Daycare Immunization Period

Whenever a child leaves the family home and goes to a daycare whether it be in a smaller family setting or a bigger daycare with classrooms, there is an adjustment period with regard to "germs" and a child's immune system. No matter how well the daycare is cleaned or how vigilant the daycare personnel are about hygiene, just the fact that your child is in a new setting with other children is enough to start the immunization period. By this I mean that your child will be exposed to viruses and bacteria from other children causing your child to become sick. For the first year in daycare, it will seem that your child is continuously sick--one cold after another. I have heard that children will get upwards of 200 colds in their first 2 years in daycare.

Based on personal experience, I can say that this is absolutely true. Within a month of my daughter's going to her first daycare in a family setting (8 kids total with 2 adults), she had an ear infection requiring antibiotics. She had one cold after another to the point where I didn't know where the old cold went away and a new cold started. She finally seemed to get ahead of the "germs" about the time when we put her in a bigger daycare this past February.

Again, within a month of being in the new daycare (80 plus kids with many staff), she had another ear infection requiring antibiotics. In March, she had a high fever of 103/4 F for 3 days in a row. I gave her ibuprofen to keep her comfortable. Once the fever broke, she was left with a cough that starts off dry and goes productive now for the past 5 weeks or so. This didn't seem to bother her too much because she slept through it at night until recently.

Just this weekend, the cough changed to the point where she would wake up from sleep. So off to the pediatrician we went. Her nasal secretions changed color. She did not have a fever, but I thought it could be a sinus infection. The diagnosis was another cold.

How does a mother provide relief to her child?
1. Salinex (a saline solution) to hydrate the nose and to encourage the sinuses to drain.
2. Vicks Vaporub (the old standby) on the chest and the back. I've also rubbed Vicks on the soles of my daughter's feet which seemed to help. Remember to cover the feet with socks because you do not want the greasy Vicks on your floors. Never use near the mucous
membranes (nose).
3. I've used some homeopathic remedies to provide relief for my daughter's throat. Boiron Stodal seems to quiet her throat at night. This is a honey based syrup and tastes great.

Now if only I could get rid of my own cold.