15 Mos. Old Constantly Sick Since Starting Day Care

In the words of Dr. Laura, with whom I agree, daycares are are really "Day Orphanages," and no amount of money could convince me to drop the babies that came out of my body at one of these places. Sadly, I only agree with a couple of the ladies who responded. I can't believe that so many mothers "love" the daycares that they send their kids to! Were I you in this situation, I would take a look at my baby's sweet little snotty face, and never return him to one of those places again. If I had to play all day with my kids, and work at night to pay the bills, that's what I would do. I hope you give this more serious thought than just how clean the daycare is. You were given a child to take care of and love. Do you really think the people at that place love your child? Your baby boy needs a mommy to play with him and teach him, not people who have several other babies to feed, clean and give attention to. I can't imagine missing the cute, funny, amazing things my kids do and say every day. I can guarantee that if you were home with your boy, he would be happier and healthier, and so would you.

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Nicole,
Is your job worth this much to you? I realize I don't know your entire situation, but I would be struggling to put my child through all that for the sake of money. If you have a husband that is working, or there would be a way for you to work from home, I would get my little guy out of daycare asap! Have you ever written a list of the pros and cons of working outside you home? Just a thought - write down everything, emotional, financial, etc. and weigh it out to see if the money from the job is even enough to justify the sick days, dr. visits, etc. Sorry if this is blunt. I'm not trying to be mean, but if I woke up in your situation, I'd leave the job and get my baby home! I'm a stay-home mom w/ 2 boys, and I have a part time business I work from home. email me if you'd like to learn more about it! ____@____.com

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Welcome to workig outside of the home. Children are germ spreaders. That's why kids get sick so easily. They are constantly sharing their toys and everything else. Plus in a daycare setting, children that are together every day will start to catch each other's germs, colds, flus, creaping crud, etc. It's all part of growing up. Unless your baby is losing weight at an alarming rate, refusing to eat AT ALL, and your pediatrician is getting worried, I would just chalk it up to working outside the home. There is really no more you can do, other than find a private caregiver that only has a couple of kids in their care, or ask a family member or friend to babysit for you. On the upside, the more germs your child is exposed to now, the stronger his immune system will be as a grown man. You stated before going to work, your son was hardly ever around other kids and was never sick. I would say that lack of contact with other small children has finally caught up with him. I would not worry. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor, and unless he/she says to get your child out of that daycare, I think he is just fine. Maybe you could see if the caregivers are washing their hands according to state codes and if they are sterilizing everything from supplies to toys everyday. I worked in a daycare before becoming a mother and we were required by state code to wash our hands after changing diapers, wiping noses, etc. We were also required to sterilize toys and supplies daily to help prevent the spread of germs. Some kids just have stronger immunities than others. Plus with your older child being age 10, there is not a whole lot of germ sharing going on at home between children. I'm sure your baby boy is just fine.

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Wow! What a range of responses on this one!!

I have been there, and I know you are probably as emotionally and physically exhausted as your sick little one! Both my kids were sick with different things:

My daughter, now almost 7, had constant ear infections and rashes. She also had RSV and several bouts of bronchiolitis. At age 2 1/2 or so, she was diagnosed with excema, age 3(ish) a severe allergy to mold, at 6 with TONS of allergies - some food, most environmetal (grass, and trees to name the biggest offenders). She was tested at 3 for all the same things and came back negative except for the mold. How frustrating to find out 3 years later that she really was allergic to all those things and had to suffer for no reason! We tried chiropractic care since she was about 18 months, for her, it didn't make the difference in ear infections. The tubes and getting older did.

My son, 2 1/2 has been sick with everything in the book since he had his first ear infection at 4 days old! He has had RSV at least 3 times, Rotovirus and Influenza at the same time when he was 8 months old... non-stop ear infections, and was diagnosed with asthma about a year ago. Getting the asthma under control made a big difference with him, but the biggest difference was made for him by chiropractic care. He had literally had non-stop ear infections for 10 months in a row (even with tubes). We started seeing the chiropractor last January. We went once a week until May when different circumstances made us miss 2-3 weeks. He didn't have a single ear infection that whole time, but as soon as we missed a few appt., he got a REALLY bad one (his whole face swelled up)... we have been going every other week for quite a while, and he has done awesome! His asthma has been easier to control, he's only had a couple ear infections (usually with a bad cold), he's also been sick in general way less! I think whoever said 2 was the magic number, was definately right for him... We did end up having to have his tonsils taken out, because they started swelling and he had sleep apnea...

