Hellobee Boards Topic: How sick was your LO when they started daycare?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How sick was your LO when they started daycare? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:03:57 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare/page/2#post-2508722 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:32:20 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2508722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My LO started at 4.5 months and was constantly sick. As soon as she started it was one thing after another. cold, stomach bug, mystery fever, cold, cold, fever. It was exhausting and stressful. We eventually took her out and got a nanny because I just couldn't do it anymore. Im sorry, I know its awful! hilsy85 on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare/page/2#post-2508646 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:33:05 +0000 hilsy85 2508646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @SweetiePie: we didn't start til 3 but it has not been terrible. Since sept he's only missed two days from being sick. Mostly just colds with bad hacking coughs, and one ear infection. But not as bad as I had feared! catlady on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare/page/2#post-2508453 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:32:55 +0000 catlady 2508453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm sure it depends on the kid, but for us it was BAD. She was 3 months old and started in January (the worst possible time). I think she was sick for about 5 straight months, until it got warm out, and then it went down to about once per month for the summer. Fall came, she had a few colds, then Thanksgiving arrived and it went to hell. Her second winter was even worse than the first one. She was not only constantly sick but they were all so serious. It continued until the summer (we literally cancelled a trip in July) and then poof, gone! Since then, she has had only a few minor things. She was close to 2 when it finally stopped. I would guess that the mild winter we had this year also helped, but her immune system is definitely better now. All told, we had about 1.5 years of illness, with a few months of reprieve scattered here and there. skipra on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare/page/2#post-2508435 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:25:08 +0000 skipra 2508435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @SweetiePie: I mentioned in my previous post that we seem to have fewer illnesses with preschool compared to daycares. LO started when he turned 3 and has been there about 6 months. He's had colds on an off, like a runny nose mostly. He did catch a stomach bug and it was miserable but literally everyone I know has had it this winter so I don't think it's preschool's fault (although he did bring it home from there). LO2 goes to school about once or twice a month when I have to work and so far has just caught colds from LO1. One of the colds was worse for him with a fever. I don't know if we're just lucky or if the school is better than average about keeping germs at bay. We do know one family that just sends their kids to preschool (not ours) and they are always sick with things much worse than colds. JoyfulKiwi on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare/page/2#post-2508398 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 13:53:55 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2508398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @SweetiePie: I would say expect a lot of illnesses when starting preschool, too :bummed: Even kids who are 5 & starting Kindergarten get sick a lot if they've never done preschoo/daycare. @Mae: all those illnesses are really tough!! The silver linings are building a great immune system and next year shouldnt be so bad. This winter I think was especially brutal. I've been getting sick too and I never catch stuff from my son/students. JenGirl on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare/page/2#post-2508133 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:04:45 +0000 JenGirl 2508133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My son started daycare at 4 months and immediately got a small cold then a stomach bug. I was hit harder by both of those than he was. Then he got an ear infection last week and is now on antibiotics. But he's had a runny nose constantly since starting daycare. I'm hoping warm weather gets us all healthier soon! Mrs Green Grass on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare/page/2#post-2508127 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:56:50 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2508127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We started in August and it was bad but this winter also seems to be a particularly tough winter! I've been sick as much if not more than LO! gingerbebe on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2508123 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:55:32 +0000 gingerbebe 2508123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @SweetiePie: My friend is a SAHM and kept her kid at home until preschool at 3 years old and he was sick a lot the first year. Another friend had her 2 and 3 year old start preschool together this past year and they have basically been sick off and on the whole year. She and her husband have been scrambling to cover their work while staying home with the kids when they're sick and was advising all working parents to diligently save their PTO the year before their kids start preschool! I think it's just the nature of the beast. Everyone says the second year is better, so it's better to get it out of the way in daycare/preschool than in kinder, Etc. Fwiw, S has been sick a lot since December, but every month he is sick less often and for shorter amounts of time. I think the number of kids also affects things - he has a group of maybe 5-6 littles with him and a few older kids who drop in here and there for a few hours after school. At his preschool that he will start in the fall he will have 8-10 kids in his class. SweetiePie on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2508094 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:35:17 +0000 SweetiePie 2508094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sorry to thread jack @mae:, but can anyone chime in if the experience with Preschool is the same? He will be 2 for preschool in the fall and has never been in daycare. Just a couple classes each week with kids his age. So is preschool at 2 the same? Illness all the time??? oliviaoblivia on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2508075 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:18:44 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2508075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD started preschool at 2.5 her first winter we were at the pediatricians once a week for nine weeks straight. I'm including well visits and visits for little sister that caught everything big sister brought home... and the ER visit for little sister when baby sister was only six days old. It was a rough winter. Miss Ariel