Anyone else with young children ALWAYS getting sick?

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sdeco

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Hi everyone,

I am at the end of my rope here. I have a 3-year-old daughter who started going to preschool about a year ago. Since then I feel like I am ALWAYS getting sick. I’m pretty sure it’s because she catches stuff from the other kids and brings it home. She gets sick sometimes too, but it’s usually fairly mild. She’ll have a runny nose for a day or two, and then a couple days later I’ll come down with a horrible cold for about a week.

I’ve just been getting colds, nothing more serious. But they last for about a week or more, and I feel horrible the whole time. I would estimate I’ve been sick 10-12 times in the past year. I literally feel like I’m sick about a fourth of the time. It’s starting to seriously interfere with my life. I have a job and a child to take care of. I can’t be sick a fourth of the time!

My husband doesn’t seem to get sick nearly as much as I do. Though I tend to be more “hands on” with my daughter and kiss her more, so maybe that’s why. My mother-in-law watches my daughter while we’re at work, and she doesn’t get sick much either. Though she grew up in India, so maybe she has a stronger immune system because of that.

I feel like I’ve tried everything. I take a multivitamin, I take extra vitamin C, I try to eat right and exercise, I wash my hands frequently and use hand sanitizer, and try to get my daughter to do the same.

I had a similar problem when I first went back to work after my daughter was born, in 2004. I started getting sick about once a month back then too, I think because of lack of sleep. Once she started sleeping better I didn’t get sick much at all for about a year, but then she started preschool and it was back to monthly colds.

I’ve been to the doctor several times about this. They have done a bunch of tests and can’t find any immunity problems or anything like that. I also had an allergy test done and apparently I’m not allergic to anything. The doctor thinks it’s because of my daughter being in preschool. She said when kids start school they tend to get sick a lot and get their parents sick a lot. She said once their immunity and your immunity gets built up, after about a year or so, you and they should stop getting sick so much. It’s been almost exactly a year since she started preschool. I’m still getting sick – in fact, I’m sick right now – and I’m really, really hoping this will end soon.
I’m wondering, does anyone else with young kids in school have this problem? Does it ever get better?!? I’m almost scared to have another kid because I don’t want to go through this again. Growing up I always had a very strong immune system. I would get sick maybe once or twice a year, and it would only last a day or two. Now, it’s like my immunity has gone to hell. Any advice?! Thanks!!!
 
sdeco said:
Hi everyone,

I am at the end of my rope here. I have a 3-year-old daughter who started going to preschool about a year ago. Since then I feel like I am ALWAYS getting sick. I’m pretty sure it’s because she catches stuff from the other kids and brings it home. She gets sick sometimes too, but it’s usually fairly mild. She’ll have a runny nose for a day or two, and then a couple days later I’ll come down with a horrible cold for about a week.

I’ve just been getting colds, nothing more serious. But they last for about a week or more, and I feel horrible the whole time. I would estimate I’ve been sick 10-12 times in the past year. I literally feel like I’m sick about a fourth of the time. It’s starting to seriously interfere with my life. I have a job and a child to take care of. I can’t be sick a fourth of the time!

My husband doesn’t seem to get sick nearly as much as I do. Though I tend to be more “hands on” with my daughter and kiss her more, so maybe that’s why. My mother-in-law watches my daughter while we’re at work, and she doesn’t get sick much either. Though she grew up in India, so maybe she has a stronger immune system because of that.

I feel like I’ve tried everything. I take a multivitamin, I take extra vitamin C, I try to eat right and exercise, I wash my hands frequently and use hand sanitizer, and try to get my daughter to do the same.

I had a similar problem when I first went back to work after my daughter was born, in 2004. I started getting sick about once a month back then too, I think because of lack of sleep. Once she started sleeping better I didn’t get sick much at all for about a year, but then she started preschool and it was back to monthly colds.

