First Week of Daycaren's Got Us All Sick!

A.,

Sounds like a frustrating situation. My doctor recommended a high-quality supplement to boost mine and my child's immune system and it has ended my worries for good so far! It's a great pre-natal as well since you're pregnant-my doctor also recommended them as a pre-natal. The website to order them (can't get them at the store) is: www.healthrep.usana.com
Product for you is: Essentials
Product for 13 month and older: Usanimals chewables

Good luck and good health!

First, get you all to a dr. to get some relief. Second, when my now 7 year old grandson first became sick (cold, runny nose, cough) from dayschool entry she asked the dr. how long it would last and he said about 7 years. So settle down, wash hands and face often and get a grip. All mothers go thru this.

My youngest (now 10 years old and in the 5th grade) has been in a daycare/school environment since she was 10 months old. She **still** gets sick when her environment changes (beginning of the school year and the beginning of the summer). I'm still hopeful that she'll "grown out of it"/build up her immunities...

Her sister (14 years old/freshman) never had that problem.

Good luck and hang in there.

Hi A.. My name is W. and I have three young girls (2, 4 and 1m) and know exactly what you are going through. One thing that has really helped us not catch everything going around is introducing a probiotic into our diets. I did not know this until recently but 70% of our immune system is in our digestive tracks. Not sure if you are familiar but probiotics add to the good bacteria in our gut and helps replace the ones that may be killed by antibiotics. My pediatrician recommends a product called Culturelle (can get at People's pharmacy). It has no taste so you can put it in anything. I also like product called Good Belly (a fruit drink in the dairy section at Whole Foods). Anyway, there are many different ways to get probiotics into your diet but I do think it had made a huge difference for us. Good luck to you! take care :)

When my three month old daughter started daycare there was a child there w/ a runny nose. I knew in the back of my mind that we were going to get it too. Needless to say, it turned into RSV and we spent a week in ICU. We found out later that the child who had a runny nose was just back from RSV too, and the parents brought her back too soon.

Get some chest congestion rub for him. Also, they have the plug ins that work pretty well. Please buy PUFFS, as his nose is probably raw. Vaseline around the nose area will also soften it.

Say your prayers....it could be worse. (Of course w/ your hubbie being sick you now have 2 KIDS to take care of!) LOL

I am not a fan of daycare! But our son goes to a at home daycare. Kids get sick from being at daycare no doubt about that. Our son got sick the first week being there but has been well for a few months and got sick again this past week. It is a smaller daycare with kids his age. We love it and he is learning so much. You might consider taking him to a smaller daycare or to the doctor right away so what ever little runny nose dosent turn into a ear infection and bum throat! Thats what happened to us. Good luck sorry your little one is sick and got yall sick too!

It is understandable if you HAVE HAVE to work to be able to pay bills. You have to weigh the odds though. There are so many other ways to socialize other than daycare!! I have read that kids that age and older do not NEED/HAVE TO socialize with other kids. Socialization with their family is efficient and best. If your going to be taking off with the new baby in January and will be paying more in daycare then also just go ahead and stay home now and already be off for the new baby. The sicknesses at daycare and at school just make their rounds. Yes we do get immune to most but overall their going to get something on a somewhat regular basis that you would not have to deal with if they were home with you. Good Luck!

Personally, I think a little sickness is good. It helps develop an immune system. It's hard, especially when you are pregnant. (I'm due any minute now, and I also have a two-year-old.) Wash your child's hands, make sure he sees you wash and set good hygiene habits. My daughter also has very bad allergies to mold, so I'm very familiar with running noses and coughs and all that. You might try slanting his matress at night to help drain, and a cool mist humidifier. Good luck!

I had the same experience in sending my daughter to a daycare facility. I couldn't believe the difference when I switched her to the care of someone who watched children in her home. She was only sick once within 6 months whereas she was sick ALL THE TIME at the daycare. Smaller ratio of children and less freezing cold rooms is what I attribute it to. Plus, the in home caregiver was BIG on keeping everything clean and germ free. Large daycare facilities try their best to keep germs at bay, but the sheer number of people in and out all day is a breeding ground and really can't be avoided all that much. Something you might offer to do for your daycare center is buy them one of those cute hand sanitizers with arms & legs and place it by the sign in sign out sheet with a sign that says "Clean Hands Station for Moms & Dads". They may or may not be open to this gesture, perhaps ask if they'd be open to it before bringing the actual items. GOOD LUCK!

