivitamin and probiotic, plus ensuring they get enough sleep and water. Also, I only ever keep my kids home if they have a fever or vomiting/diarrhea. No need for you to call off work for a cold. My kids are just chronically “sick” during the cold months. My 4y/o does handle it better than my 20mo old.  

Comments

@steinbach6 second this. I do the same thing

Answer 13

In addition once they build up a tolerance they will rarely get sick! My kids were day care kids and once they reached school age they rarely have been I'll and neither have i

Answer 14

Teach kids to not put hands in mouth and air nibble the fake food. Also, what is SICK to you? Boogie nose (not to me)? Coughing from boogies draining(not me)? Fever (hell yes to me, or even warm or looking sick in the eyes, usually lack of energy compared to normal)? It is about building up that immune system but also not having them appear to struggle all winter with illnesses. My kids get boogies on and off through the winter. I taught them to use saline nasal mist, drink LOTs of water, apply vicks, suck on cough drops. My oldest is 5 and has only had 2 fevers (once during teething), my youngest is 2. 5 and has also had 2 fevers ever. We go out A LOT, play with other kids. if I see a kid that appears sickly. I just remind the girls not to touch too much stuff or put hands in mouth. We DONT use hand sanitizer and we dont over wash hands either

Answer 15

The first year of daycare was rough. I know we're all working parents trying to make the best for our children, so it can be hard when employers aren't as flexible My daughter is four now, and is rarely sick. I just try to prevent whatever we can with diet, sleep, and hand washing.  

Answer 16

Like most it's nothing you can control bc other families load sick kids with tylenol and send them to daycare. Infecting not only kids but the teachers. I worked in a daycare and my first 6m were rough. It got better but I constantly was cleaning everything and trying to sanitize. Kids still came in with HFM, Croup, everything. Your best bet is to try hiring a nanny or use a small home daycare.