Hi Moms,
I don't know what to do anymore. I placed my son in daycare 1 month before his second birthday. He's now 25 months. One week into daycare, he caught a nasty virus that turned into a very bad double ear infection. Now 2 months later, he once again got sick and has been sick for a little over 1 month. Within this 1 month spand, I took him to his ped. 3xs. This last time, he said my son may be getting a double ear infection again! Well I'm switching ped. I think this entire thing could have been prevented somehow. But changing peds is not my question. My question is, did I place him in daycare too early? Is two years old too young to start? I'm torn. I'm a first time mom and uncertain what's right and what's wrong. I'm considering a Nanny instead of going back to daycare. A lot of moms tell me that this is all part of going to school and being exposed to kids and I won't have to deal with this when he starts kindergarden. But him being sick so often and my husband and I having to take off work to take him to the doctor all the time is really starting to take a toll on us. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm starting to doubt myself. Any words of encouragement would really be great. Thanks.
Hi Jan,
You did not start to early, it is the winter and also he is still at an age that he puts things into his mouth. Talk to the daycare about being more stringent about him washing his hands, get him into a routine, that he washs his hands when he gets to the room and just beofre he leaves atr the end of the day. The first couple months he is getting "innoculated" Aftwards it will be smooth sailing@! happy holidays.
I have to agree that they first few months are the worst (my daughter got coxsackie after two day - and I got it too). But it does taper off. I put my daughter in at 21 months and now at 3.5, she is not getting sick nearly as much.
You're doing fine. Your son probably loves the interaction with the kids. No need for a nanny. Spend the extra money on yourself.
it is part of day care, or nursery school... or whatever. Kids catch colds, flu, cock sackie, ear infections... If you wait tilll kindergarten.. they will catch it all then. Your child will build up resistence after the first year. the first year of any type of environment with other kids.. is the hardest.. but after they get sick.. their body will start to fight.. also ask the school that he is at.. to wash his hands a lot.. they may not be to clean .... see how clean they are... are the washing the toys .. not just spraying them with lysol.. but physically washing them at least twice a week.. with soap and hot water... some places aren't washing the toys.. are they washing down the desks or tables each day... and with what.. some bleach type soap.. is the best.. how about the bathrooms.. are they clean... do they have tissues out in the open.. for kids with runny noses?? what do you see when you go there?? check other places out if this is not so clean.. good luck
Personally I think yes. Daycares are petri dishes and children of this age should be with a nanny if you can afford it. Monthly ear infections and ailments should by no means simply be tolerated or expected as normal. They are incredibly painful and uncomfortable for babes.
My son started at an in-home daycare at 13 weeks, so no it's not too early to start at age 2. Here's the deal... I thought he would never be "well" again! I think he had a runny nose for six months straight! We're on "year 2" now and he's rarely sick. My friends kept telling me that it would get better and it did.
Side note- I work in an elementary school and the kids who have been in group settings are sick far less often than those who have not. They also have better readiness and social skills.
As for those ear infections, they may have nothing to do with daycare or your pediatrician. If your son is prone to them, then any infection he gets will go right to his ears. Keep track of them and if they continue into the summer months, consult an ENT.
Don't doubt yourself :0) Your doing just fine.. When kids get exposed to alot of other children their resistance for sickness is low but the longer they are around it the higher it gets and soon he wont get sick so often :0) .. just teach good hand washing techniques.. thats the best way to avoid germs! I know its hard to see your kids sick and schedule it around work and such.. kids being sick is a normal thing when they are little because they are building their own anitbodies to different bacterias and such.. soon he will be much stronger on the inside to fight off those little bugs :0)Don't worry, your doing great! ;0)
Hi J.,
I own a childcare center and I can tell you what you are experiencing is normal. Most children are sick for the first few months and then it will taper off. I don't think it has anything to do with starting him to early, Believe me it probably would have happened whatever age he was. The best thing you can do is to make sure the daycare is sanitizing daily,implementing proper hand washing techniques, and removing sick children from the classroom at the first sign of illness. Please don't feel guilty children get sick no matter if they are in daycare or not. My daughter was sick for 6 months straight with ear infections and step throat. When she turned one we had to have tubes put into her ears and I was a stay at home mom. I know how difficult it is for working moms, but if it didn't happen now I am sure it would happen when he is in elementary school and then you have tons of homework to make up when your sick. Hang in there and good luck!!
Don't doubt yourself. My son started day care at 3 months. Had ear infections at least once a month. Had nothing to do with the facility as it was beyond spic and span. Like all the ladies told you better now than later. My son is in 1st grade now and was never sick from preK till now more than 4 days all these years. Kids in his class now that are always out sick were stay at home kids. I know it is stressful with both of you working and having to take time off and perhaps worrying with these stressful times will work understand. But it won't last forever and if he has multiple ear infections like my son once he got tubes and adnoids removed (same time) he never had an infection again. Good luck and know that this too shall pass. A. B.