My point is, that every child is going to respond differently to different treatments. Also, there may be underlying health issues that may not even show up on tests for a couple years (i.e. allergies). It sounds like the rash may be an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. My son had been on Cefzil several times, then all the sudden started developing rashes afterwards - we discovered he's allergic!

As for the child care debate going on, I am a preschool teacher, and it hurts me to hear people leading to the idea that child care providers don't care about the children in their care. Even though they wear me out, I see the 30 children in my classroom almost as my own!

I will also have you know, that in my experience, most infant rooms have at least one teacher that is almost OCD about cleaning. I wouldn't worry about that - honest!

Hang in there, it will get better!!! Try what you need to to help your child (and you) get through this tough time! This has been the worst winter for illnesses that I have seen, let's all hope and pray that it's over soon!!

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Nicole,

I see that you have a lot of different responses. My mother-in-law owns a Daycare, and the kids just get sick around this time of year. Last year my son was 13 months old and he was sick more often then he is this year. It could be the age, but I also agree with the ones that say to check the daycare, and possibly switch. Don't let the SAHM's guilt you into trying to quit your job if you are not able to. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to SAHM.(Not saying that staying home is a bad thing at all. There is an obivious advantage to it) Just because you work doesn't mean you don't care about your child's well-being as much as they do. Anyway, it frustrates me when people get so opinionated on here, and don't know the whole situation. I hope your son feels better and I am sure by next month it will all be gone. Even kids that stay home can get sick from the grocery store or anywhere and it can turn into an ear infection.

Good luck!

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Hello,

I would have the daycare checked out, but to let you know I am the mother of 4, 15 dd,12 dd, 3 ds and dd and one on the way and with my older two they only got sick once in a while, it was rare that they got sick and they both have perfect attenance from school since they started at ages of 3. This is what I have learned from everything. Our homes are TOOO CLEAN, the the babies come home from the hospital. Like the rest of their bodies, their immune system is inmature as well and we have kept the home so clean that their system can't get a work out to get stronger. I am not saying live in a fithly home. But some people clean every day using atibatctial cleaners on everything. They even use it on their body soaps as well. How can our kids develope a strong immune system if we keep everything too clean. I still do wipe my kitchen counters off once a week with bleach, but during the rest of the week just normal soap and water. I do however clean my cutting boards with a strong cleaner since we have no idea what is in the food we prep. I vacume my floors 2 times a week, the floors get swept everyday in the kitchen and bathroom, and the bathroom, gets bleached twice a week. If you ever worry about kids picking stuff off the floor when they drop it and put it in their mouth, there was a study done at either Texas A&M or University of Texas that basicly said that the 10 second rule is safe. That for a lot of food items, it takes about 20 seconds for germs to attach. So what I am saying is that the day care may not be as clean as we hope, but the kids immune system is not as strong as it could be and needs a little work out and in the end your child will get over it, will take some time.

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I spoke to the pharmacist today while picking up an Rx for my husband's pnemonia, and she said RSV is rampant this year. Your son might have gotten it from his daycare. Also, I am just curious. Do you have to show immunization records in order to get into your employer-sponsored daycare? That might also have something to do with why your son is sick all the time. Make sure other kids in the daycare are immunized, and that your son is up-to-date on his shots as well. Hang in there!

Check if daycare has a plant, pet that they could be allergic too. If they use sitters bibs check the soap. What about the milk? Sometimes something at that house could cause it. My son 2 has an asthma attack everytime we go visit my mom turned out it was a plant she had... good luck. If all esle fails switch daycared.

I don't really have any advice...but I can say I went through exactly the same thing last year. My sone was 14 months old in December and missed almost the entire month from daycare (and me from work) because he just got one thing after another. It's very frustrating. As soon as spring came things got much better. I can tell you that this year with him being 26 months he only missed one day. Perhaps it's just the age?

