Sick All of the Time!!!

Updated on July 06, 2008
B.W. asks from Denham Springs, LA
23 answers

My 15 month old started daycare about 3 months ago. Since her 2nd day there she pretty much has been sick non-stop. I hear about kids getting sick once they are in daycare but non-stop? We are at the doctors office every week. I think there has been 2 weeks that we didn't have to bring her to the doctor and that wasn't 2 weeks in a row. I feel so bad for her and its miserable for myself and my husband also. Has everyone else out there had to deal with this much sickness when their child started daycare?

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A.G.

answers from Tulsa on

I am sorry to say I had to quit work due to my twins being sick non stop in daycare!!! It was no break for me to put them in preschool and have them sick all the time. I tried it 4 different times they are 3 and 1/2 now and I had them in last fall and they got sick again like you never well. It is not good for them.or you. If you can don't put them in daycare. try and in home one if you can find it sometimes they can be better but i never tried one

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D.D.

answers from Dothan on

I moved here from another state and my 3 year-old started preschool. I hate to say it, but we were sick for months. Hang in there, start a good multivitamin and OJ, and it will get better!

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J.H.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Hi B., if she's been on antibiotics, you might want to see what this site has to say regarding kids and illness...

www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com

Also, I stopped feeding my family processed foods (just about anything in a box, bag or can) in favor of fresh veggies, fruit and made-from-scratch items, to eliminate additives and preservatives. I was amazed at the difference in our health! I was even able to take my youngest off her allergy meds, and her allergies were very severe. I hope this helps :}

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C.P.

answers from Fayetteville on

Hello B.,

My daughter was the same way when I put her in daydcare. I started giving her vitamins and other supplements. You might want to check with your Dr. first and make sure it's okay. I hope things get better. I know how you feel!!

C. P.
Centerton, AR

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K.K.

answers from Jackson on

Hey B. W.
Yes we all deal with this . This is so normal. My 5 year old is still in daycare, but not as sick as he was as an infant. He would always be congested and always had a cold. It's just so many sick children there at one time, and most parents can't afford to keep the child home because they have to work. So please don't worry unless it is something big like Staph, then take your baby completely out.

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V.L.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My son has been in daycare since he was 6 weeks old. He did well during the first while, but when he stopped breastfeeding at 6 months, he gradually started catching what was going around. He was sick every time we turned around for what seemed like forever, but he is 14 months now and hasnt been sick for several months. I guess he just had to build up an immunity, but if your family is like ours, it wont last forever, even if it feels that way!!

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R.C.

answers from Oklahoma City on

We had the same problem with our daughter when we moved her from an in-home day care to a big daycare when she was 18 months old. After several ear infections, stomach viruses and the flu, she got ear tubes and that helped a lot. We also recently changed day cares and I think that will help too. Does your doctor have any advice for preventing her from getting sick. You also may consider changing daycares.

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K.G.

answers from Little Rock on

My son started daycare at 6 weeks. He was always sick and we were always at the dr. At 9 months old he had tubes put in and the sickness slowed down. He is now in a different daycare and has hardly been sick since the move. As I look back, the kids at the first daycare always had nasty runny noses and coughs. Their parents took them when they should NOT have been there. The daycare I am at now is so different. I never see other sick children. A much different environment but I just didn't know better at first. And as for the mom who suggests staying at home...we would all love to stay home but can't. Sure don't need reasons why we should!

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J.K.

answers from Birmingham on

This is very common. In fact, some parents rearrange their lives to stay home with their chldren because of it. With the child constantly sick, the mother is both unable to work and paying for daycare at the same time! Not to mention the parents may become ill as well. Have you considered all your options? Perhaps there is a way you could arrange to keep her home that you haven't thought of yet.