I'm no longer involved, but there is a company called Mannatech, that has childrens chewable "mannabears". They were the first company to come out with these to support the immune system, and I can tell you they are amazing. Helped my kidswith everything from common colds, to allergies, to hyperactivity, and a friend of mine's son got mono, and she swears that they are the reason he recovered so quickly. It is a daily regimen, that would help your son to be able to resist some of the "crud" that gets passed around. I'm not saying it is a miracle, but it sure made a difference in my family. Also the adult version is called Phytaloe, and is what we take to keep our immune system strong. The home office is in Coppell, and if you go to the website www.Mannatech.com, they can hook you up with someone in your area.

Good luck-

I hate to sound so negative but welcome to the next 5-10 years of your life. I'm sure it will get better as our kids get older. My son was as healthy as a horse until I started taking him to the gym daycare (which they kept very clean and sanitized as much as possible). Then he started M.D.O. and is sick once a month, it seems. We get it sometimes but dodge it sometimes too. We had a baby almost a year ago. My son drug a head cold up to the hospital when she was born and she ended up with a cold at the ripe old age of 3 days. It's been non-stop every since. UGH. I feel like you. It just seems wrong for everyone to have to go through this. Like you, I worried about getting sick when I was pregnant. What you should do is go up to the pharmacy and get yourself a nasal rinse system (like a neddi-pod). Mine is the NeilMed Sinus Rinse. Use it every morning and every evening religiously. It helps with allergies, rinses out live viruses in your nasal passages (that haven't yet infected your body). It has REALLY cut down on the number of the yikity yucks I have gotten from my son. If you do get sick, it's also a good way to keep your sinus' clear instead of using medicine. Good luck. My son started Mother's Day Out again last week. If you can believe it, he has already brought another cold home!! It will be a short of a miracle if our baby isn't sick in the next few days. Again, sorry so negative...however, it's just been the truth for us. We must have had 12-15 this year already. No joke.

It takes awhile for children to build up their immunity. It will get better! However, I work in a school and I STILL get sick at the beginning of every school year!! It is just the way it is I guess being around all those germs that you didn't have to deal with for three months over the summer.

Good Morning A.,

The very first thing to do when you pick your child up from daycare is wash his hands, even before you get into the car! I would also recommend a line of products called Thieves. This is an essential oil that can be simply dropped into your hands and inhaled. Better yet it can be diffused into your home through the air ducts! When you get a chance you may want to take some time to check this information out. http://www.youngliving.us/pdfs/lit-thieves_booklet.pdf

Another great resource is a website called oil testimonials. It has all kinds of testimonies from others that have found great success using essential oils.
http://www.oil-testimonials.com/7532

If I can help you in anyway or answer any questions, feel free to contact me. My family and I are a living testimony of how these oils can help naturally.

Hi A.,,,
i'm not to sure that daycare made you all sick unless you are just not use to being around people,,,,so maybe you need to call Dr before taking him back to daycare
good luck L.

I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this....When our daughter started daycare she was 12 months old and was out for 4 solid weeks!!!! (Totally not kidding!!!). She was at school for 4 days and out for four weeks. It does get better, but they will get the sniffles. Since you are pregnant (I'm going to do a breastfeeding plug here)...are you planning on breastfeeding? We put our son in daycare at 3 1/2 months (breastfed exclusively) and he has not been sick (he's now 9 months old). I highly recommend it as there are soooo many benefits.

Daycare's make everyone sick fast! Heck, even when I go to the gym and take mine to their kid's club, we all have runny noses the next day. It's horrible.