When I put my son in daycare for the first time at 4 mon old he was constantly sick also. He had six ear infections-till we put tubes in his ears at 9 months old, he had pnemonia, rsv-which we were hospitalized for and lots of colds. Its hard. I made the decision after that year of teaching I would stay home with the kids. It wasn't worth being gone from work all the time and risking his health. I know a lot of people that say it better for them to get the viruses small then they don't miss school but it so hard when they are little and can't tell you what is wrong. My son is in Kindergarten now and my other two kids get there share of illnesses. Hang in there. Hopefully once they go through the first couple months they will be through everything.

My thoughts are exactly as Karen S. When they are around these kids in daycare, it allows there immune system to build up. In the end, like she said, they have built up a better immune system for school.
My husbands cousins children never went to daycare and were watched at home. Her oldest started school and I can't believe the things she came home with. And then she passed them on to her siblings at home.
So yes, my daughters got sick a lot in daycare with other children around. They haven't started school yet, like Karen said we don't like seeing them sick, but I'm glad they got the exposure so that it may help them in school.

I think this is a common thing with any daycare... unfortunately! My son was in daycare from 3 months until he was 22 months. And sick all the time... lots of colds and ear infections... we had to do tubes. Plus he seemed to catch everything else. I worked in the daycare and I too seemed to catch everything going around. It was a large center. But as soon as I quit he was a much healthier child and we were much happier! But our doctor also said that 2 is that magical age where they seem to stop catching everything! He's been in preschool since he was 3, for 3 days a week in the morning and has had a few colds, but that's about it! Hope this helps!

Nicole I am right there with you! My daughter started Preschool this Jan. and we have been home more than she has attended. One good thing from all of this is the child's immune system is strengthening everytime this happens... but it really is frustrating. I think we get 2 healthy days before getting something new. Winter is the worst for this. I know at the preschool they really emphasize with the kids washing their hands a lot and the teacher sends kids home who are sick so that the others don't get sick too. You might see what the day care is doing as a rule when sick kids are dropped off. Do they lysol the room each day and how often are they cleaning the toys? If you carry hand sanatizer you might make sure to use it on your little boys hands when you pick him up.

I hope you and your little one can stay healthy and believe me I think this a very common issue. Darn these winter months :P

Hello Nicole, I'm sure you are tired of your son being sick. You need to build his imune system back up from all the antibiotics. Good quality food supliments, not "vitamins," "food supplements" I would also wonder what is causing all the sickness. What do they clean the room, and tables off with when the kids eat or do projects. Most cleaners are toxic and irritants to lungs and some times brains. Are the other children sick also? How about yourself of other family members? Would like to talk to you more if you are interested. Good luck

A good friend of mine has a 3 and 1 year old in daycare and she complains to me that they are sick all the time too. At least once every single month. And they've been going to daycare since they were a few months old. So there isn't really an end in sight. Daycares (and anyplace where kids congregate) are just full of germs. But the good news is that your child will get a lot of exposure to germs early, making his immune system very strong later. I know that may be little consolation now. Sorry!

Dear Nicole,

It is VERY frustrating for a lot of parents that have their kids in daycare over the winter months. My son is 14 months and has been in full-time daycare since he was 3 months old. We too have been to the doctor on numerous occasions with colds, ear infection, etc, etc. So, just know you're not alone and hopefully in a month or so when we get out of the cold/flu season things will get better for you.
Also, do you have a family member that could help you out by watching your son occasionally when he is sick? This way you won't be taking so much time off. Good luck and hang in there!

It will end. And actually, all this getting sick is good in the end because it's building up his immune system. Once he starts school, he will probably hardly ever get sick. My son was sick all the time as a baby in daycare, but now that he's 4, he's never sick. Stuffy nose every now and again, but hardly ever. I worked in a daycare for 5 years and the first couple months I was sick all the time, too, but now I hardly ever get sick. By this spring he'll be better. Winter is hard for daycare because you take the kids outside as much and all those kids with all those germs couped up inside is just a breeding ground for sickness, no matter how well the staff cleans and disinfects things. It's frustrating, but in another month or two it will get better. But just think of all the immnunities he's getting! It really will benefit him in the end.

Wash his hands as soon as you get home and bath him, everyday. Voulnteer a can of Lysol to the daycare if you like the staff, it's worth a million. if you are one of the last to pick up you son, spray the place down for a few weeks and see if that helps. Sometimes it's the easy fix's most people miss.

