DS always sick, not sure what's happening

[Yeddi]

MicroRANT: I'm actually worried about this culture (not just on this thread of I've heard it a number of times before from friends) that it's "normal" for children to always be sick, sometimes having up to 9 colds in a year, and that's how they build their immunity. I say bull! What's with the excuses for being sick all the time? It might be normal, in that it is now common, but it's not a "things as they should be" type of normal. We wouldn't put up with being sick every six weeks. That's not a sign of "health" or even building health. You don't have to actually catch a virus to build an immunity to it. I think part of it is because people take their kids out when they're sick - "it's just a cold" they say - I don't care, stay at home until you are well, don't spread your germs! /RANT

Yes, it would be worth looking into the milk allergy. You could try goats milk, which is closest to breast milk in make up, but doesn't have casein 1 in it.
A zinc and vitamin C supplement might be worth looking into, as well as a probiotic to help build good gut flora. Also, the best thing you can do is give them some sun. Vitamin D is the bodies natural steroid and helps support the immune system, and is more important to plan time in the sun in winter, when it's weaker and not around for as long.

[Traveller]

My youngest son was the same, since his first hospital admission aged 10 days. Long story short he had silent reflux, which he was aspirating causing lung infections. This was made worse when I started solids which included cows milk (he was breastfed) but it was only fairly recently we discovered a cows milk protein allergy. It's made an amazing difference to his health discovering this, and conincidentally he came off cows milk at the same time he started daycare and has not been constantly sick the way everyone told me he would be.

Anyway my point is, if you suspect cows milk take him off it. And by this I mean butter, cheese, cream in cooking, everything. If it doesn't make a difference then I would recommend pursing allergy testing to see if you can find out why he is so sick, because it is not normal for a child to be constantly sick no matter what the experts tell you. I was told the same thing numerous times and it was only at my insistence that my son had his first chest x-ray, which showed pneumonia! Apparently the fact he was happy indicated he was well, when in fact he was happy because he is a happy kid and he didn't know that feeling unwell was a reason to be unhappy because he was unwell from birth

[megb]

MicroRANT: I'm actually worried about this culture (not just on this thread of I've heard it a number of times before from friends) that it's "normal" for children to always be sick, sometimes having up to 9 colds in a year, and that's how they build their immunity. I say bull! What's with the excuses for being sick all the time? It might be normal, in that it is now common, but it's not a "things as they should be" type of normal. We wouldn't put up with being sick every six weeks. That's not a sign of "health" or even building health. You don't have to actually catch a virus to build an immunity to it. I think part of it is because people take their kids out when they're sick - "it's just a cold" they say - I don't care, stay at home until you are well, don't spread your germs! /RANT
A zinc and vitamin C supplement might be worth looking into, as well as a probiotic to help build good gut flora. Also, the best thing you can do is give them some sun. Vitamin D is the bodies natural steroid and helps support the immune system, and is more important to plan time in the sun in winter, when it's weaker and not around for as long.

Hi Yeddi, I totally agree with this! You've hit the nail right on the head with me. I hear this too often (build up their immunity etc) - I am guilty too, I've sent DD to day care with a runny nose so I can see why some Mums would be upset with that. Do you think though that many parents would keep their child home with just a runny nose? Just curious as to what others say on this. DS also has pentavite and a probiotic every day. I'm going to send him for allergy testing I think, him being sick this much is just ridiculous.

Thanks everyone for your posts, let you know what we find out (if anything!) xxxx

[Yeddi]

No, I don't think many parents keep their kids home with a runny nose. I do - not that it happens that often. If the snot is clear and isn't constant, but seems to be triggered by something (i.e. by going outside) I would be more inclined to take them out or let DD go to school, but if it has even the slightest tinge of colour to it or if it seems to be dripping constantly, or switching between blocked and dripping - absolutely not, I keep them at home. I don't just do it so they don't spread any bugs they might have to other children, but for their benefit too, by making them rest and treating it early they get over it quicker, and it rarely escalates.

Good luck with your allergy testing.