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A.F.

answers from Little Rock on

I worked at daycare for about 1 year and during that time my 2 year old (at that time) son went to school there also. He had never been in daycare before and he was ALWAYS sick! After repeated visits to his Dr, I asked if this was normal and my pediatrician said yes. Because he was at home with me for so long, then exposed to a different environment with multiple cold bugs floating around because of the large amount of children, he said it would take him some time to build up an immunity to the germs. Daycares are pretty good about disinfecting everything but with so many children and so many different age groups it's very difficult to keep germs from spreading. Trust me, he'll be better before you know it. My son is now an active healthy 7 year old. Be patient, this will pass. Good luck!

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T.T.

answers from Lafayette on

The immune system works kind of like a muscle-in order for a muscle to get stronger it has to exercise. In order for the immune system to get stronger, it also needs to "exercise." The immune system "exercises" by coming in contact with germs-viruses and bacteria, and building a defense against them-naturally. That is what is going on with your daughter.

When a child starts daycare, they share lots of different germs from other kids. Unless your daughter has a bacterial infection causing high fever, she does not need medication. Her body is doing what it is supposed to do.

There is research showing that kids in day care are healthier as they get older because their immune system was "exercised."

So, what you are going through is normal. Try to minimize the doctor visits, and the medication. As she grows stronger, she will have fewer colds and symptoms. Until then, be thankful that her immune system is getting stronger.

There are also natural things that you can do to help with her symptoms during this growth process. I use a natural juice in my office that is very effective for helping to strengthen the immune system. You can learn more at my website: www.drtina.gomangosteen.com

Good Luck!
T. Theriot, D.C.
New Iberia, LA
###-###-####
____@____.com

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S.C.

answers from Lafayette on

My eldest daughter started daycare (2 days a week) at 18 months old. Soon after, she literally would be sick every two weeks or at least once a month. It was either strep or some kind of virus. I too, felt bad for her. It got to the point where I had to get a doctor's order for her to be able to bring her own sippy cup instead of drinking out of the water fountain. This helped a little. After about a year and a half of this, I had had enough. I pulled her out of that daycare and put her into a private, Christian one. There she finally had the environment that was cleaned from top to bottom on a daily basis. Sure, she still gets sick, but nothing like it used to be. I don't know if it had anything to do with the cleanliness of the place or not, but I do know that they are alot stricter when it comes to disinfecting. The minute my child walked into the classroom, the teachers would take her over to the sink and make them wash their hands (with a timer set to make sure they were thoroughly clean). They were not even allowed to keep their pillows and mat covers there because it posed a lice hazard. They also were adamant on children coming to school sick/with a cold. If your child had a persistant cough or runny nose, they were sent home. When I would pick her up in the afternoon, the teachers were wiping every thing that was touched with disinfectant. If you can, find out if another mom in your child's day care is having the same problem. Maybe that day care is not for you.

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V.W.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Hello B.,

I know it has to be frustrating plus I'm sure none of you are getting the rest you need. I've been there. Is your little one on a good multi-vitamin (do NOT use Flintstones!)? Has she been given a lot of antibiotics? She probably needs a probiotic as well. The reason I'm asking is because at such a young age her immune system isn't mature enough to handle everything that is thrown her way. Not only could she be having issues with the colds, but it could also be something to do with the cleaners used in the daycare.

Following are two links - one about children's nutrition, and the second title says it all:

Nutrition: http://www.shaklee.net/thewrightplace/prodNutChild

Toxic Brew (30-minute video - definitely an eye opener):
http://www.theglobalsuccessteam.net/resources/wmv/toxic_B...

