Taking CF kids out in public

[sdelorenzo]

My kids go everywhere like grocery, preschool, malls, playgrounds, swimming pools you name it, they go. I think exposure to the outside world is important and my kids have done well. I, however, won't take them a few places. I won't take them to a fast food playground, Chunk e cheese, and also our children's museum. I will take them if there is a birthday party. I just choose to go other places instead. I just think why risk getting a virus and the idea stresses me out.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 5 and Jack, 3 both with cf

 

[Breezy]

Yeah i think it's important to have that level of normalicy, when it comes to interaction with other children. I think in the end it's ultimately up to the parent about how much exposure to others and germs is enough, which is just something that intuitively will come to you. That will also help your child learn when they're older who to interact with when people are sick. Trust your gut. My parents did with me. I know when people are really sick and a lot of it is going around, i limit how much i go to campus or how much extra time i spend on campus so i don't pick things up. And like others have said, it's impossible to NOT get sick and to NOT pick up germs...it happens!!!

You will learn what is best for you and i sincerely hope that it all works out!

 

[Breezy]

Yeah i think it's important to have that level of normalicy, when it comes to interaction with other children. I think in the end it's ultimately up to the parent about how much exposure to others and germs is enough, which is just something that intuitively will come to you. That will also help your child learn when they're older who to interact with when people are sick. Trust your gut. My parents did with me. I know when people are really sick and a lot of it is going around, i limit how much i go to campus or how much extra time i spend on campus so i don't pick things up. And like others have said, it's impossible to NOT get sick and to NOT pick up germs...it happens!!!

You will learn what is best for you and i sincerely hope that it all works out!

 

[Breezy]

Yeah i think it's important to have that level of normalicy, when it comes to interaction with other children. I think in the end it's ultimately up to the parent about how much exposure to others and germs is enough, which is just something that intuitively will come to you. That will also help your child learn when they're older who to interact with when people are sick. Trust your gut. My parents did with me. I know when people are really sick and a lot of it is going around, i limit how much i go to campus or how much extra time i spend on campus so i don't pick things up. And like others have said, it's impossible to NOT get sick and to NOT pick up germs...it happens!!!

You will learn what is best for you and i sincerely hope that it all works out!

 

[Rebjane]

I take my daughter with CF most places, places i avoid are the drug store pharmacy(of course it's where sick people are filling prescriptions), I would not take my daughter to work(I work in a hospital). I chose not to take my son without Cf to work as well. I learned long ago if you want to get sick, go to the hospital(I'm being sarcastic, sort of) Maggie goes to nursery school, and classes and loves being with other children, It's not the common cold or virus that bothers me, it is the funky bacteria and and resp stuff. We just try to have fun, and wash our hands.

 

[Rebjane]

I take my daughter with CF most places, places i avoid are the drug store pharmacy(of course it's where sick people are filling prescriptions), I would not take my daughter to work(I work in a hospital). I chose not to take my son without Cf to work as well. I learned long ago if you want to get sick, go to the hospital(I'm being sarcastic, sort of) Maggie goes to nursery school, and classes and loves being with other children, It's not the common cold or virus that bothers me, it is the funky bacteria and and resp stuff. We just try to have fun, and wash our hands.

 

[Rebjane]

I take my daughter with CF most places, places i avoid are the drug store pharmacy(of course it's where sick people are filling prescriptions), I would not take my daughter to work(I work in a hospital). I chose not to take my son without Cf to work as well. I learned long ago if you want to get sick, go to the hospital(I'm being sarcastic, sort of) Maggie goes to nursery school, and classes and loves being with other children, It's not the common cold or virus that bothers me, it is the funky bacteria and and resp stuff. We just try to have fun, and wash our hands.

 

[Ratatosk]

I'll admit the indoor playgrounds to gross me out, but again, I figure frequent hand washing/wiping, keep the fingers out of the nose & mouth and avoid more crowded days.