I’ve been to the doctor several times about this. They have done a bunch of tests and can’t find any immunity problems or anything like that. I also had an allergy test done and apparently I’m not allergic to anything. The doctor thinks it’s because of my daughter being in preschool. She said when kids start school they tend to get sick a lot and get their parents sick a lot. She said once their immunity and your immunity gets built up, after about a year or so, you and they should stop getting sick so much. It’s been almost exactly a year since she started preschool. I’m still getting sick – in fact, I’m sick right now – and I’m really, really hoping this will end soon.

I’m wondering, does anyone else with young kids in school have this problem? Does it ever get better?!? I’m almost scared to have another kid because I don’t want to go through this again. Growing up I always had a very strong immune system. I would get sick maybe once or twice a year, and it would only last a day or two. Now, it’s like my immunity has gone to hell. Any advice?! Thanks!!!
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Aw–I feel for you! I remember those days, well…now that my kids are 11 and 15…they still bring home sicknesses.😦 Something that has helped us…is green tea and Airborne. Stock up on both, and it really boosts your immune system. Plus, take a lot of garlic in the winter months–definitely prevents colds, etc. Airborne dissolves in water, if you are not familiar with it already, and it tastes ok. You are supposed to take that at the first sign of getting sick–and that varies for everyone. I find that when I have a slight tickle in my throat…I take that a few times a day, and I don’t end up sick at all. Also–consider having your throat blessed…most parishes offer something like that, and I find it to be sucha blessing. Hope my tips help you. Be well.:hug1:
 
LOL welcome to the land of the walking petri dishes your children. Children in general are prone to put everything in their mouths and washing their hands is a new skill. They become plague carriers when they pass these wonderful new diseases they are bringing home to their parents. There are a few things you can do like washing their hands and face when they get home from going out. Other than that eventually their immune system and your will catch up with this continual barrage until then stock up on the kleenex.
 
All four of my kids got sick and brought home sickness to share with the family when they first started school. Now my youngest, twins are 6 and in 1st grade. It is not as bad now, but if something goes around in class, we get it. Tim
 
I recall hearing an anecdote a while back that new teachers should expect to be sick for the first two years they are teaching! It would seem this same principle would also apply to parents of children who are new to school as well.

I had a similar experience in my time working at a bank. I went through high school and college with very few illnesses, but when I started working at a bank, handling money all the time and dealing with customers, it seemed like I always had a cold for the first year and a half. It was never anything serious, but it did get quite annoying. Thankfully it eventually seemed to go away. Of course, shortly after I started feeling better, I moved on from that job!
 
sugar and dairy are big problems and weaken the immune system. This includes ANY sugar in cereal, even if it is high fructose corn syrup (or any other names corporations try to disguise it under), snack bars/chips/cookies, etc… try maybe a few days without milk or ANY sugars… works for me!
 
HeWillProvide said:
sugar and dairy are big problems and weaken the immune system. This includes ANY sugar in cereal, even if it is high fructose corn syrup (or any other names corporations try to disguise it under), snack bars/chips/cookies, etc… try maybe a few days without milk or ANY sugars… works for me!
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hey-i did not know that…thank you! i will remember that too…:o
 
I’m a medical technologist who works in a microbiology lab in a hospital. Streptococcus and other microbes make my daily acquaintance! They’re my little buddies.

It’s just a fact of life that kids carry home bugs, and grownups catch them. It will get better as your kids get older.

