How to navigate daycare and sickness with your little one

Starting childcare? Charlotte Young from & Breathe First Aid talks us through how to navigate the avalanche of bugs and sickness that come with it.

It’s true, daycares and child centres are a breeding ground for easily spreadable bugs such as RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), hand, foot and mouth and gastro. While it can be stressful and exhausting, there are some simple ways to reduce the frequency and severity of these illnesses by supporting your child's immune system. Here are some evidence-based tips to keep the bugs away while they are in daycare plus five signs they need to stay home. 

KEEP SICK PEOPLE AWAY

Keeping your child away from other sick people is key to stopping them also getting sick. Most respiratory bugs are highly contagious in the first 2-4 days of symptoms, and gastro bugs can spread as long as they have diarrhoea. This can be hard when other children are going to daycare sick, but keeping your little ones away from your friends and family who are sick can help reduce the number of sicknesses.

WASHING HANDS AND CLEANING SURFACES

One of the most common ways children catch bugs is by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their faces. Encourage frequent hand washing with soap and water, especially after blowing noses or using the bathroom. Remember alcohol gel is effective against some viruses, but it doesn’t kill all gastro bugs, so always choose hand washing if your family has gastro.

BREASTFEEDING FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN

Breast milk contains antibodies that the mother creates and passes onto their baby. This then helps your little one's immune system to fight bugs. Even with an older baby or toddler, as little as 50mL a day can help get these benefits.

The concentration of antibodies in milk increases as your child gets older, peaking at around two years old. It’s as if our breast milk knows we need all the help we can get with our sick toddlers!

OUTDOOR PLAY

Spending time outdoors can reduce stress levels and help keep vitamin D levels up over winter, both of which are important for a healthy immune system. Fresh air and physical activity also contribute to overall well-being. Getting dirty and being exposed to lots of different kinds of bacteria helps build a strong immune system. This actually has a name – the farm effect! It’s why children who grow up on farms have lower levels of asthma and allergies.

STAYING HYDRATED

Hydration plays a key role in keeping the nose and its defences (yes we mean snot!) primed for defending against viruses. This snot is actually one of our first line of defences against respiratory bugs. Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.

OPTIMISING NUTRITION

A well-balanced diet with fruit, veggies, protein, healthy fats and whole grains is key to keeping their immune system ready to step up and fight. Make sure your child gets plenty of vitamins A and C, zinc, and selenium.

MAINTAINING A WARM AND DRY HOME

Cold and damp environments are breeding grounds for germs, which thrive and spread more easily in such conditions. Making sure your home is warm and dry will help your child stay healthy. Keeping your child warm will allow their body to focus on fighting infections rather than staying warm. Keeping humidity levels between 40%-60% helps stops winter bugs from thriving. Aim to keep your home around 19-21°C.

GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP

Getting a good amount of sleep is essential for a strong immune system. If your child is a poor sleeper and is sick all the time, this might be a sign they need extra sleep support (talking to your Well Child provider or GP is the best place to start).

Quality sleep helps the body fight off infections more effectively and recover faster if they do get sick.

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH IMMUNISATIONS

Vaccine-preventable diseases, especially influenza, whooping cough and chicken pox are often spread in the winter. Keeping little ones' immunisations up-to-date prevents major complications and long-term health issues.

WHEN SHOULD YOU KEEP KIDS HOME FROM DAYCARE?

Keeping kids home when they're unwell helps slow the spread of illnesses throughout the daycare. As a parent, I understand it's challenging, especially with frequent illnesses. Here's a quick guide on when kids must stay home, and check your centre’s guidelines also.

Remember, some children at your child's centre may have weakened immune systems due to conditions like cardiac defects or autoimmune diseases, which aren't always visible. For them, a mild bug can cause severe illness. Their parents rely on others to protect their children by keeping sick kids at home.

Fever

A fever is a clear sign that your child is fighting a bug, likely contagious, and should stay home. When your little one is sick, their body's defence system fights off bugs like viruses and bacteria. One way it does this is by raising their body temperature, creating a fever. This higher temperature makes it harder for the bugs to survive and reproduce while also helping your child’s immune system work quickly.

A fever also triggers other immune responses. While uncomfortable, a fever is often a sign their body is actively fighting the illness.

Diarrhoea and Vomiting

Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should not attend daycare. These symptoms can mean their gastrointestinal bug is VERY contagious. Keep your child home until they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours (some centres may have different policies, so make sure you check).

Green Snot

Thick, green snot can be a sign your little ones nose has a heap of white cells in their airway. White cells are the bodies best defence against viruses and bacteria – so green snot means they have a whole bunch of bugs up there!

Unwell with a new rash

A new rash, especially alongside a fever or other symptoms, is usually a sign they are sick and likely contagious, such as hand foot and mouth or a viral illness. If your child is sick with a new rash always take them to the doctor. Remember if their rash is non-blanching (doesn’t go away when you push on it) always see a doctor urgently as it is a sign of sepsis.

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Conjunctivitis is highly contagious. The main signs are red, itchy eyes with discharge. Children with pink eye should stay home. Head to the pharmacy (kids over two) or the doctor for an assessment and some medicated eye drops.

Remember it can be normal for children to get sick 6-12 times a year. Taking steps to protect your little one and keep their immune system in fighting shape can make navigating illnesses more manageable and hopefully fewer sick days for you. Even though it’s hard, keeping kids home from daycare is important for reducing speed and protecting other children. Good luck.

Charlotte is a senior clinical paediatric ICU nurse and a mum to a busy three-year-old, and another bub on the way. She runs & Breathe, teaching immersive baby and child first aid courses to families. Motivated by seeing poor outcomes and preventable injuries in the PICU, she has a passion for helping families learn effective CPR and how to keep their little ones safe. Visit andbreathefirstaid.co.nz to book a course.