We have a pulmo doctor locally who has a whole laundry list of don'ts -- no swimming lessons -- mold. No football -- dirt and things that grow in the dirt. No hockey - moldy hockey bags & gloves. If he had his way, DS would be bubble boy. But he DOES encourage things like gymnastics and soccer.

We figure it's important that DS learn to swim and the local pool is very clean, kept up. The funny thing is gymnastics -- DS is in a class once a week with about 12 other kids and one of the activities is a giant ball pit filled with foam cubes. Now there's NO possible way they can ever clean those things off. I think our pulmo doctor would have a coronary if he ever walked into the gym. I basically wipe DS's hands off with wipes when he's all done and throw him in the tub that night. BTW, his bare feet, when he puts them up against the side of the tub -- practically make mud -- it's DISGUSTING.

 

[Ratatosk]

I'll admit the indoor playgrounds to gross me out, but again, I figure frequent hand washing/wiping, keep the fingers out of the nose & mouth and avoid more crowded days.

We have a pulmo doctor locally who has a whole laundry list of don'ts -- no swimming lessons -- mold. No football -- dirt and things that grow in the dirt. No hockey - moldy hockey bags & gloves. If he had his way, DS would be bubble boy. But he DOES encourage things like gymnastics and soccer.

We figure it's important that DS learn to swim and the local pool is very clean, kept up. The funny thing is gymnastics -- DS is in a class once a week with about 12 other kids and one of the activities is a giant ball pit filled with foam cubes. Now there's NO possible way they can ever clean those things off. I think our pulmo doctor would have a coronary if he ever walked into the gym. I basically wipe DS's hands off with wipes when he's all done and throw him in the tub that night. BTW, his bare feet, when he puts them up against the side of the tub -- practically make mud -- it's DISGUSTING.

 

[Ratatosk]

I'll admit the indoor playgrounds to gross me out, but again, I figure frequent hand washing/wiping, keep the fingers out of the nose & mouth and avoid more crowded days.

We have a pulmo doctor locally who has a whole laundry list of don'ts -- no swimming lessons -- mold. No football -- dirt and things that grow in the dirt. No hockey - moldy hockey bags & gloves. If he had his way, DS would be bubble boy. But he DOES encourage things like gymnastics and soccer.

We figure it's important that DS learn to swim and the local pool is very clean, kept up. The funny thing is gymnastics -- DS is in a class once a week with about 12 other kids and one of the activities is a giant ball pit filled with foam cubes. Now there's NO possible way they can ever clean those things off. I think our pulmo doctor would have a coronary if he ever walked into the gym. I basically wipe DS's hands off with wipes when he's all done and throw him in the tub that night. BTW, his bare feet, when he puts them up against the side of the tub -- practically make mud -- it's DISGUSTING.

 

[wuffles]

I did everything when I was young. McDonalds playgrounds, doctor's waiting room toys, swimming in the disgusting school pool every week.

Not saying that's the best idea, but some people make it through fine <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Also might be worth considering what it will be like for the kids when they're adults. As an adult you have to go to the grocery store in cold and flu season, you have to go to work in the air conditioning with everyone else coughing and sniffling, I have to go to Medicare (insurance) where every sick person in the city is. So being sensible about it is the key <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[wuffles]

I did everything when I was young. McDonalds playgrounds, doctor's waiting room toys, swimming in the disgusting school pool every week.

Not saying that's the best idea, but some people make it through fine <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Also might be worth considering what it will be like for the kids when they're adults. As an adult you have to go to the grocery store in cold and flu season, you have to go to work in the air conditioning with everyone else coughing and sniffling, I have to go to Medicare (insurance) where every sick person in the city is. So being sensible about it is the key <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[wuffles]

I did everything when I was young. McDonalds playgrounds, doctor's waiting room toys, swimming in the disgusting school pool every week.