Here are a few suggestions.
  1. Handwashing. Keep it up. Best defense.
  2. Keep your hands AWAY from your eyes! Do NOT ever touch your eyes with your hands, even if you have just washed your hands. That’s how you catch colds–viruses to hands/fingers to eyes.
  3. Toothbrushes can be a source of infection . Throw them out every month and get new ones. And don’t put them in drawers or in a rack to dry–let them air dry out in the open, preferably in a sunny place.
  4. Also watch out for eye makeup that is “wet” and comes into close contact with your eyes, especially mascara. Throw it out monthly.
  5. Sleep a lot. It really does help. Give up other activities in order to get more sleep. Take naps. It’s hard when you have kids, but it’s so good for you. Try to avoid getting exhausted.
  6. If you or your family members end up on antibiotics, take ALL of the medication. Do NOT save some or hoarde some for a future infection. Failing to use antibiotics correctly leads to the survival of resistant strains of bacteria that will be harder to kill next time you get sick.
  7. In the cold weather, try to avoid fresh sources of infectious contacts; i.e., don’t go to the mall or to a crowded theater or restaurants or any place that has a crowd of strangers with brand-new germs! Stick with the germ-carriers…i.e., the people that you know!
  8. If at all possible, try to get outside for a half-hour a day for a walk or just to inhale some fresh air instead of the dry heated air.
  9. If you are going through a really BUSY time for some reason (e.g., the holidays, involvement in a big project, etc.) and living on high levels of adrenaline, watch out when you finally have free time again. Your adrenalin levels will come crashing down, and you will have no defense against sickness and you will get SICK as a dog! It is best to try to live life on an even keel if at all possible. Don’t go from mountain-top to mountain top. Just keep everything balanced and level so that your adrenaline stays even and you don’t have the awful adrenalin crash that leaves you vulnerable to every microbial invader in the universe. If you do have a “mountain-top” event in your life, don’t let yourself totally go couch-potato when it’s over. Exercise a little more, or maybe plan a fun activity that will keep your adrenaline level a little high and allow it to come down slowly rather than fall off all at once.
 
My children are all adults now, but I remember when they were pre-schoolers they were constantly sick and so were my husband and I. 😦 Two of our daughters had constant ear infections. It seems that it was especially bad during stressful times, around Christmas and when I was working full time.
By the time they were in grade school it started to get better, and the colds and viruses became more infrequent. So hang in there. Eventually the little darlings develop an immunity to many of the bugs going around. And so do the parents.
 
Jacob and I have had the same problem. He got that RSV last year when he was only 5 months old and since then he and I are always sick. And it doesn’t just last a week, it lasts more than a month, and it’s always a respiratory infection. I’m at my wits end. 😦

I also used to have a strong immune system. Not anymore apparently…
 
JUICE PLUS…

This is not an ad for Juice Plus… I totally swear by it.
Our kids have been in daycare since 3 months old… and we were all constantly getting sick. I remember living with a sore throat constantly… and a cough that just never quite went away… so hard to have to get up and go to work, and care for 2 little kids… and maintain our health.

Our pediatrician had been pushing Juice Plus since our boys were born, but we were never interested due to the cost. But after years of constant sickness we decided to give it a try. As a reference… we haven’t missed a single day of work for sickness since we’ve been on Juice Plus.

We also take other preventative products like DanActive and Kefir, which are probiotics that can help improve your immunity.

This is just our own personal experience… hope that helps!
 
My mother (I’m her caregiver) used to get very sick once or twice
a year with a bad chest cold. The last time she even had to have
oxygen for a few weeks. Because of some medications she was
on, I could not give her supplements. Then those medications
started causing other problems and the doctor took her off of them. Once the doctor did that, she said I could give her the
supplements if I wanted to. Well, she now gets fish oil daily
and during allergy /cold season I give her 2 drops of oil of
oregonal under the tongue in morning and at bedtime. My
brother cares for her some evenings and alternate Sundays
and when he and his wife both caught colds he brought my
mother home and said she was probably catching a cold
because she was feverish and to get her …(medication)
in the morning. (My brother is a doctor) Well, I told him I would
but in the meantime, I was going to give her the oil. She was
fine in the morning and never had the full blown cold.
The oil seems to keep germs from multiplying or something,
and builds up the immune system. Sort of like the chicken
soup thing. Works for me during allergy season and I always
take it when I fly anywhere.
 
Cat gave excellent advice! Follow it!

Imagine having three kids in daycare AND a wife who’s a pediatrician! We’re a never-ending wave of sickness!😃 We’ve seen MRSA, whooping cough, viral meningitis, and a whole host of more minor ailments. :o
 
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sdeco:
I am at the end of my rope here. I have a 3-year-old daughter who started going to preschool about a year ago. Since then I feel like I am ALWAYS getting sick. I’m pretty sure it’s because she catches stuff from the other kids and brings it home.
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My dear, you have my deepest and most profound sympathy. We homseschool, but our son nevertheless picks stuff up in stores or church and shares it with us. This last time, it was my wife who brought the dose home from work. It always hits me harder than anyone else. This one I’m battling right now is like the freakin’ Energizer Bunny; it just never stops. I’m now in the 13th day of this crud, and it’s just as strong and healthy as ever…it’s a nice vibrant virus, very robust. Mommy and the kid are pretty much well now. Me? I just stay sick. Perhaps it’ll start to fade away come July.

