Questions about summer...

[Ratatosk]

Since I responded on the wrong post... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
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<br />Wash hands, use hand sanitizer after playing outside or at the park.
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<br />Make sure she gets enough water and SALT if she's going to be outside. DS sweats out a lot of salt so he usually takes hits off a salt shaker at daycare, but when he was smaller, they made sure to have pretzel sticks or saltine crackers along.
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<br />Sunscreen -- ds is on a couple drugs that could make him photosensitive. He's never gotten burned and he loves being outdoors quite a bit year round.
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<br />We've always avoided hot tubs -- higher temps tend to grow more bugs, plus the steam tends to be right at face height. Kids aren't supposed to use hot tubs anyway...
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<br />DS takes swimming lessons, spends time at the lakes, is in gymnastics and other sporting events. The only time we've avoided a swimming pool is a local hotel with a waterslide that the health department has cited numerous times. Most local families with healthy kids avoid THAT cesspool.
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<br />Gross story -- DS told me a few years ago that he found gum on the playground on a swing. Not sure how one handles already been chewed gum HOURS after it happens. Bleah! No harm, no foul. Just really grossed out about it.
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[summer732]

I agree with the avoiding hot tubs and also (maybe this is weird) but if you go to the zoo, avoid the bird area. Apparently birds are not good for anyone with lung illnesses.

Other than that I did everything my sister did. I believe in treating your CF child like every other kid out there. Let them have fun, let them experience life, and don't treat them like they have a disease. If you treat them like they have a disease they will act that way their whole life.

 

[summer732]

I agree with the avoiding hot tubs and also (maybe this is weird) but if you go to the zoo, avoid the bird area. Apparently birds are not good for anyone with lung illnesses.

Other than that I did everything my sister did. I believe in treating your CF child like every other kid out there. Let them have fun, let them experience life, and don't treat them like they have a disease. If you treat them like they have a disease they will act that way their whole life.

 

[summer732]

I agree with the avoiding hot tubs and also (maybe this is weird) but if you go to the zoo, avoid the bird area. Apparently birds are not good for anyone with lung illnesses.
<br />
<br />Other than that I did everything my sister did. I believe in treating your CF child like every other kid out there. Let them have fun, let them experience life, and don't treat them like they have a disease. If you treat them like they have a disease they will act that way their whole life.

 

[hmw]

I want Emily to have a full, happy childhood and not one where she feels like she's trapped by fear of all the 'what if's' and away from all the fun. If I were, for example, to avoid gardening near her to avoid exposure to dirt... would that mean never letting HER do anything involving dirt either? Emily has always loved helping me garden (as do her brothers), make mud pies and otherwise get as filthy as possible when outdoors and following the boys around the woods where we live. In other words, be a totally normal child. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Emily would be miserable if I kept her back from tagging along with her brothers in what they love to do. Emily is in dance and a lot of germy hands have handled that barre by the time she does her late class and they spend a lot of time on the floor too during jazz. But that's what soap is for... and it's great exercise, of enormous benefit to our kids with cf.

I agree with the common-sense advice that Liza (and others) posted above... basically stuff we'd follow with any of our kids with a bit of extra vigilance for our children with cf.

A big concern of mine is if I hold Emily back too much out of fear of all the 'what ifs', not only will it not really protect her, but as she grows she'll be acutely aware of what we are doing and it will make her really resent the disease (even more than what is developmentally normal to do), leading to greater odds of rebelling against treatments, etc.

 

[hmw]

I want Emily to have a full, happy childhood and not one where she feels like she's trapped by fear of all the 'what if's' and away from all the fun. If I were, for example, to avoid gardening near her to avoid exposure to dirt... would that mean never letting HER do anything involving dirt either? Emily has always loved helping me garden (as do her brothers), make mud pies and otherwise get as filthy as possible when outdoors and following the boys around the woods where we live. In other words, be a totally normal child. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Emily would be miserable if I kept her back from tagging along with her brothers in what they love to do. Emily is in dance and a lot of germy hands have handled that barre by the time she does her late class and they spend a lot of time on the floor too during jazz. But that's what soap is for... and it's great exercise, of enormous benefit to our kids with cf.

I agree with the common-sense advice that Liza (and others) posted above... basically stuff we'd follow with any of our kids with a bit of extra vigilance for our children with cf.

A big concern of mine is if I hold Emily back too much out of fear of all the 'what ifs', not only will it not really protect her, but as she grows she'll be acutely aware of what we are doing and it will make her really resent the disease (even more than what is developmentally normal to do), leading to greater odds of rebelling against treatments, etc.

 

[hmw]

I want Emily to have a full, happy childhood and not one where she feels like she's trapped by fear of all the 'what if's' and away from all the fun. If I were, for example, to avoid gardening near her to avoid exposure to dirt... would that mean never letting HER do anything involving dirt either? Emily has always loved helping me garden (as do her brothers), make mud pies and otherwise get as filthy as possible when outdoors and following the boys around the woods where we live. In other words, be a totally normal child. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Emily would be miserable if I kept her back from tagging along with her brothers in what they love to do. Emily is in dance and a lot of germy hands have handled that barre by the time she does her late class and they spend a lot of time on the floor too during jazz. But that's what soap is for... and it's great exercise, of enormous benefit to our kids with cf.
<br />
<br />I agree with the common-sense advice that Liza (and others) posted above... basically stuff we'd follow with any of our kids with a bit of extra vigilance for our children with cf.
<br />
<br />A big concern of mine is if I hold Emily back too much out of fear of all the 'what ifs', not only will it not really protect her, but as she grows she'll be acutely aware of what we are doing and it will make her really resent the disease (even more than what is developmentally normal to do), leading to greater odds of rebelling against treatments, etc.