To find out what’s lurking on your shelves, go to the National Institutes of Health Library of Medicine Household Products Database. You can search almost any brand of cleaner, personal care products, bug spray, etc. you use, to find out what’s in it and uncover its links to health effects. Or search by chemical ingredients (see list below for some examples) and discover what brands contain it. The information may shock you. http://www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/ingredients.htm

Chemical ingredients to look out for:
• Sodium hydroxide
• Hydrochloric acid
• Butyl cellosolve (2-Butoxyethanol)
• Formaldehyde
• Bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
• Ammonia
• Sulfamic acid
• Petroleum distillates
• Sulfuric acid
• Lye (potassium hydroxide)
• Morpholine

Hope I've been of some help,
~V~

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M.F.

answers from Fayetteville on

I'm so sorry for your family. Unfortunately, that is what happens. It took us about a year or so to really get the immune system to prevent every little illness. Hang in there and eventually it will get better.

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A.J.

answers from Baton Rouge on

U can change day care center and come up with the same problem. U hv to try and get to the root of the problem
1 look around and if u c some runnie noses they are alouding sick children 2 b dropped of - good reason to go to another day care but check it out for runnie noses

Talk to person in charge 2 c what is being done in a way of deodorizing. Little ones leave and pick up germs ever where particularly at that age.

Speak 2 the doctor, I would keep him off medications, but there a lot of vitamins out there to help the immue system

Of course by them having a run of sickness it assist them in building up the immune system.

God Bless

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M.C.

answers from Tulsa on

B.,

Hang in there it does get better! I remember having the same situation with my son. I thought surely I would get fired if I missed many more days taking care of him. And also feeling so guilty that he was getting sick at day care.

Now he's a healthy, strong, athletic 19 year old college freshman. So it turned out alright :-)

Be kind to yourself - and know this will pass.

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A.G.

answers from Jackson on

My son is also in daycare and like your child he stays sick all the time. I am not sure how you feel about going to the health food store, but i started giving my son sambucol it is a liquid that you give the child once a day to build up the immune system. That may be the route you need to take. Instead of trying to fix the cold you may want to try building the immune system. Hope that helps

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L.B.

answers from Fayetteville on

If your daughter is drinking a lot of juice, reduce her intake drastically. Most parents give too much juice. Same with other sources of sugar - reduce, reduce, reduce. The more sugar that's in the body, the more the immune system suffers.

You can help her immune system to really kick into gear by making smoothies and adding greens to them. Add the usual fruits that your daughter loves, and then add a couple of leaves of collards, Swiss Chard or several spinach leaves (more because they're smaller). With each smoothie, add more, but start small to get her belly used to the extra fiber. If your daughter is used to more sweetness, don't add sugar, add stevia (you can find it at most health food stores; it's expensive but extremely sweet and concentrated, so you only need the barest dusting per smoothie. I like KAL brand the best). Keep in mind that even fruit = sugar, so try to aim for a good balance of fruits and greens. 60% greens, 40% fruits is best.

Good luck! Hope this helps! If not, you might want to consider checking out some other daycare centers. Maybe the staff at hers aren't entirely following good hygiene protocol. Who knows. But work on reducing her sugar intake first. That's a big one, can make a world of difference.

L.

J.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My kids were like that too for a long time. It took them forever to adjust and not come home with everything everyone else had. Does she seem to get better on the weekends when she is home? I had a friends whose son was allergic to one of the cleaning products hat his daycare used and he was coming sick a lot. Good luck.

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V.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I had the same problem with my two youngest when putting them in daycare for the first time. I was at the doctors every week it seemed like for one or the other for about a year. I started giving mine an all natural immune booster. It was a little tablet and they loved it. I can't remember the name but it startes with an E or I and comes in a little white and green box. I got it at the health food store, I will try to remember to take and look at the box when i get home and reply back to your request. I still to this day give them the tablet if I think they are getting sick and it helps tremdously.