The first week that I had this, I was afraid I was going to die. Now I’ve gotten to the point where I’m starting to worry that I’m not going to die.

sdeco said:
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I’ve been to the doctor several times about this. They have done a bunch of tests and can’t find any immunity problems or anything like that. I also had an allergy test done and apparently I’m not allergic to anything.
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It has nothing to do with allergies. The problem is that bugs keep getting stronger. I’m not kidding on this. We now have antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis, the flu strains keep getting worse every year, and I just read not long ago that we’re starting to see a resurgence of smallpox.

It’s amusing, that back in the 1950’s, we developed all these vaccines and declared that these diseases were now “wiped out”. Right. This stuff has been around since the beginning of time, and we eradicated it. Sure we did. Except now the diseases are starting to mutate and develop immunities to the antidotes. Clever little beggars, they are. It’ll probably be some strain of superflu that kills us all, a lá Stephen King.
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krazykatlady:
Eventually the little darlings develop an immunity to many of the bugs going around. And so do the parents.
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Yeah, until the bugs mutate. Then they’re just as potent as the stuff you’ve already had.
 
I also agree, Cat has some very good advice. Two things I will add. Wash your child’s coat as much as possible!! Also have them change clothes as soon as they get home if they are sick. I really don’t have a reason why other than it worked for me when my son was that age. Once I started washing his coat (at least 1x a week) things were not as bad. I also washed it more when he was sick.
I bought a bunch of cheap sweat pants and shirts for my son in the winter just to change into when he would get home from school or come in from playing outside.
Teachers have taught kids to cough and sneeze in their sleeves, which is ok. Although, my guess is that all those bugs also like their clothes so get them out of there ASAP!
 
Yep, we also have the kids use, as they term it, “hanitizer” as soon as they come thru the door.
 
I don’t have kids but I’m home from college and my brother and sister are in school. I’ve been fighting a sinus thing this week and it could be from stuff they bring home, or the fact that I stay up late (at school, I’m never in bed before at least 11, even on weekdays) talking to friends, some for hours (it turned out my friend and I couldn’t hang out New Years Eve, so we made up for it by talking till well past midnight). Also, I went from a climate change, from 40/50 degrees to 10/20 degrees. I’m not used to it being so cold!
 
i tried this with our 5 children and they try it with their children, (our grandchildren). it’s this.in the morning prior them going to school or work,dont get fully dressed, get used to the cold so when they leave the house,put on their final coat, pullover, or whatever so the body temperature is constant. keep away from air conditioners, full on heaters, if they can’t make sure their outer clothing comes off.i know the temp. in your part of the world can be rather extreme , so give it a try . i’m 72 and have not caught cold for years.
 
Change all toothbrushes as often as possible. Wash hands when returning from the doctor’s office. Get enough rest.
Elementary school teachers usually get sick more often than other people,probably because the little ones spread germs.
It will let up as soon as you have had a touch of and your body conquers most of the viruses and bacteria germs going around.
 
CAT’s advice especially is very good.

I am also in the medical field and don’t feel that supplements, expecially brand-name ones, are of any use, especially in children. some kids are allergic to eggs and milk, but you can fairly easily test and eliminate these.

Washing hands, not sharing anything, avoiding large crowds are especially useful. You should talk to someone at your day care center about their efforts to prevent germ spread.

However… better now than in kindergarten! Now she is exposed to all the viruses, not later. Nowadays, they try to teach kids to READ in kindergarten, or at least their alphabet, numbers, colors and lots of other things they don’t want to miss.

My kids, too, who were in AM daycare, had a lot of colds early on–noses always running-but by the time they hit kindergarten, they were cured!
 
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