I am also more cautious about hanging with sick kids, when i know that i will be seeing other families where sickness will really affect them (similar to BWs examples) and i don't want to be the person who brings the illness to their door. So, it's always best to gve your friend the info and let her decide if she wants to meet up.
I agree with BW. If hte clear snot is at the end of the bug, and he seems well and no other symptoms, then that's ok. But if it's just started it could be something else, so we stay home. Definitely if any other symptoms also.
I agree with BW and MadB, like they said anything starts with a clear runny nose. A clear runnynose at the end of an illness is fine. If they have a yucky sounding cough after a cold I let the other parents know and let them decide.
I too would go with checking with the other parents, and if they are ok, then go ahead. If my daughter had to 'miss out' every time she had a cold she would never leave the house!
I agree with the other girls speak to the mum.
I am one of those paranoid mothers, only because a simple cold can still very easily put my two very early prems in hospital.
For my other kids I was a lot less pedantic because it would not effect them as severely.
Temperatures 38 and over, I wait 24 hours before taking them around other kids because they are still contagious. If it is just a low grade temp (37.9 and under without panadol) then as long as it comes back down, I am okay taking them out because low grade temps can be caused by teething and other non infectous things.
Clear snot and no other symptoms we go out but green snot or more than just a runny nose, we stay home and away from other people.
Anything gastro, we wait 24 hours until the last symptom (not just for the sake of others but it's not fun to clean up when we are out either).
I guess most of it depends how the kids are feeling as well. Symptoms are one thing, but if they are feeling miserable, it is not fair on them (or the people we are going to meet) if they aren't feeling well because they are cranky and out of sorts and don't enjoy it anyway.
Having said all that, while I don't take them to playgroup and the like while they are unwell, they don't cope with being cooped up for too long so often we will go to the park or for a short walk late in the afternoon just to get them out a bit which seems to help them get better sooner. We tend to steer away from playground equipment and stick to open spaces, but it does do wonders for helping them feel better.
I never take a sick child without giving the other parent the option. I don't understand why people make the distinction betwen the clear or green nose - I have never had a green nose (even with very nasty flus), nor has my son, it depends on how the individual's body fights the infection/virus. And yes most things, including whooping cough, start with a clear runny nose. And even with a cold, the most contagious time is at the onset of symptoms - usually a clear runny nose.
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