Hoping for a little advice... My 1yo has been in daycare (one day a week) since May and has been constantly sick since then. I've lost count of the number of trips to the doc/hospy we've had to make, and he only seems to have a few days here and there when he's his normal bubbly self. I'm worried his immune system is suffering because he never has time to properly get over one bug before the next one comes along.
I'm wondering whether I need to give up work. The thing is, I think my older DS (3yo) should continue in daycare because he's a little timid and it helps him get used to other kids. So if I give up work, but my eldest stays in daycare, perhaps my 1yo will still get sick anyway.
AARRGGGHHH! I wish I knew what to do. I hate seeing my little one so sick all the time, but I don't want to give up my job (which I enjoy) only to find he's still constantly sick anyway!
It's really hard, isn't it?
We had DS in daycare from about 15-18 months before finally pulling him out. In 12 weeks (going 2 days per week) he only attended 15 days because he was constantly sick! THere does come a point where it is just not worth it - that's a decision only you can make.
DS really wasn't happy at daycare, he wasn't ready for it at that age. We tried again from 2 and he loves it! And, thankfully, he's only had a couple of minor colds this time round and hasn't even missed any days. What a different expereince.
I guess you just have to think about whether it's worth it - I know I ended up missing heaps of work when DS was in daycare the first time so it really wasn't. And I agree, I think that when they get sick over and over they never really get a chance to recover properly, which only compounds the problem.
Do you have any other options for child care - relatives/friends or even family daycare? Does you older child get sick so much? If he's not bringing home illnesses your younger DS might be safer.
All the best making your decision
The advantage ( if you cab call it that) is that when they get to kinder they get sick a lot les than the kids who have been home all the time ( yes I'm making a sweeping generalisation an it's just my opinion and what I have observed myself)
I'd rather they missed out on daycare than kinder or school
Pandora - I suppose my thoughts are that I'd prefer DS to be a bit older before he starts getting all the bugs. He struggles to get rid of them and I suspect that's partly because he's so young. I'm also wondering whether his development is suffering (learning to walk etc.) because he just doesn't have the energy.
After our experience I'm inclined to agree with you firstkids, if they must get sick surely it's better to do it when they're older and better able to deal with it.
Maybe we just got unlucky last winter, but DS has been in daycare again this winter and hasn't had anything like the trouble he did when he was a year or so younger.
I am experiencing the same thing, my 15 month old started daycare about 2 months ago and we are on the cold merrygo round. I know with my first son the same thing happened (unforunately I think them starting in the middle of winter doesn't help) anyway he surived and once the weather started warming up the colds reduced and the next winter he maybe had only a couple of colds. I suppose for me I'm not in a position of giving up my job so I just think that it is hopefully only another 6 weeks and the weather will warm up and they will be able to go outside more so hopefully less germs.
Plus my eldest is in kinder and middle son in daycare so all the bugs end up at home anyway.
Good luck it is awful when they are sick all the time but they are resiliant.
Goodness, I could've just written your post word for word, except we've only been doing the daycare thing for a month. My DS is also only there one day a week, but I've been picking up a casual day here and there so he's really been doing two days a week. We've been to the GP 3 times this week already, and pretty much once a week for each week we've been there.
It's so hard to know what to do... My normal GP suggested I pull him out because his immune system isn't ready (which TBH I was a bit suprised at because everyone says expect them to be sick for the first 3 - 6 months) but the one we saw today said keep going with it cos it's normal... Sorry, no advice here, just shared frustrations
Always getting sick in daycare
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