on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2508068 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:14:46 +0000 Miss Ariel 2508068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Dd started st 3 months, but it was in March at the end of cold season. She didn't really get sick until winter came around again. And reading everyone else's stories it wasn't that bad, I guess because her immunities had time to slowly build up? But I'm currently pregnant and due in October, which means lo2 will start in January. I'm sure we'll be in for a miserable first few months. :sad: 2PeasinaPod on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2508041 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:00:56 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2508041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Blah, I'm sorry. This was our first year of day care with LO1, and now LO2. LO1 started day care only 2 days/week at 14 months, and he was sick CONSTANTLY. Ear infections left and right, stomach bugs, GI bugs...you name it. He's 3.5 now, and while he does have a constant runny nose in the winter, he's doing much better. LO2 on the other hand is 6 months, goes 5 days/week, and he's been in day care for less than 2 months. He's had a GI bug, double ear infection that didn't react to the first antibiotic, so we put him on another one...just finished that and he got a stomach bug that he literally just got over. The poor kid hasn't had a normal poop in 2 months with GI issues, antibiotic reactions, and stomach bug issues. Today may be the first day he is well, and I'm not counting on that lasting... pachamama on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2508025 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 09:54:39 +0000 pachamama 2508025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ God, all your stories are so scary. Makes me not want to put my kid in day care, but I know he has to build up his immunity at some point! Freckles on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2508019 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 09:49:34 +0000 Freckles 2508019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it depends on when they start daycare too? DS started daycare in September but went full-time in November when illnesses were ramping up at daycare. It was just before turning 1. He was sick every 2-3 weeks (home for 3-4 days each week) until February. Stomach bugs, HFM, fevers. Luckily, our schedules are flexible enough that our work didn't suffer too much. It's now March, and he has been good for about 6 weeks now. The weather has been warming up earlier this year and i'm hoping we'll have healthier days ahead of us. DD started daycare in March just before turning 1 and it was only bad the first two weeks (fever) because we were still into winter here. In the 2 years she was there, she only had to stay home 3 times. This sounds normal (unfortunately) and i've heard of kids going through worse in the first few weeks. Hope things get better for you! skipra on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2508000 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 09:36:38 +0000 skipra 2508000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ One of my friends was just dealing with this. She put her 1 year old in daycare a couple days a week and she just kept getting really sick. Like hospitalized because she couldn't breathe sick. She also goes to the same preschool as my LO who has gotten some colds and the stomach bug (that EVERYONE has gotten this year) but otherwise been pretty healthy. Anyway, with one awful illness after another, she took her out of the daycare and just added days at the preschool and she has been so much healthier. So it sounds like it's normal for daycare settings? The preschool rooms have a lot fewer kids at a time so it's easier to keep everything clean, I guess. Maybe an at home daycare would better? snowjewelz on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507911 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 08:29:41 +0000 snowjewelz 2507911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD started at 10 months (last Oct) and was definitely sick back to back to back forever, each time a new thing! Finally calmed down now. I don't think it was all THAT bad... Hopefully her immune system is now impeccable, lol! milano14 on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507909 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 08:28:28 +0000 milano14 2507909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ In my case it's really based on the child. Our oldest started daycare when he was 6 months old, in January, and has rarely ever been sick in his life (he is almost 6 now). The first winter of daycare he didn't get sick at all and has only had one ear infection. DS2 started daycare in October, at 6 months as well, and has been sick a lot more. Runny nose a lot, coughing and several ear infections and he's not even 2 yet. They do/did attend a smaller sized daycare center though, and the center is VERY diligent about keeping things clean. Canoli on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507864 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:40:35 +0000 Canoli 2507864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My oldest started at 12 weeks old in January a few years ago and he had very frequent ear infections for the first year or so. After that things were pretty smooth (still had colds and I think pink eye a few times) but last spring at 3 years old he started with strep throat. He got it again this spring but he doesn't usually feel terrible with it. My youngest started at 12 weeks in July and faired pretty good the first year(colds and a few ear infections). Last fall when he was 19 months he got bronchiolitis and pneumonia (had to have a 3 day hospital stay) and the week after he returned to day care got hand foot and mouth and he has pretty much had a cold ever since then. Unfortunately it stinks but I think it's the norm! lamariniere on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507856 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:28:58 +0000 lamariniere 2507856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think we have been lucky. My son started at 2 and has only missed a few days here and there since then. The worst was one ear infection and maybe two stomach bugs. My daughter started at 13 months and has had one stomach bug and one really bad cold. Other than that, they get the typical colds with runny noses and cough, but I think we've been very very lucky. Their center is also pretty small, just 12ish kids in each class. My Only Sunshine on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507847 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:12:46 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2507847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mae: I could have written your post! My daughter is only in daycare a day and a half a week thanks to my MIL watching her the rest of the time and it seems like when she started around 2 years old, she caught EVERYTHING. Two things that seem like they've helped us are