Here is what you need to do to get the nose bulb used on your son. It sounds mean, but it works and once you've done it, it's all better. Get some saline drops and your nose bulb and some tissues handy. Lay him down between your legs with his head in your crotch. Put your legs over his arms and use your thighs to hold his head still. You don't have to squeeze or press or use any force, it's very simple. It makes them mad, but you'll have a chance to put a few drops in each nose, wait a few seconds, then get the snot out.

YOu can't sit and do this all day, but a few times when he's super slimy and stuffed up and really needs it, it works. And I would definately recommend doing it before bed. Also a little benadryl may help dry him up and sleep better at night. Not to drug him, but the correct dosage could definately help him sleep.

good luck.

I'm a mother of 3 dd's and we've been through this a thousand times.

My 1yr old just starting day care as well and we are sick with vomitng, diarrhea, pink eye and fevers. We just keep passing it back and forth. i feel like we should all be quarantined. He went for a total of 4days and has been sick for 2wks. He will not return to his daycare in Pflugerville, Tx. I am feeling the same. Hang in there we can make it.

Sounds like to me that you all were already exposed to something - and the timing just coincided with your child beginning daycare.
But to make yourself feel better - drop in at the daycare one day and observe their dedication to handwashing technique - because this is the key to slowing down the spread of anything. Some workers do not consistently wash their hands or wipe down the changing table between changing babies diapers. They may think they are only putting htemselves at risk - but they still spread it to others.
Sometimes it is just your own kids resistence to stuff. My son was in daycare since age two yrs, and my daughter since age 2 months, and they were rarely sick. I know i was very lucky.....
good luck....
L. - a working mom of two, now grown kids, and married 31 yrs.

Same happened to my son when he first started day school. He would get fevers. But after he became immmune to those germs he was a ok. I believe it happpens to all children that haven't be around other children. He'll be ok and so will you. Congrats

A.,

One of the best things you can do for your family, is protect their Health by prevention....getting them on vitamins, wahing hands asa they get in car or home, a good nights sleep. etc.!
www.yourhealthyalternatives.com for ideas...

After a 2 weeks in daycare my son brought home mono, which is worst for adults than babies. It sucked more for me because I was very sick for a week (still sick and very tired but managing). Every night I run his vicks humidifier to help with his always runny nose. My sister said it will take some time getting use to the new germs but soon it will be better. Hang in there. I am right there with you. Take your vitamins, sleep and lots of fluids. Talk with your OBGYN and see it there is anything else you need to do to stay healthy for the new baby.

Now that I am slowly getting better my husband now has a head cold from the baby. Life will go on. We are supporting each other and doing our best. I wish I could stay home. The one thing I remind myself is that Nathan actual likes daycare. He smiles going in and coming home. If he was upset then I would worry more. The teachers love him and since I have to work I keep these thoughts in my head to keep me going.

I am sorry that everyone is sick. However wash hands what seems like everytime you turn around.Fight to keep son's nose clean he is spreading this cold. His hands touch his face and then everything in the house. Wipe down all door knobs, cabinet fronts etc. that he can touch. The pink is spread just like that. I know it is hard to do been there. But I do not feel that he got it from day care. Some one that you work with or husband works with has had a cold and spread it by touching things just like you have at home. If son has not seen the Dr. do so this will help.Then clean and clean some more. Sorry to know that you and your family are sick. Get well soon and good luck.

I would want to ask the daycare about how they disinfect. Many times the bleach water they use or disinfectants they buy in the stores can cause just as many problems for young sensitive systems. We are bombarding ourselves with chemicals every day and it is bound to affect the immune system.

I would want a daycare center who uses only all natural cleaners and disinfectants. Some daycare centers have heard of Melaleuca.com and use the Sol-U-Guard, which has been EPA approved for use in daycares and hospitals. It has no chemicals and works much better than the bleach and other stuff and is a whole lot healthier. Daycare centers who implement non-toxic products find that their kiddos are present more often and sick less, so it's a good thing all around. Business booms and parents are happier.

Melaleuca also has a great Prenatal Vitamin made with a patented manufacturing process that allows for better absorption and fights against free radicals. You can only get it from Melalueca. They researched the science and worked with the best out there and they own the technology.