Make sure he's taking a bitamin with alot of vitamin c!

I can tell you it will get better, My kids had never been sick until they started pre-school and kindergarten (4 & 5 years of age) that first year I don't think there was a day that they weren't sick and this happened with the two that followed. It will take a while for him to build up his immune system, also make sure that the daycare is spraying and wiping everything down at night. I hear your frustration but have learned it really is normal. When my 6 year old entered kinder last year he rarely caught a cold cause he had already been exposed by the older ones, and I can say I am sure it will be the same for the 2 after him. You are not a lone a lot of parents go through this.

Nicole,

You totally need to look into Xango. I have three kids 6,4, and 2, and one on the way. My four-year old is autistic and goes to an autistic pre-school and the immune system with a lot of these kids is horible. So many of her classmates have been sick all winter. I give all of my kids Xango everyday and they love the taste and ask for it. My kids have managed to stay healthy all winter! It is so good for building a healthy immune system. It is just juice so it's safe for kids, and myself to drink with no side effects. I love it and swear by it!

check out my mamasource member perks:
http://www.mamasource.com/business/7787468744074199041
for more info on it.

good luck.
R.

Hi, I was hoping that advice from the other end of it might help or encourage you. I used to be a daycare worker and saw this with kids all the time. If your child wasn't really exposed to other kids before daycare, his immune system is going to need some time to build immunity to all of this. Notice how each time, it's something different, (ie. cold, then diarrhea, then an ear infection, then a rash) Each time he gets something, then fights it off, his body is building an immunity to that specific sickness. It should get better over time but it may take some time. Another thing that the daycare should be doing, especially during cold season, is bleaching toys, and cleaning well. I worked with infants (ages 0-12 months) and we had to clean well because at that age, everything goes in their mouth. So you might want to check with the daycare, what their policy is on cleaning and that sort of thing. I hope that things get better for you, stick with it, his body will adjust. I hope this helps you and encourages you also.

That is one of the reasons I never went back to work. I would think after a while his immune system will mature and strengthen, although I am an adult and every time I work at the elementary school I catch something:(

I hope it improves for both of you!

Added Response--My kids miss no more school being sick then their peers who attended daycare, so it does not make their immune systems any better--that is a false assumption!

I run a childcare center and I can tell you that if a child is running a fever, or is throwing up ect. they are not allowed to attend but a common cold does not stop a child from attending. The cold can be contagious so I would be concerned that they are not disinfecting the toys and such that the children touch. It is hard but during this time of year I have to take extra precautions so everyone does not get sick. Once your child has been exposed to this a little he should start building up an immunity to the colds and such. Seldom do I have one child give something to another child but I do almost run around with a bottle of bleach/water cleaning everything.
Is your 15 month old teething? I would think at this age he is and that sometimes brings on an ear infection but that should not be something to keep him out of care because that is not contagious. They are usually miserable and that keeps them home to cuddle with their mommy. I hope this helps and that you check to make sure they are cleaning things the proper way to prevent the spread of disease.

I don't agree that day cares are day orphanages. There are some daycares out there that do have some problems but if you find one you love then stick with it. My son has been sick a lot as well. He is starting to get better faster when he does get sick and he is not getting sick as often now. So hang in there it will get better I promise. I love my day care provider as well so there is not much that would make me take him out of her care. I have been told that a sick baby in daycare will be the healthiest child once they start school. Don't let other mothers make you feel bad about taking you child to day care. I think it is nothing but beneficial for children. No one can tell that you don't miss your child everyday while they are at daycare because I know you do but I personally know he is well cared for and is having fun with the other kids. He is always happy when I drop him of and happy when I pick him up and that is what matters.

A sick little one is NO fun at all - but I will offer this advice. I decided to stay at home after becoming pregnant with our first daughter and started an in-home daycare. I had been a teacher for a few years prior to this, so I took on several of my teacher friends' children. I know that it is hard to see right now with all your son's sickness, but it will "pay off" when he gets in school and has his immune system built up from being exposed to these little bugs in the earlier years of his life. Not that we ever want our children to be sick, but each time one of my daughters or one of the kids in my daycare gets sick, us mom's remind eachother that this is one less bug he/she will have to fight when they become schoolage. They, at that time, would have to miss school instead of daycare. If he was to not exposed to other kids right now and then put him right into preschool/kindergarten, you can gaurantee that he would be spending a lot of that time sick then as well. Although this will be a long haul at first, I think you'll be "glad" that it is now and not when he could be missing out on school, possibly making him behind the others in his class.
Hang in there...I know it can be exhausting and frustrating.