Not saying that's the best idea, but some people make it through fine <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Also might be worth considering what it will be like for the kids when they're adults. As an adult you have to go to the grocery store in cold and flu season, you have to go to work in the air conditioning with everyone else coughing and sniffling, I have to go to Medicare (insurance) where every sick person in the city is. So being sensible about it is the key <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[AnD]

Avoid the ball pits. Even with healthy children. Ugh.

My child doesn't have cf, but I do, and she was a premie, so I have avoided things like the church nursery and sick relatives and children, especially in cold and flu season (and RSV especially that time of year). She didn't see the inside of a store for the first 6 months! Now that she is older (3), I let her do more without freaking out about the hand sanitizer as much, even though part of the freaking is to keep me healthy, too <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">. You will find your comfort zone, figure out how well your child handles colds, etc. and how suseptible she is to catching them. It will all plane out to a routine <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . One of the worse places for us to catch germs? WALMART. And now they have added a health clinic in ours. Arrrgghhhh! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[AnD]

Avoid the ball pits. Even with healthy children. Ugh.

My child doesn't have cf, but I do, and she was a premie, so I have avoided things like the church nursery and sick relatives and children, especially in cold and flu season (and RSV especially that time of year). She didn't see the inside of a store for the first 6 months! Now that she is older (3), I let her do more without freaking out about the hand sanitizer as much, even though part of the freaking is to keep me healthy, too <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">. You will find your comfort zone, figure out how well your child handles colds, etc. and how suseptible she is to catching them. It will all plane out to a routine <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . One of the worse places for us to catch germs? WALMART. And now they have added a health clinic in ours. Arrrgghhhh! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[AnD]

Avoid the ball pits. Even with healthy children. Ugh.

My child doesn't have cf, but I do, and she was a premie, so I have avoided things like the church nursery and sick relatives and children, especially in cold and flu season (and RSV especially that time of year). She didn't see the inside of a store for the first 6 months! Now that she is older (3), I let her do more without freaking out about the hand sanitizer as much, even though part of the freaking is to keep me healthy, too <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">. You will find your comfort zone, figure out how well your child handles colds, etc. and how suseptible she is to catching them. It will all plane out to a routine <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . One of the worse places for us to catch germs? WALMART. And now they have added a health clinic in ours. Arrrgghhhh! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[mistylavon]

Thank you for all your replies. We do well with sanitizing hands, etc. Morgan has done so well. She's just getting over a cold and it's only the 1st cold she's had since being diagnosed with CF last February. She only had one prior to that. The more I think about it and get grossed out it just makes me want to avoid places like that.

 

[mistylavon]

Thank you for all your replies. We do well with sanitizing hands, etc. Morgan has done so well. She's just getting over a cold and it's only the 1st cold she's had since being diagnosed with CF last February. She only had one prior to that. The more I think about it and get grossed out it just makes me want to avoid places like that.

 

[mistylavon]

Thank you for all your replies. We do well with sanitizing hands, etc. Morgan has done so well. She's just getting over a cold and it's only the 1st cold she's had since being diagnosed with CF last February. She only had one prior to that. The more I think about it and get grossed out it just makes me want to avoid places like that.

 

[Jane]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>amysmom</b></i>

My daughter's CF doctor told me from the beginning (6 months old) not to keep her from being around other children because the normal interaction with other children is so important and because all children need to build antibodies to germs. It seemed to be 'quantity or quality' of life. It's a horrendous thing for a parent to have to consider. ugh! But I decided that (within reason and common sense) I HAD to choose quality !</end quote></div>

I feel the same way too and our doctors told us the same when my boys were small. However that was 16 years ago. I have noticed that their advice has changed over the course of our experience with CF.

It seems that doctors now are asking parents to be more protective of their CF kids. Cross-contamination wasn't understood when my boys were toddlers. As more is learned about this issue and with more resistant bacterias emerging, doctors are changing their position.

Look at the changes that have taken place just in hospitals in the past 2-3 years. Unfortunately, the precautions cause isolation. Like Amys mom said parents have to consider quantity vs quality. UGH is right!!!