If you want more information, go to www.melaleuca.com and click on the visitor's page and then go in and browse the product store. When you click on each product there is a box at the bottom with additional information, such as research or PDF files.

Then, give me a call and I can help you have a healthier home, talk to your daycare, and maybe even make a little extra money to pay for your products every month. I got around $90 in free products this month when I ordered what I needed for my home. There is no selling, stocking, or delivering of any products by you. Melaleuca handles all of that for us.

J.
www.livetotalwellness.com/janislanz
www.melaleuca.com
www.saferforyourhome.com

Hi A.-

Those Sudafed plug in vaporizers have worked wonders for my kids. We plug one in at night in their rooms and they sleep so much better when they have a stuffy nose.

As far as the daycare thing goes, he might have picked it up there and you or your husband might also have brought it home from work, the grocery store, church or anywhere else you may have been. Kids get sick....his immune system will be stronger once it's fought this one off.

Good Luck,
K.

IF YOU AREN'T ALREADY, IT IS TIME TO GET ALL OF YOU ON A DAILY VITAMIN.

AND, don't be a germaphobe. The more kids are exposed to germs, the more their immune system builds up its defenses. I'm not saying let him be filthy. But, don't use antibacterial everything. Researchers are finding that too much antibacterial is just as harmful as never washing. We all grew up using regular soap to wash ourselves and turned out just fine.

AND, don't let children use antibacterial cleanser that you squirt and rub in. That stuff is mainly rubbing alcohol which is poisonous if ingested. If a child puts it on their hands and then their hands go in their mouth before it is completely dry, it can poison them.

The more often you son is in daycare and around other children, the more "immune" he will become. Passing sicknesses around is going to happen whether in day care or at school when he is older. It wouldn't hurt to check with the day care about their cleaning habits, too. Maybe they have slacked a little.

I have been very lucky with my 6yo, knock on wood. He's a 1st grader now, but started day care when he was 7 weeks old. His first year we went through several bouts of ear infections. But, otherwise have been very lucky. He usually goes to the doctor for his yearly check-up and then one other time during the year, typically for the sniffles.

When he was a baby, UTMB in Galveston was doing a study on a Roto virus vaccine. I let him participate. We found out after the study, he got the vaccine, not the placebo. Consequently, we have not had to deal with many viruses at all, maybe once a year. His worst one was at 18months. We had diarreah (sp?) horribly. Literally everything he drank/ate went straight through him for a day and a half. But, I found out when he went back that a few of the kids had had 2 rounds of it. The ones that got it first, got well, then got it again as the others contracted it! I was thankful that we did not have to deal with that.

Good luck and just bear with it, it will get better.

Hi A.,

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that's just part of having kids. Once your little ones start interacting with other kiddos the illnesses and viruses start. Nothing you can do about it beside frequent handwashing both you and your husband, loading up on excessive Lysol, and I take a multivitamin and drink Emergen-C to keep those kind of viruses away. Just wait till your little one brings the stomach bug home. THAT'S the one I always hate!!! I avoid catching it at all costs...even if that means blasting my own child in Lysol when he comes home...(HA, j/k.) Wish I had something more encouraging to tell you. Eventually some of those cold viruses you will eventually get immune too and even though your son might get it you won't. Good luck and load up on fluids and brothy soups and this virus too shall pass.

D. G.

A.,
If you can afford to stay at home, stay home!!.Especially if you pregnant and have a 2 yr.old that can be prevented from all the sickness that go on in day cares.Now that the seasons will be changing theres going to be even MORE illness in the daycare.Thats just how that goes.So think about yourself being pregnant and your family.
A good tissue to use is anything w/aloe lotion or lotion period.These type of tissues are wonderful for anyone.Introduce them to your son by having him touch it and explain how soft it is and how nice it'll feel on his little nose.
You can also find stay at home mommies on this mamasource link to meet and make playdates for your child.
Stay home if you can.You may want that outside life or those extra little dollars in your pocket,but put your FAMILIES and your health first.