I can relate - My daughter who is now 11 (and rarely gets colds and the like anymore) was sick with some sort of ear inf, cold, strep, flu her entire infancy (started daycare at 7weeks old). I understand your frustration, but I can tell you that many of the moms of babies in my office are continually at the pediatrician even when there kids stay with the grandma's so don't beat yourself up, if he didn't get sick as a baby because he was home until preschool it would start at that age. Some kids just get everything! Hang in there. Hopefully your pediatrician doesnt' tell you it's all your fault for working like my daughters did and then we found out she had a hole in her heart (he was a total quack we found out later)which was repaired at age 3.

It will get better. My daughter hardly ever gets sick anymore so its a tradeoff.

I agree with Sheila. I'd take a closer look at the daycare. My first DD started daycare at 8 weeks, got sick the first time at 10 weeks, & was sick CONSTANTLY with ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, RSV, & pink eye until she was 8 months old when we switched daycares. The first one was an 'institutional' type one in a church. Once we switched to a home-based daycare, she was only sick 1-2 times/year. Even if your daycare is using good handwashing, cleaning, etc., just a decrease in the numbers of children & adults your child is exposed to could help.

Dear Nicole,

Ideally, it's best for the child if there's any way you can stay home. I quit teaching when my 1st was born and eventually started a daycare in my home to supplement my husband's income. One winter with a full daycare no one got sick! We were vigilant about hand washing, sanitized everything weekly, sanitized doorknobs and light switches daily, etc. We ate a healthy diet. I think that also effects the body's ability to fight germs. If you must put your child in daycare consider that the fewer kids there are in the daycare, the fewer germs your child will be exposed to. As for building up immunities, I read there was no support for this theory. New strains of illness come around each season. My experience with 7 kids and dozens of daycare and foster kids backs that up. Your precious little guy doesn't have to be sick.

B.

Yuk! That sounds like no fun. Of course, kids will get sick, and amen to building up the immune system. One thing that has been absolutely invaluable to us with our little one (and several other kids I know) is chiropractic care. Of course it can't prevent exposure to sickness, but it helps the body work better at fighting the sickness, so it doesn't last as long or get nearly as bad. Also works wonders for ear infections! I've been taking my two-year-old since he was a week old, just to keep him healthy. I can recommend a great chiropractor too if you want. It is at least something to consider, if you can make it work at all (and the costs for chiropractic adjustments may end up being less than doctor bills and medicine!). I hope it gets better for you!

I would have a hard time accepting that it was a "very good daycare" for my child if they were sick for the first 3 months that they were there. Is it really a good place for your child, or is it mostly very convenient? Have you observed the precautions that the caregivers are using for protecting against the spread of germs? Do they wash their hands as often as they need to? Clean the toys that have been chewed on? Do they clean the areas that generally aren't played in such as the bathroom? Are there parents who habitually bring sick children who have been "treated" w/tylenol prior to being dropped off so that they appear healthy? If it was my child, I wouldn't write off illness like that by saying "but he's building up his immunity" and "this way he won't be sick as an adult". MRSA is becoming very common...that isn't a risk that I would be willing to take. I'm not overly protective of my children, but I do everything that I can to keep them away from a situation where they are likely to get sick. I would start by making sure that the care providers were doing their part with cleanliness and prevention, and go from there. I really hope that he gets better soon and that he starts getting sick less often. It's got to be hard for you knowing that you have to be at work but wanting to be able to care for your baby as well. Hugs.