keeping hand sanitizer wipes in our cars to wipe her hands and face down as soon as we put her in the car after daycare and changing her clothes from daycare as soon as we get home. It might be overkill but I'm desperate! Mama Bird on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507840 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:01:54 +0000 Mama Bird 2507840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Ugh. I'm sorry, but that does sound typical. My son started at one and he was sick more than he was well for nearly a year. We pulled him out for a month to give him a break, but that's all we could swing. It's much, much better now. A few things that may have helped - elderberry syrup, lots of fresh air when it's warm, and washing hands as soon as we get home from day care. And of course time. Mostly time :happy: T.H.O.U. on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507825 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 06:43:36 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2507825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Alba4: I agree that sometimes its that age 1 year when they are putting things in their mouth, crawling around etc that they pick up more germs. I think by starting my kids early maybe they were able to gain some immunities while they were still little and in a bouncy seat! looch on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507817 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 06:33:00 +0000 looch 2507817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Let's see, my son started daycare at age 2. Before that, he had been home with me and had one cold at the age of 9 months (brought home from work by my husband) and a stomach virus at 14 months (caught while on vacation). That first year he caught at least 3 colds which led to ear infections. He was also diagnosed as pre-asthmatic, which led to numerous rounds with the nebulizer, but eventually that fell away and he hasn't had any lung issues. There was one instance where we thought he had Fifths Disease, but it turned out to be a reaction to antibiotics. I really think once the kids stop mouthing everything, sickness in turn goes down dramatically. autumnlove on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507757 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 22:34:17 +0000 autumnlove 2507757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO 1 started at 4 months and she was sick all the time until she was 14 months old. Bronchilitis, pneumonia, colds, viruses, etc. She started in April. It sucked! LO 2 started at 4.5 months and she was sick once or twice her first year in daycare. She started in Sept. Grace on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507750 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 22:04:47 +0000 Grace 2507750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO started Sept 2014 and was sick the whole winter. Cold after cold after cold. It was crazy, cause she was out of daycare over Christmas and was healthy. Then back to daycare and caught something new. Got better during the summer and this winter has been so much better. 2-3 colds and only 1 of them was bad. It felt like a miracle. Corduroy on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507748 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 22:01:16 +0000 Corduroy 2507748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sadly it sounds like our experience too. We're doing ok but I miss my family and friends desperately. If my kids aren't sick theirs are. daniellemybelle on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507747 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:55:36 +0000 daniellemybelle 2507747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO was 9 months when we started and it was part-time. I don't know if that helped or hurt, because on the one hand she was not exposed to all the germs every day, but on the other hand, I think more regular exposure can probably build up immunity. I don't think we had it as bad as many do. I can only think of a handful of times in a year that we had to keep her home because she was sick. She had a little cold basically the whole time and several ear infections but fevers were rare so we obeyed the daycare rules and sent her as long as she wasn't vomiting / diarrhea and was fever free. MrsB2012 on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507740 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:38:45 +0000 MrsB2012 2507740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We started both girls in daycare in the middle of January. They're 1 and 2.5. I was just thinking of posting a similar post about this. For us, they both have constant colds, ( I can handle that part ) but it's the throwing up. All.the.time. Last night my older one started throwing up while DH and I were out on a date and had to come home. Threw up all night. Two days ago the younger one was throwing up all morning. Last week when I took them out of town, they were both throwing up. Two weeks before that one of them was throwing up. I don't know if it's an anxiety thing or a recurring bug thing or what. I'm pretty sure since January, the younger one has had it three times, and the older one.. probably 5-6 times, maybe more. I'm sooo tired of it! I hope it ends soon for you guys! matador84 on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507733 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:31:49 +0000 matador84 2507733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pretty normal, and extremely hard/frustrating. Both my kids went back at 9 weeks old, my older one went in mid-Oct so the whole winter was a beating. Constant ear infections/colds, sinus, respiratory. Once he turned about 18 months we turned a corner and only has been sick enough for me to keep home maybe 1-2 times. The other one went in April and so missed out on a lot of winter illness and really only got some ear infections/sinus and tummy stuff around a year. It's hard to weather the storm, but it will get better! gingerbebe on "How sick was your LO when they started daycare?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-sick-was-your-lo-when-they-started-daycare#post-2507727 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:12:44 +0000 gingerbebe 2507727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DS started at 16 months at the beginning of the year, so height of cold and flu season. He also went for a few transitional play dates beginning in mid December. He basically got sick the minute he stepped foot in there. He had two viruses in December, 4 back to back in January, including one nasty stomach virus and one that made DH and I deathly ill for two weeks, then in February he had a constant cold and an ear infection, a week after he finished antibiotics he had a double ear infection that required a stronger antibiotic that gave him explosive diapers for 10 days straight. He has "just" had a runny nose for about 10 days now. I'm told this is normal??? I'm just hoping the warmer weather helps. We wash our hands and his face and hands pretty much constantly and wipe him down in the car the minute we pick him up.