Taking CF kids out in public

[mistylavon]

Hi all - I'm wondering how parents of CF children feel about taking them to play at places like McDonald's or Carl's Jr. playlands? Is this something you do or do you feel like it's too risky to take them? I take my 2 yr. old daughter sometimes, but I feel like I'm not being anal enough about her picking up germs/bugs. Just wondering how other parents feel about this.
Thanks, Misty

 

[mistylavon]

Hi all - I'm wondering how parents of CF children feel about taking them to play at places like McDonald's or Carl's Jr. playlands? Is this something you do or do you feel like it's too risky to take them? I take my 2 yr. old daughter sometimes, but I feel like I'm not being anal enough about her picking up germs/bugs. Just wondering how other parents feel about this.
Thanks, Misty

 

[mistylavon]

Hi all - I'm wondering how parents of CF children feel about taking them to play at places like McDonald's or Carl's Jr. playlands? Is this something you do or do you feel like it's too risky to take them? I take my 2 yr. old daughter sometimes, but I feel like I'm not being anal enough about her picking up germs/bugs. Just wondering how other parents feel about this.
Thanks, Misty

 

[dyza]

Take a pack of anti bacterial wipes and wipe down tables and stuff, but other than that make sure that they dont put their hands in their mouths, which is in itself difficult to do, so give their hands a wipe every so often. We take Craig to a toddlers group and to a 'fun world', its good for them to interact with other children and they still need to pick up normal bugs for their immune systems. It is really difficult to stop this happening, why lead a sheltered life get out there and play.
Theres nothing better than seeing someones face who has just cleaned a table or a high chair for you to come along and give it a really good clean....makes me laugh, but then I'm easily amused LOL.

Craig.

 

[dyza]

Take a pack of anti bacterial wipes and wipe down tables and stuff, but other than that make sure that they dont put their hands in their mouths, which is in itself difficult to do, so give their hands a wipe every so often. We take Craig to a toddlers group and to a 'fun world', its good for them to interact with other children and they still need to pick up normal bugs for their immune systems. It is really difficult to stop this happening, why lead a sheltered life get out there and play.
Theres nothing better than seeing someones face who has just cleaned a table or a high chair for you to come along and give it a really good clean....makes me laugh, but then I'm easily amused LOL.

Craig.

 

[dyza]

Take a pack of anti bacterial wipes and wipe down tables and stuff, but other than that make sure that they dont put their hands in their mouths, which is in itself difficult to do, so give their hands a wipe every so often. We take Craig to a toddlers group and to a 'fun world', its good for them to interact with other children and they still need to pick up normal bugs for their immune systems. It is really difficult to stop this happening, why lead a sheltered life get out there and play.
Theres nothing better than seeing someones face who has just cleaned a table or a high chair for you to come along and give it a really good clean....makes me laugh, but then I'm easily amused LOL.

Craig.

 

[Ratatosk]

We go once in awhile, but rarely when it's crowded -- so we don't usually go on weekends and normally don't go to the giant one at the mall during the winter -- cold & flu season. Those places always smell like a locker room. Wipe off the tables, wipe off hands when we leave. Encourage DS NOT to stick his fingers up his nose. Bleah! Then when we get home wash hands again and/or usually take a bath.

Several of my coworkers refuse to let their kids go in those places, nor do they let them use those cool car grocery carts.

 

[Ratatosk]

We go once in awhile, but rarely when it's crowded -- so we don't usually go on weekends and normally don't go to the giant one at the mall during the winter -- cold & flu season. Those places always smell like a locker room. Wipe off the tables, wipe off hands when we leave. Encourage DS NOT to stick his fingers up his nose. Bleah! Then when we get home wash hands again and/or usually take a bath.

Several of my coworkers refuse to let their kids go in those places, nor do they let them use those cool car grocery carts.

