How often does your children get sick in Childcare?

[kiasu_pig]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


My toddler is sick (again).

My toddler of 2.5 years old kept on falling sick after entering childcare. For the last 4 months, he fell sick at least every fornightly. Everytime he fell sick, besides taking leave to take care of him at home, we not only felt heart-pained over his health, but also the amount of money that went to waste. For example, the additional enrichment classes we enroled him for in his childcare, enrichment classes in the weekend, his school bus, and medical bills ...

I know the usual thing that toddlers will fall sick often when they entered childcare, and the exposure actually make their immunity system stronger, and blah blah blah ... But, I'm no rich parent, so the missed enrichment classes actually makes my wallet's hurts! Aarrgh ...

[sashimi]

Hi - I understand and sympathize, including the monetary opportunity costs. IMHO it can't be helped, as you probably realized. If you don't give him the exposure now, it will be just as bad come kindergarten, or primary school - in fact all through adulthood.


The only thing you have to bear in mind is that you thus have to consciously try to improve your son's immune system. Besides the painful \"exposure\", another key element is getting enough rest. Children who do not get enough rest (eg. sleep) are prone to get sick more often. AFAIK many parents still neglect sleep.

Another consideration will be diet. Plus, when your son is old enough, ensure he gets good, natural, supplementation. And live a generally balanced life; drink lots of water; don't always sleep in air-con, etc.

The above combination helped my daughter a lot. With conscious effort, by age 5 or 6, your son should be strong enough, and you can finally stop making doctors smile so much whenever you visit them.

This is especially important now that we live in a paranoid world where a little flu bug is treated like the plague.

And hey, don't worry about enrichment classes at age 2.5; play at home and childcare is enough - save your money for when they're older, eg. music, art at 4+.

[Karenjj]

I can totally understand how you feel. My girl was previously attending 3 hr playgroup, but we pull her out because she keep falling sick. The last was over a period of 4 months. It was either flu, cough or fever… and she cannot seem to fully recover. Money is secondary but it’s real heartache for mummy…

[kiasu_pig]

sashimi:

..

And hey, don't worry about enrichment classes at age 2.5; play at home and childcare is enough - save your money for when they're older, eg. music, art at 4+. :)..

Thanks for all the responses. I guess i am not called a \"kiasu_pig\" for nothing! At times, even disgusted by myself. Ugh!
Supposed to bring him go see his PD at 4, but he slept the whole afternoon. Dunno whether tomorrow need to take leave again... haiz.

[jedamum]

similar discussion http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=753&start=0.

[Funz]

think it is a norm and the good thing is the most kids do get better as in fall sick less. My kid's PD said that on average, kids do fall sick about once a mth maybe even more for childcare going children. But they usually do build up their immunity and will fall sick less often after 6mths or so. However, it is important that we take good care of them and let them recover well when they do fall sick or it may lead to longer term issues.


My gal has allergy rhinitis and is on long term nose spray. My boy is asthmatic when he was an infant but so far for the last 3yrs, no attacks. Touch wood.

My girl too kept falling sick initially. And each time she fell sick, she passes whatever bug to her brother. She started childcare at 2yrs old. By the time she was 3, she hardly fall sick. And when my boy started childcare, he did not fall sick that often. Now, I would say their health is pretty good. thank god.

[kiasu_pig]

schellen:

..

DD has learned that listening to parents and following a strict diet of only healthy stuff (and even no milk though she loves it) allows her to recover quickly and when she does, she gets rewarded with ice cream and milk. Now that she's older, she can also discipline herself when we aren't there to see what she eats, most of the time.
..

When a child is having fever, is it not recommended to give him milk? :?

[pinky]

It is pretty common for them in the first 6 months so don’t worry too much. It happened to my son too when he started childcare

and on his first visit to the doctor, the doc simply said, "He is in childcare right?
don’t worry, give him 6 months for his body to build up its own immunity,
then he will be fine.". Sure enough, it was true.

[kiasu_pig]

pinky:

It is pretty common for them in the first 6 months so don't worry too much. It happened to my son too when he started childcare

and on his first visit to the doctor, the doc simply said, \"He is in childcare right?
don't worry, give him 6 months for his body to build up its own immunity,
then he will be fine.\". Sure enough, it was true.

i certainly hope so - thanks for assurance. :roll:

[vfong1]

My DS doctor knows that she’s in childcare and she’s 2.5 years old and recently she has got running rose with slight cough. But her immunity got stronger actually compared to the 1st 3 months of this year.


He advise her not to go childcare as it’s too early age for her. My sister in law told me she could attend 3 hrs playgroup instead. However, I think she has been learning well in school and I’m reluctant to withdraw her from there. How?

My DS doesn’t like to go school (I think is the separate anxiety) but when she’s there she’s happy cos of the friends.