 

[ymikhale]

I agree with kitomd21 thqt certain activities cqrry higher risks and while my dd is little, i would rather steer her towards activities where she is less likely to be exposed to certain germs.

I really feel that she would thank me one day for preserving her health. Of course, as with everything, there are certain limits and you cannot say no to everything, so i would tell her something like 'you cannot swim in the lake b/c it is bad for your lungs but you can definitely swim in the sea'.

I realise that something like that is not feasable for an older child who already has his favorite activies and it would definitely be cruel to deprive him of that.

 

[ymikhale]

I agree with kitomd21 thqt certain activities cqrry higher risks and while my dd is little, i would rather steer her towards activities where she is less likely to be exposed to certain germs.

I really feel that she would thank me one day for preserving her health. Of course, as with everything, there are certain limits and you cannot say no to everything, so i would tell her something like 'you cannot swim in the lake b/c it is bad for your lungs but you can definitely swim in the sea'.

I realise that something like that is not feasable for an older child who already has his favorite activies and it would definitely be cruel to deprive him of that.

 

[ymikhale]

I agree with kitomd21 thqt certain activities cqrry higher risks and while my dd is little, i would rather steer her towards activities where she is less likely to be exposed to certain germs.
<br />
<br />I really feel that she would thank me one day for preserving her health. Of course, as with everything, there are certain limits and you cannot say no to everything, so i would tell her something like 'you cannot swim in the lake b/c it is bad for your lungs but you can definitely swim in the sea'.
<br />
<br />I realise that something like that is not feasable for an older child who already has his favorite activies and it would definitely be cruel to deprive him of that.

 

[Lety]

Alexa has been doing everything a normal child would do. She takes dance lessons, goes to the swimming pool, goes to the park, plays with sand, dirt, grass, pet cats and dogs. She hasn't cultivated anything yet, I know is a matter of time, but I'm not going to keep her from doing things that other kids do. We wash her hands as much as we can. As much as I'm scared of her getting sick, we need to give her a "normal" life. Every child is different, some get sick more often that others. I'ts a personal decision how much you let her do.

 

[Lety]

Alexa has been doing everything a normal child would do. She takes dance lessons, goes to the swimming pool, goes to the park, plays with sand, dirt, grass, pet cats and dogs. She hasn't cultivated anything yet, I know is a matter of time, but I'm not going to keep her from doing things that other kids do. We wash her hands as much as we can. As much as I'm scared of her getting sick, we need to give her a "normal" life. Every child is different, some get sick more often that others. I'ts a personal decision how much you let her do.

 

[Lety]

Alexa has been doing everything a normal child would do. She takes dance lessons, goes to the swimming pool, goes to the park, plays with sand, dirt, grass, pet cats and dogs. She hasn't cultivated anything yet, I know is a matter of time, but I'm not going to keep her from doing things that other kids do. We wash her hands as much as we can. As much as I'm scared of her getting sick, we need to give her a "normal" life. Every child is different, some get sick more often that others. I'ts a personal decision how much you let her do.

 

[enaj]

I tend to be more afraid of the things we use to clean our homes than the natural dirt and muck outside. My son has been extremely healthy despite his cf and we often forget to wash hands, and will play with kids with colds. It just can't be avoided, especially at his daycare. Everyone has different tolerance to bugs, dirt and cleanliness with cf or without.

 

[enaj]

I tend to be more afraid of the things we use to clean our homes than the natural dirt and muck outside. My son has been extremely healthy despite his cf and we often forget to wash hands, and will play with kids with colds. It just can't be avoided, especially at his daycare. Everyone has different tolerance to bugs, dirt and cleanliness with cf or without.

 

[enaj]

I tend to be more afraid of the things we use to clean our homes than the natural dirt and muck outside. My son has been extremely healthy despite his cf and we often forget to wash hands, and will play with kids with colds. It just can't be avoided, especially at his daycare. Everyone has different tolerance to bugs, dirt and cleanliness with cf or without.

 

[JennyCoulon]

Just use common sense, that is the best advice that I can give. My oldest is 10 and my youngest is 5 both with CF. There are very few restrictions that I have and neither one of my boy's have had pseudomonias (sp?) or any other bug and are healthy. You want to make CF a part of your life NOT your life. You have to let them live freely (somewhat) otherwise it isn't truly living...Good luck and don't forget the hand sanitizer and lots of water when you are outdoors on a hot day.

 

[JennyCoulon]

Just use common sense, that is the best advice that I can give. My oldest is 10 and my youngest is 5 both with CF. There are very few restrictions that I have and neither one of my boy's have had pseudomonias (sp?) or any other bug and are healthy. You want to make CF a part of your life NOT your life. You have to let them live freely (somewhat) otherwise it isn't truly living...Good luck and don't forget the hand sanitizer and lots of water when you are outdoors on a hot day.

 

[JennyCoulon]

Just use common sense, that is the best advice that I can give. My oldest is 10 and my youngest is 5 both with CF. There are very few restrictions that I have and neither one of my boy's have had pseudomonias (sp?) or any other bug and are healthy. You want to make CF a part of your life NOT your life. You have to let them live freely (somewhat) otherwise it isn't truly living...Good luck and don't forget the hand sanitizer and lots of water when you are outdoors on a hot day.

 

[KCarroll]

I cannot thank you enough for all the comments! You are all so wonderful! THANK YOU!