 

[Ratatosk]

We go once in awhile, but rarely when it's crowded -- so we don't usually go on weekends and normally don't go to the giant one at the mall during the winter -- cold & flu season. Those places always smell like a locker room. Wipe off the tables, wipe off hands when we leave. Encourage DS NOT to stick his fingers up his nose. Bleah! Then when we get home wash hands again and/or usually take a bath.

Several of my coworkers refuse to let their kids go in those places, nor do they let them use those cool car grocery carts.

 

[lflatford]

different parents feel differently about this subject as well, we let our kids be kids. Germs are eveywhere no matter how clean we try to make the outside world, wash the kids hands afterwards is what we do and the our little girl has been healthy as a horse.

 

[lflatford]

different parents feel differently about this subject as well, we let our kids be kids. Germs are eveywhere no matter how clean we try to make the outside world, wash the kids hands afterwards is what we do and the our little girl has been healthy as a horse.

 

[lflatford]

different parents feel differently about this subject as well, we let our kids be kids. Germs are eveywhere no matter how clean we try to make the outside world, wash the kids hands afterwards is what we do and the our little girl has been healthy as a horse.

 

[amysmom]

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. This will help them fight colds like children without CF. The only way they can do that is to be exposed to them. I also think it keeps children with CF feeling normal and well adjusted when they can do everything (possible) that everyone else does. Amy is 25 years old now and never did have a problem with common colds and other children having them. The age of your daughter is particularly difficult (I remember!) because you're starting to have to make new decisions you didn't have to deal with before. Just about at your daughter's age I was faced with deciding on the same things. 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. From then on I pushed to get as much richness and normalcy into Amy's life that we could. It definitely gets easier! You won't always feel like you do now. Things just start flowing into a normal routine and alot of that 'dread' weight lifts from your shoulders!

 

[amysmom]

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. This will help them fight colds like children without CF. The only way they can do that is to be exposed to them. I also think it keeps children with CF feeling normal and well adjusted when they can do everything (possible) that everyone else does. Amy is 25 years old now and never did have a problem with common colds and other children having them. The age of your daughter is particularly difficult (I remember!) because you're starting to have to make new decisions you didn't have to deal with before. Just about at your daughter's age I was faced with deciding on the same things. 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. From then on I pushed to get as much richness and normalcy into Amy's life that we could. It definitely gets easier! You won't always feel like you do now. Things just start flowing into a normal routine and alot of that 'dread' weight lifts from your shoulders!

 

[amysmom]

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. This will help them fight colds like children without CF. The only way they can do that is to be exposed to them. I also think it keeps children with CF feeling normal and well adjusted when they can do everything (possible) that everyone else does. Amy is 25 years old now and never did have a problem with common colds and other children having them. The age of your daughter is particularly difficult (I remember!) because you're starting to have to make new decisions you didn't have to deal with before. Just about at your daughter's age I was faced with deciding on the same things. 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. From then on I pushed to get as much richness and normalcy into Amy's life that we could. It definitely gets easier! You won't always feel like you do now. Things just start flowing into a normal routine and alot of that 'dread' weight lifts from your shoulders!

 

[lizzy]

Like the others have said everyone will have different views. Our Docs encouraged us to treat Megs like any other kid. She was in ballet, swimming lessons, daycare. The only thing they discouraged was interaction with kids who had weakened immune systems as well. Megs is now 22. The first time she was hospitialized was when she was 20.

 

[lizzy]

Like the others have said everyone will have different views. Our Docs encouraged us to treat Megs like any other kid. She was in ballet, swimming lessons, daycare. The only thing they discouraged was interaction with kids who had weakened immune systems as well. Megs is now 22. The first time she was hospitialized was when she was 20.

 

[lizzy]

Like the others have said everyone will have different views. Our Docs encouraged us to treat Megs like any other kid. She was in ballet, swimming lessons, daycare. The only thing they discouraged was interaction with kids who had weakened immune systems as well. Megs is now 22. The first time she was hospitialized was when she was 20.

 

[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

 

[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