Hi Nicole,

As a working mom I can relate to the frustrations of kids being in daycare and being exposed to germs, over and over. It actually helps to have this exposure, to build up immunity... but sometimes you feel like you are always shelling out copays and taking visits to the Dr. You can only miss work so much.
i am the mom of 2 kids, ages 2 and 5. I work parttime out of the home... and 2 days at the hospital. My little one is in daycare 2-3 days a week. My older girl is in k-garten 5 days a week.
I also work in a hospital so I am exposed to germs alot. Besides the consistent handwashing...I have a suggestion.
My family, including my children, take a supplement called Xango..made from the mangosteen fruit. It is perservative free and does not have any artificial anything. It is just a food. My children have been extremely healthy since starting this supplement and my daughter has had only one visit in the past yr to the pediatrician...and it was for a mild dry cough at night that cleared up with a vaporizer. My son has been in excellent health as have my hubby and I. There has been a markedly difference in terms of number of Dr. visits from the yr prior. We have skipped the sicknesses that have made their way thru the neighborhood and I beleive that our immunity has been strengthened by drinking this juice. I would recommend this to anyone! If you would like more information please visit my website at www.choosenature.mymangosteen.com
I can be reached at ###-###-#### and ____@____.com
I am a member of this site and contact and business info. is listed under the diet/nutrition. I live in Cadillac. I would be happy to get a sample of the juice to you. Hope this helps! Hope to talk to you soon,
K. Collins

I am a daycare provider and know what starting daycare can do to the children. The other children in the daycare have probably gotten the same stuff just not all at once. Diarrhea has been bad at my daycare too. Once one child gets it they all get. It has been through all 8 kids in my daycare twice this year. Once your son has been in daycare some the sickness should slow down a little bit. Also try to teach your son not to suck on toys because that can cut down on germs being passed around. Also make sure that your daycare cleans the toys after someone has been sick. Just stick with it, stay in the same daycare because you said you really like it besides getting sick plus if you take him to another daycare you will probably have the same sickness problems.

I went through this same situation last winter when my son was also 15 months old. I went back to work part-time in February and missed more work than I was actually there until April or so. (The end of cold and flu season). From talking to other moms, this is very common when a child is first placed into daycare/preschool/kindergarden. They get exposed to all the bugs they never have been before and this is a bad time of year for everything! It's good that your boss is understanding, I think most are if they ever had kids. It will get better in a month or so and then next winter hopefully it won't be so bad because he's now been exposed to the cold and such and his body will know how to fight it better.

I know it's good to know that you are not alone in this situation and to know that it is very common.

This is very typical for a young child that has never had all the exposure to everything, not to mention all that goes around this time of year. I would double check with the daycare about hand washing and sanitizing/ disinfecting procedures. If they are not doing well with this it could be contributing to the problem. But that aside and all well, hang in there, by next year he probably will not pick up much of anything. Kids need some exposure to this stuff to build up a resistance, plus be sure to offer plenty of fluids and a healthy diet to ensure his body can keep healthy to help fight this stuff. I have done daycare since my oldest was born and neither of my children (7&4) are hardly ever sick with more than the sniffles here and there!

My 19mo.old daughter is constantly sick too! It seems to be a lingering cold that gets a little better and then suddenly her nose is running again. She only goes to childcare 5days/week for an hour or two when I work out, but I also feel that is why she is constantly sick. I have put off taking her to the docter because I had allergies as a child, and the weather has been so nasty. But mainly, I remind myself that her immune system will be stronger when she starts school in a few years. I hope your son is feeling better soon, I know how hard it is to see them suffer. Think of the chicken pox. The majority of people only get them once in their life.

Hi, when My son was first born, he too was constantly sick, it turned out to be the "gamma levels" that were low. They "kick" in around 2, but I had to go to night shift and pull him out of all day care, to be home with him. For me it worked, for him it was night and day difference. He rarely got sick after that. He's going to graduate from high school this year, and I'm still a graveyard worker, never looked back. Good luck, D.

It will get better! Yes, daycare exposes your child to more than he's been exposed to early in life and his little system just has to build up some immunity. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is. Imagine what his adult life would be like if he weren't exposed to all this junk as a child! Im sure you have run into one of the adults who is endlessly sick...that's what you end up with!

It also could be the season. My kids are healthy as can be in the sprin/summer, but as soon as the first cold day comes, they are sick...ALL WINTER! ...and since your son has only been in daycare 3 months, it coincides with winter. Im sure it will improve when spring comes and I know his immune system will be better off year after year!

Just keep at it, mamma! You'll be okay! :)
~L.

