Hello Mommies,
My 6 year old son was sick last week (Mon - Wed). I think it was a typical kids' viral cold. He had a fever of 101F for about 3 days, then he bounced back by Thursday to normal body temperature. By now, he is playing to his usual self, but the only thing is he is still coughing here and there (for him, coughing always draggs 1-2 weeks after recovering from cold and I know that is typical of most of kids/adults). We have a pre-paid swimming lesson scheduled for this afternoon (40 minute duration private lesson, indoor pool). Just learned that I should have canceled at least 12 hours before in order to get a make-up credit, so if he does not show up today, we will just lose money.... Would swimming be o.k. for a child 3 days post sickness who still has residual coughs??
Thanks from an unexperienced mom to Experienced Moms
The only time I kept my kids from the pool was if there was active vomiting or diarrhea, or if they felt too sick to participate. I never kept my kids out of any activity due to a residual cough.
I would have let my kids go with the cold. Seems like activity gets that stuff out of them quicker.
I think it will be fine.
unless the cough is causing breathing difficulties, I think you're fine to send him, but I'd let the instructor know that he's been fever free since Thursday so he/she won't think he's still actually "sick"...
and wow, Julie S... really? you'd expose your child's instructor and anyone else there to your child that is contagious and running fever? not to mention your poor child being forced to swim while actually sick...
If he had diarrhea, I'd say no...but a cold? It's fine.
I cannot think of any reason swimming would not be OK. I'd take him to the lesson.
A friend of mine is a swim instructor, and has posted pretty extensively about this on her Facebook account. According to her, the child shouldn't have swimming lessons if they have a fever, have been throwing up, have an ear infection, or are in the first few days of antibiotics. In general, if your child is running around happy, a residual cough would be no big deal. If your child is still feeling sick (doesn't have as much energy as usual, headachy, etc), then cancel the lesson. Keep in mind that swim instructors can only earn a living if they themselves aren't sick, so they will not thank you for bringing a contagious child to lessons. As long as your child is no longer contagious and can do his part in lessons, he should be fine.
it was just a cold, and now he feels better.
i'd go.
khairete
S.
Usually 24 hours except with ear infections. The pressure of being under water plus the water getting in there hurts. I don't like the kids to go back in the water after an ear infection until the next week after they start antibiotics.
There was an annoying cough that went around my area. It lingered long after the "feeling sick" part. Anywhere from 1 week to 8 weeks. Your son is fine for swimming if coughing is his only symptom.
