I have found that the first year we exposed the kids to more people the sicker they were! I put it down to more exposure and it certainly has not been that bad again. My GP had mentioned that it was for us the first winter at childcare particularly but that historically this had happened later when kids hit kindy or prep. It is a bit of a pain at the time but it is normal for their immune systems to have to learn resistance to common colds etc. I tend to think it is more the kids coughing, their possibly dodgy personal hygiene and being sent when they are unwell rather than a lack of cleaning too. My experience is it is normal but a difficult phase to manage. Nothing like sharing germs! xx