I had the same situation, only add to the colds and ear infections a bout with pnemonia and pink eye. I pulled him out of day care and found a stay at home mom with a child of her own to take my son too. He's been healthy ever since. I know kids get sick once they start school, but I decided it was better to wait a while until he doesn't put everything in his mouth, he can wash his own hands and blow his own nose until I subject him to all the germs.

Nicole,
I'm sorry your little guy is sick. I'm sure it makes it difficult to leave him. I will start off by saying I am currently a SAHM. Having your kids in day care doesn't mean they will not have problems later on nor does keeping them home mean they will have problems when they are older. Every child is different. My first was a day care baby and at 11, still picks up everything that blows through. My second was not a day care baby nor did she go to preschool and she NEVER gets sick and at 7, I get sick before her. My 4 year old is in preschool and has a constant runny noise. So every kid is different. Talk to your doctor about immune builders. They may start him on Synergis. It is expensive but if your insurance covers it, they give it to babes under two to help them build their immune system for RSV. But there are cheaper ways to build their immune system. Tough I love being a SAHM there are some days I'd switch my hunny just to have a break. Do what you have to, but remember he is under your care, but you decide what that means. There are some moms that are better moms because they work a few hours outside of the home! Hang in there!

Hi Nicole,

I am a mother of 3 B14-G11-B9 and I had a similar problem when I had my children in daycare, I loved the place they were always well taken care of but were always coming home sick with something. I got really tired of the missed work and all the expense for the doctor that I put in a call to the health dept. and they came in and took samples to find out if I was do to unclean practices. The provider was doing well in keeping the kids clean just not other areas, like the bathrooms,you couldn't notice it but alot of germs and bacteria were found there and in the kitchen area,as well as on toys. They made her close for a week and thouroughly clean and then they came and rechecked after that the kids never got sick again. Some places start to loose the full cleanliness because they try to focus on the children but have to be taught of what kind of germs can be left behind in daycares. my advice would be to call your local health dept. and ask what can be done. also you should research on google images and all of illness related to daycares and hidden bacteria in daycares. I did this for my sons football gear and actually got action when I sent flyers of deadly bacteria in the gear that the school supplies but does not take care of routinely as they are required to.Don't get overly scared of what you might find out, just help protect your child as well as others.It might be something they are overlooking, give them a chance to fix and if he is still sick I would remove him, and find another daycare with better credentials. This is the same thing happening in schools today closing due to illness and needing to be cleaned alot better, I feel they should thoroughly wipe down seats and desks after every class to keep from spreading germs. It is not actually normal for your child to continuosly be sick when in daycare or school and it is not as they say good for there immunity when there older. This can cause problems as they grow and you never put 2-2 together. I have just finished nursing classes and the biggest thing they went on and on about was cleanliness in your own homes and daycares because whatever your child brings home you could bring with you. I did research on this for my sister-in-laws daycare and kept her from getting into trouble with the health dept.
I hope this helps and good luck.
B. S

nicole , maybe you should check to see how the day care keeps things clean also because kids can be constantly sick if the surrondings that there in is not clean , becuase of alot of bacteria . my two neices are constantly sick also ages 2, 4 becuse of this sorta thing not being in a clean inviroment .
C. N

Hi there. I am so sorry your little one has been so sick. I have a 10 y.o, 8 y.o. and6 y.o. and used to work full-time myself. I am wondering if your child has any allergies? Also, maybe look into some natural immune system boosters. I don't know what his diet is like but you could try cutting out as much processed food as possible-stick to whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc. Lots of water. Maybe he's allergic or sensitive to dairy? Just some thoughts off the top of my head. Hope things improve-hang in there!

Hello, so yeah, I hear ya with this daycare thing. And like you mentioned, I love the daycare, and so does my daughter, but its just so annoying! I have a 6 month old and she just started daycare in Jan. And since starting she has had RSV twice and then last week she was out pretty much all week with bad diarrhea! and yep it was VIRAL! I was so annoyed. So we had to take turns being home with her. I don't mind at all staying with her, but I just started a new job and my boyfriend can't really miss a whole lot of work. SO, now its a whole new week, HOPEFULLY, things will all be calmed down, she is good today, so she should still be good come Monday morning! :) I hope!