OK, this time of year is notorious for illness and it just gets worse over the winter. Once your child enters the world of other kids, it is true they will pass germs back and forth. The best thing for you to do to protect yourself and your family is to wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer frequently. It is important to remember that viruses can get to you through your nose, eyes or mouth, so keeping your hands clean is very important. It is also important to keep your child home from school if he is running a fever, because that is when a child is most contageous. Be careful in public places too...child play places like Chuck e cheese, or even the playground, especially at Walmart (on shopping carts) are things to watch out for and sanitize after. Try to teach your little one early not to put fingers in noses or mouths. It is inevitable that he will bring home some childhood crud once in a while, but they say that the sicker that your child is when he is young, the more resistences he will build up as an adult.

As for the coughing, I always use benedryl to "dry up" the runny nose and it works great(closely follow dosing information or call your pharmacist). I also use vicks vapor cream on their chest, and raise the head of the bed by putting something under the feet of the bed (don't raise the mattress with something because that can create a space for a child to get trapped in). Anyway, good luck and try to get some rest!

I feel for you. My family is experiencing the same thing. My daughter was in her daycare for three days in the last two weeks, and all of us have been sick the last four days!

I so remember those days. Unfortunately you have been told correctly, the first few years of day care are the worst with illnesses. As we all know, it is not usually the day care, it is that our kiddo is being exposed to so many things all at once. But, believe me, it is much better now than keeping them away from other kids until school because by the time school comes around they will have made it through this.

I have a couple of tricks I was taught by nurse friends to help with prevention...
1. Every morning before day care, apply a little neosporin to your child's nostrils....like right inside...not a glob. (maybe not now because of the raw nose). My nurse friends say this helps guard against the spreading of viruses.
2. teach your child to cough into his sleeve, not his hand. You could also mention this to the teacher/caregiver. No matter what, a child is not going to wash their hands every time they cough. So coughing into their sleeve helps prevent some of the spreading.
3. Wash your child's blankets/pillows/stuffed animals he takes to day care each week. (the day care is probably spraying them down each day but they are stacking them with all the other kids' blankies etc.
4. Keep some lysol in the trunk of the car to spray down the car seat with regularly.

Nothing completely does away with kid yuck germs but these may help.

Hang in there. Stay on your prenatal vitamins. You will get past this.

It will get better! My daughter started mom's day out in February, and she went 3 times that whole month. We do lots of hand washing, and she has all her own sanitizing stuff in the bathroom. She wastes some water, but that is OK! I give her Danactive immunity drink, and so far over the summer and this school year so far she has had nothing more than an allergic type sniffle(she is allergic to mold)but no fever all summer and so far this year. So it does get better. It took a solid month of being ill before she did not just catch everything. She got sick 2 more times in march-may, and not once this summer for the summer program. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And hey mom STOP eating or drinking after your child. Think really hard to what you as parents are doing. I never thought I did that much until I finally got sick from her this school year(I was 7 months preggo too). She licked my ice cream. It was innocent, but I got the crud. She sometimes takes sips out of my water or tea, so I started keeping it on the counter! Good luck and this too shall pass!

I have a 6 month old son who has been in daycare since he was about 3 months old. Hate to tell you this, but he has been sick off and on the whole time with exactly what you describe - runny nose and cough. I would say that he gets it at least 1-2 times per month, and the runny nose is pretty much constant. His pedi said to expect that with daycare. I try to look on the bright side and figure if he gets exposed now then maybe when he starts school he will be immune to most of it already. For the cough I have found that going into a steamy bathroom helps - just turn on the shower or tub to the hottest water and let the room fill with steam. I also use a humidifier in his room, and use saline nasal spray with the bulb syringe to get out the ickies from his nose. I also use baby cold rub, from the same brand that makes Little Tummies. I have found that a combo of all that seems to help him breathe and sleep easier. Good luck!

I feel bad for you, but I know my friend's kids, who have been in daycare since 3 months old (lucky her got 12 weeks paid maternity leave), and they are always sick, despite being there for so long! but at least he is getting exposure now, and the rest of the ickies probably won't be as severe...here's hoping!