Sunday, December 07, 2008

How many colds does the average three year old get each year?

That was the question that I googled today when both of our "littles" woke up with "faucet like" runny noses. It seems like they are sick so much more now that they are in preschool (Yes, I do know that this is the norm) but it is really getting on my last nerve. Our pediatrician warned me that both of our previously "cold free" children would become little typhoid Mary's and Mike's once they began in preschool! Of course, when there are two of them bringing germs home from two separate preschools then we have twice the chance of illness...ugh!

Here was the consensus of opinion on the world wide web:

"On average, preschoolers in childcare can get up to 12 colds (upper respiratory infections) a year as well as several bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. Ear infections are also common and are in addition to the 6-12 cold viruses per year." Woweeee...not good!

Well, we seem to be in the norm so my alarm level will go down to yellow status now. Of course, you know what happens when your children get between 6-12 cold viruses a year? Yes, you guessed... it Mommy and Daddy get sick a lot as well.

Hope that we can dodge the bullet this go round!

Maybe we should buy stock in Kleenex. No, we better not since it seems that the stock market is sicker than my children are.

13 comments:

Kelley said...

I am feeling your pain...believe me. Chloe has been sick almost continuously since she started daycare. So much so that I am counting the healthy days! (Today was 1--starting 1 in a row!) Hang in there! And if you don't buy stock in Kleenex, you need to at least stock up on Kleenex!

Tammie said...

I know what you mean about all those colds. I'm preparing for Erin's annual holiday cold. David already purchased our Puffs Plus!

C's Mom said...

Holy moly...when you think about it, that is one incredible amount of snot!

May noses dry up and stay that way in your neck of the woods.

dawn said...

Maybe if we all buy stock in Kleenex to wipe all this snot away we can give the stock market the kick up the pants that it needs!

PS....Jacob already told me NOT to hang 5 stockings. LOL

M3 said...

Hang in there!! It gets better. R&M were sick CONSTANTLY when they first started preschool. I was freaking out, especially since I am (or used to be I guess) a serious germphobe. I thought it would never end, but now that I think about it those constant colds are a thing of the past. They just suddenly disappeared.

Brownie Troop 157 said...

T, who has been in daycare continuously since 11 mo old, was sick all the time in the beginning. Although I'm probably jinxing myself by typing this, she really hasn't been sick that much since entering the 2 and 3 yr old room. Also since getting tubes in her ears. I've found that after the first year, it does get better. of course, I'm not sure how having a 2nd kid around could change that dynamic.

good luck.

Hugs from Miami,

Carol and Taylor

Unknown said...

I'm feeling your pain! At least Moose and Goose are in the same school. I hope as they get a little older and more exposed to the germy world that is school- the number of infections will go down. I am equally tired of recovering from one cold shared by a child- to get another cold shared by the other.
Feel Better Soon!

Candy said...

Love those runny noses. Rachel actually started today too with one, but she just got her flu shot and I believe this could be a reaction to that. We are always wiping noses here. Or I should say I try to get to it before her hand does. Yuck!

Gail said...

Yes...you've got the preschool factor going on and now you are all getting the viruses too unfortunately. William is going to be starting Early Childhood most likely in January so I have that to look forward too. What also happens in our house is that Grace brings home a cold from her school and then we all get it! Ugh. It does get better in time.

Love Letters To China said...

Sorry to hear about the duo colds. I remember Natalie having colds just about every other week during that age. It really does get better as they get older. Wait a minute... I better cross my fingers, toes and anything else that can be crossed after making that statement!

RamblingMother said...

It felt like a million with G. Hope you all are well now!

Vivian M said...

Hope the DD and parents feel better soon! Kerri has had back to back viruses since she started school. That's two and a half months of coughing, runny noses and fevers and no meds allowed. So I feel your pain!

betsy lee said...

Teaching kids the proper way to cough and sneeze is important! My friend sent me a really neat gift for my kids and me that people might be interested in. It is called a Germy Wormy. It reduces the spread of germs as it is a “disposable sleeve to protect clothes” and is a great tool to teach my kids to cough and sneeze in their elbow instead of their hands. (This is the way the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to prevent the spread of germs.) Check out their website.

http://www.germywormy.com

They have a fun for kids puppet show, activities, and a place to order the “arm sleeve”.