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K.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

When we had our first child, we had just moved to another state for me to take a job that I was so excited about! Yes, of course I was thrilled to be a new mom too! What more could I ask for...a very involved husband who loved being a dad, an onsite daycare for our son and the dream job, right? Not for long. Our son started getting sick within the first week. Frist with an ear infection, then another. By the time he was three months old he was in the hospital with pneumonia.
My employer was wonderful and very understanding, but I realized that this wonderful blessing we had been given was not going to be healthy in a daycare environment. For our family it was not a choice that worked. I know that a lot of people say that eventually their immune systems will develop and they'll get over having the illnesses, but for our son, that would not have happened. His immune system did not develop properly after he was born and he had to go through two years of monthly treatments to help him. He was hospitalized and suffered pneumonia more than 20+ times before his being old enough to start kindergarten. We could have changed daycares a hundred times and it wouldn't have helped in our case. Even with me at home with him and being as careful as possible he still would get sick. I realize that his was an extreme case and it not the norm. But I would say it might be a good idea to discuss having a blood test done to check immune levels for your child if they continue to get sick or seem to get sick more than what you would consider normal.
I really don't believe that continually being on antibiotioc's (sp?) is good and it seems to make my kids have trouble with yeast infections and those are just miserable for them. I know that there are times that I have to give them medicine and I trust their doctor very much, but I try hard to make sure they're eating healthy and getting vitamins, etc.
I also am really a crazy person about not allowing them to be around people that are sick. I know even at church nursery, just as they did at regular daycare parents brought kids and probably they meant no harm, but you can tell their kids are really not feeling well. I had to be pro active and more than once, I pulled my children and made the choice to leave. Because as I learned with my first child, a simple cold to someone could mean a life threatening illness by the next day to my child. Thankfully my other children haven't this health concern. God has been good and has watched over him and he is a healthy and thriving young man now.
Trust your instinct and believe in yourself. I realize not everyone is able to make the decision to be at home with their child for whatever circumstance. It was not always easy for us and believe me we gave up much finacially. There are days that I wonder "what could have been." But, I look around and see what is...and I'm so glad to be able to count my blessings.

I hope you, your husband and your baby girl have a wonderful summer!

K.

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R.U.

answers from Oklahoma City on

OMG yes! It was terribly frustrating, seemed like my little one was sick for nearly 4mo straight! Just hang in there, he has only been sick once in the last 6mo.

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P.B.

answers from Mobile on

Is there at all a possibility of u being able to take her out of daycare? Maybe trying some other source of childcare ie:nanny,home daycare, family/friend, or maybe even you/hubby staying out of work...When we were pregnant w/ our first child we immediatley decided that I would be a SAHM for many reasons: 1.To SAVE money; Daycare is expensive!!! Not to mention the costs that come w/ it-supplying food,diapers,wipes,bottles,sippy cups,clothes,etc. for home AND daycare,
costs
for all the medicines u have to keep in your cabinet for everything they pickup there,the costs of the medical bills for drs visits(even w/ our ins. every visit still has $35 co-pay tacked on)the gas money it takes to get her there,get u to work,then back to pick her up,then back home,then do it all over again!! Don't get me wrong, we're not millionares,but, to us-it was a no brainer! We realized it would take us SOOO much money to keep me working that it wasn't worth it! I enjoy staying at home w/ our children and when I need a break, we've found that putting them in a moms-day-out for a a few hrs a week is a great alternative! They get interaction w/ other children and I get time to run errands,clean things that r normally hard for me to get done when they're home,meet my hubby for lunch,etc....If u have to have a little bit of extra income try things u can do at home-Avon,Mary Kay,candle selling,whatever! My hubbys' brother and his wife have 5 children,and there WHOLE household is constantly sick!! She ACTUALLY keeps a stock of childrens tylenol,cold medicine,lice shampoo,etc...in the bathroom closet because they ARE ALWAYS sick!!! And, then,to top it all off, the 2 parents have to miss atleast 3 days a mt because THEY get sick,too!! She always says things to me like:"Not everybody can be as priviliged as you", "Not everybody has the luxury of being able to stay home and just lay around"!!!.....1.-I DO NOT lay around 2.-If she would sit down and figure the simple math of the situation, she could see that she could do this,also! I really hope this helps you r situation

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