Constant Cold

is it possible it is just indoor allergies? have you had your heating vents cleaned out recently? do you have a humidifier? I know adults can use a neti pot, possible to make that fun for him? Sounds more like allergies and maybe on "nicer" days try opening your windows for ten minutes to clear out the old air in your house? bundle him up and get him outside for ten fifteen minutes twice a day? My kid is 2 and has never had a cold so I cant relate, but this isnt normal. I am thinking it is something else not illness related. i would think it was food sensitivities but if he is fine the other 3 season i am thinking it is your home/dead air? Good luck!

R.,
I think it is just that this cold season is really bad. My four year-old has been sick a lot too. In between colds, he has had the stomach flu twice already since Sept. I am usually pretty good about using hand sanitizer and hand washing with him. Plus, I have really been making sure he gets his vitamins each day too. I even clean all library books/dvds after we bring them home. I would say the only thing you can do is make every effort to keep his immune system up with a good diet, vitamins, enough sleep, and good hygiene. For my little guy, it is probably mostly his brother (who is in first grade) who brings us home all these yucky viruses. My 6 year-old finally this year seems to have a better immune system. Last year for kindergarten, he was sick alot too. I am happy that this year he is fighting things off better probably due to the exposure over the last few years. Good Luck!!!
P.S. Just wanted to add...one thing I haved learned/decided actually, is that places like Chuck E Cheese are just absolutely nasty(at least the one in Crystal Lake) we do not go at all. My kids are totally on board with me on places like this because they have gotten sick the day after we go before(stomach virus)...we try to avoid places like this during the winter months.

I'm in the same situation with my 21 month old. It's been one thing after another. We've stopped frequenting several play cafes and kid businesses because I swear every time we go two days later my son is sick. Right now we're doing one music class and small group things with other SAHMS. I am due with our second in February and was close to tears when I begged the pediatrician to put him on antibiotics (he wouldn't - everything is viral!!) wondering what I'm going to do with a newborn and a very busy toddler in the dead of winter. But as the pp said, my ped. said it's now or when they get to kindergarten so i'd rather him be home sick now then when he really starts learning and going to school.

as for when it's okay to take him out I generally wait until his nose is no longer running. My ped. said a cough can last up to 4-6 weeks so as long as there is no fever, runny nose, diarreah or vomiting and he's feeling up to it then we head out.

When I noticed this happening with my son, it seemed like he was battling a cold off and on for a few months, I took him to the doctor. Turns out he had a sinus infection - it starts as a cold, but when it doesn't go away it can turn into that. His doctor put him on antibiotics, and it cleared up within days. He didn't have so much as the sniffles for at least a year... til he got another cold, that is!

I'm not saying this is what your son has, but it's a possibility.

Dear R.,

The baby has to be given something to build his immune system. Have you thought about giving him a good vitamin? I really like the ones my kids are on, and they have really been healthy. Let me know of you want to know more. My e-mail is ____@____.com.

Hi R.,
Its pretty common these days for kids to be sick all the time when they get around other kids whether it be starting classes or going to school, etc. But this wasn't like it is now years ago. Kids immune systems are being weakened by the bombardment of chemicals and pollution in our environment. Its leading to allergies, asthma, ear infections, and common flus and colds. All of these things are signs of a weakened immune system. You need to build him up with a quality multivitamin and possibly Vitamin C, probiotics and D. I rep for Shaklee and their new multivitamin contains additional immune building supplements. You can check it out under Shaklee kids on my website at www.K.-oneill.myshaklee.com or just let me know if you'd like more info.

R.,

Welcome to having a toddler. I went into my dr with the same question with my one year old who was in daycare. She said that because kids have no built up immunities it's either going to happen early, due to day care, siblings or other activities, or when they enter school.

As far as his classes, well that's up to you. I think a lot of parents don't do winter classes for just that reason. They either feel like they don't get their money's worth because of so many missed classes or are just tired of having their kids catch every cold that they come in contact with.

I'd say, as a mom of three, you are exactly right in your diagnosis tho - it's back to back to back colds.

To help cut down on colds and germs in our house, we do the following:
- multivitamins, plus extra vit C gummies
- we use hand sanitizing wipes in the car after every activity/playdate as soon as they are "clicked"
- we wash again before every meal/snack
- we change clothes when we get home. I bought the kids loungewear to hang out it at home...yoga pants, comfy shirts and new slippers.
- when in doubt, we wash hands again
- if kids we know are sick, we cancel the playdate
- for the winter, we go to the library a lot (to rent movies and games for indoor days), we swim at the Y, we do lots of arts and crafts and cooking

This may sound extreme, but we have a newborn in the house and he's already had several illnesses that have been AWFUL, not just run of the mill colds.

Just remember, most viruses are contagious BEFORE you start showing any symptoms. So in part, small children's lack of hygiene results in tons of germs being spread around anyway. So be your own safeguard for your child...wash, wash, wash and keep hands away from the face.

The "rule" as I know it for illness (according to preschools, daycares and general drs advice) is no fever, vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hrs. That said, I have seen PLENTY of kids who clearly are sick - DRAINING green snot, coughing and sneezing, pinkeye, etc. and the moms still bring them. It drives me crazy! I don't understand why you'd want to drag your kids out when they clearly don't feel well.

I'm sorry you're in the midst of this. It's horrible. I feel so bad for them getting sick; sometimes it seems like they never get to come up for air before they are sick again.

Good luck - and keep washin'!

;)