Hello,I was wondering what people's experience has been with sending their CF effected children to daycare. Did you wait until they were a certain age? Did you decide against it? Just curious what people think? I have heard both schools of thought - keep them home as long as you can and daycare may help to build up their immunity. The doctors really didn't have a recommendation one way or another (probably b/c they don't know our financial situation). Thanks.
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Sending CF child to daycare?
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
Our daughter was diagnosed at 8 weeks old. At the time they recommended a minimum of 2 years old before she went into daycare. She is now 4 yrs old and will be starting pre-school 3 afternoons a week in the Fall. We have no regrets and are glad we decided to keep her home. She caught colds but we like to think she had less of them because she was not in a day care situation. My husband and I also work so we would also bring home colds, and she would catch them too. Her respirologist told us that the average person (w/o cf) gets between 6-12 colds per year, so we cannot expect our children to be any different.We didn't want her to live in a bubble so we kept her involved in different activities and had her friends over to play. At such a young age it was good to be able to monitor foods and hygiene and take this time to show her the importance of it all, so she is prepared for us to send her off to school. Whatever your decision is, make sure it is what you are most comfortable with, and that your child will be as happy and healthy as possible.Heather - Mom to Ashley
AbsintheSorrow
New member
Unless there's something like pneumonia running around the daycare, I'd definitely say send the kid to daycare. Colds are easy enough to get through with CF or not (though, sure, it's a little harder with CF). And personally, I think it's an EXCELLENT idea to build up some immunity to regular colds and stuff that isn't going to kill your kids. I migh keep them out if you know there's a bad flu or pneumonia running around, but honestly, the kids should get used to colds. They have to get used to worse. I've had to get used to cigarette smoke in public, EVERYWHERE. And I'd rather have a cold, trust me. Plus my health has been pretty good, especially for a 20 year old CFer, and I attribute some of that to having been a "normal" kid when I was younger. Playing with the other kids, around colds and in the mud and stuff... You get the idea.
NoDayButToday
New member
When I was little, my doctor told my mom to avoid daycare for me as long as possible. I had a full time sitter until I was four, when I started Preschool. Obviously, there is no telling whether it helped or not (though I have to say I cultured pseudomonas when I was 5 and went on IVs then also). Unless you keep your child in a box, they are going to be exposed to germs everywhere- even if they stay at home. Also, full time sitters are in general MUCH more expensive than daycare. That is definitely a huge factor... I think in the end, avoiding daycare did not tremendously change the course of my CF, but I can't say for sure. I guess what I'm trying to say is that no matter what, your child will be exposed to germs, so CF shouldn't be a tremendous factor in your decision... Good Luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
AbsintheSorrow
New member
I hope this doesn't sound like I'm taunting Coll, but I will point out that I was in nursery school and regular school ASAP and I didn't culture pseudomonas and go on IV meds until I was 16, almost 17. So take that knowledge and do with it what you will.
NoDayButToday
New member
LOL no offense taken, I suppose it was just my bad luck *shrugs*. I was trying to say that even though I stayed home, I still got pseudomonas fairly early... saying that maybe staying at home with a babysitter wasn't super helpful.
Our bigger problem was that 20 years ago, no child care facility would take Emily. The minute you said Cystic Fibrosis, they practically hung up on you or ran screaming from the room. LOL. Emily was with her gramma until she was 3 and played with her cousins every day, but when she was 3-1/2, she went to our public school early intervention program so they could get her into the system fast to see what her needs would be. We have a terrific school system and they have been very helpful all these years. She graduated with a 4.0 average and went on to finish this year at college on the Dean's list. (I'm done bragging now!) SORRY! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">)She was exposed early to everything and has done very well is my point!
I believe you can expose your child to everything and still keep them out of the daycare system, just to keep an eye on them. Ashley was always involved with other kids but not in daycare. Believe it or not 20 yrs later we strongly believe she was refused by a daycare because of her CF, although they never admitted it (we had her on the list before she was diagnosed). We chose not to put her in but always felt strong that she needed the social skills so we kept her involved with kids in other ways.I was also concerned about her missing her meds at daycare and now that she is 4 yrs old she reminds people that she needs to take them. I think we avoided a lot of problems by waiting until she was old enough. When she was first diagnosed we went home one night and the nurse forgot to give her enzymes so I can only imagine what may have happened in a daycare situation.Everyone has to make the decision they are most comfortable with. Ashley will never live in a bubble but we did as our dr's told us to do for the first 2 years and then extended it to 4 yrs as a choice. We made the right decision for us and she has done well so far.
I had originally planned to go back to work a year after I had Rachel and that would have put her in daycare. She was diagnosed at 9 months. The doc's at the time said that it was better for her not to go into daycare situations because a lot of the time other people send their children in sick. Rachel already was culturing pseudomonas and every time she got a cold it progressed to pneumonia. She was hospitalized with chest infections 4 times before she was 2. (none since) For us, there was no way I was sending her to daycare. I was worried about what would happen with meds and other things. She had a lot of social interaction with her cousins and other friends.2 years ago she went into a pre-k program. I am very glad that we waited until she was 3 & 1/2 to start school/daycare. Socially she is ahead of most kids her age, so starting late was not a problem in that department. I really think it depends on the child. Andrea
My son started daycare when he was 18 months old - though we did not know he had CF at the time. He got the usual colds, but we mainly struggled with his intestinal problems. We thought it was just a food allergy (and our doctor insisted he was fine). He was in daycare for a year and 1/2, when just after his third birthday a rectal prolapse led the doctor to finally take some action (after much insistence) and we learned that he has CF. OK - so as far as the daycare issue goes, I made the decision to quit my job and take my son out of daycare. I had no desire to work anymore and figured I could always go back if I changed my mind later (a bit of a luxury for teachers, as there is a great need for us). I just wanted to postpone his constant exposure to germy bugs and illnesses - you know, give his body some time to get bigger and stronger. At the same time, I do not want to keep him in a bubble and I try to keep him in activities so that he can have fun and be around other kids. He took swimming lessons (in unseasonably cold water which made me nervouse... but he loved it) and I plan to get him involved in sports after he turns 4. I would also like to put him in a Mother's Day out program where he goes in 2 or 3 days a week. Honestly, he probably would have been fine in daycare. He did just fine the year and 1/2 he was there without being on meds. I think it depends on your child. I have a friend whose 1 yr old son (NO CF) was getting ear infections all the time in daycare. Her husband quit his job and is keeping him out of daycare until he gets a little older.And by the way, my pulmonologist told me that it would be better healthwise for my son to NOT be in daycare. Although she was not trying to recommend that.That was my choice! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">Darlamom of Jared (3 with CF), and Lilly (5 mo. no CF)