Hi, I am the mother of a 3 1/2 yr old beautiful girl with CF. She was diagnosed at 2 months old and is doing really well. We have done everything to keep her healthy while still living normal lives. It has been tough because we have worked different shifts to avoid daycare but now the inevitable is upon us. We have agreed that she will go to pre-school 3 afternoons per week in the Fall when she is 4 yrs. old. She is also looking for more stimulation and interaction with other kids. She does attend ballet, gymnastics, swimming, story time etc. but we are always nearby.Now we have to register her for school and I am scared. I know she is going to get more colds now and I know she needs to go but I am having trouble signing the registration papers. There is always a fear when you put kids into school for the first time and this is worse because of her condition.Any advice on how to get over my fears? We are visiting the school in a couple of weeks, and I know another CF child that attended a couple of years ago, which is one of the reasons I chose this school. The teachers are comfortable and aware of CF, and I thought that would make it easier for me, but it hasn't.Any advice or words of encouragement would be appreciated.AM
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Day Care
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
Don't assume that your child will get sick more often. While it is true that she has probably been exposed to more colds and viruses, my daughter, Rachel, hasn't gotten sick from school yet. She started in pre-k 3 September '02 and I was really worried about it. She only was sick once and that was because her g-tube got infected and had NOTHING to do with being in school 2 half days a week. This year in pre-k 4 she has only gotten one cold and that was after being around her cousins on the weekend and no necesarily from school either. Even that one cold was not a big problem, she got over it with just a few extra neb and PT sesions and didn't even have to miss school. Take a deep breath and do all you can to educate the staff at the school and let her go. Good luck, Andrea
I have been told that it is good for CF kids to be exposed to some colds, etc. This helps build their immune system. One of my 5 yr old sons CF Dr.'s said that she has seen kids that did not go to pre-school or were home schooled through grade school get sicker that kids who attended pre school and grade school since they had not built up their immunities to different things. The social interaction is also very important to the kids and for them to live as normal chidhood as possible.Our son has been in school for 2 years and has had his share of colds, etc. but notThat being said we do keep him out of school when their is alot of stuff going around like this last flu epedemic that was turning into pneumonia.
Keep in mind that it is never good to isolate a child in the early years, because it is during that time the child builds immunities to common illnesses that they will encounter in Kindergarten.My daughter (and her twin brother) has been in daycare since she was 7 months old. And if truth be told, she has remained healthier than her brother who does NOT have cf. Please, oh please, do not let fear govern your choices for your child. She will only learn those fears. Always err on the side of caution and inform her teachers, but it is good to let her be as normal as possible.
I felt the same way when I enrolled my son into the Prek program this past fall. He is doing great. He goes 3 days a week and in the afternoon..He loves it. He has had 1 cold this winter and seems to be as healthy as all the rest..I think all the vitamins and the treatments really do help..My doctor always says that she finds that cf children are usually healthier because we are so more aware of germs. I think she is right. Just keep up with the vitamins and wash hands alot.