As a pediatrician and mom of three, I often get asked, “How do I know when to send my child to school when he is sick?” Before I dive in to this subject, let me tell you I know how easy it is to want to keep the little one home when out from his mouth comes, “Mommy, I don’t feel good.” …There’s no sickness that a day in bed with Mommy’s homemade chicken noodle soup can’t cure. And of course, lots of hugs. Though I understand the desire to nurse the sick ones back to health with a day at home, I must tell all the parents out there, RESIST THE URGE.
Contrary to popular opinion, schools and social places for children actually help build up the immune system. Kids actually can spread viruses one day before they show symptoms to up to five days after they show sickness. It’s really impossible to say kids should stay home if they have a cold. If they have a runny nose or a slight cough, but they’re happy, active, and they have no fever, then they can go. Unless their symptoms are more serious, like vomiting, high fever, or serious respiratory problems, there really is no reason for a child to stay home.
To the parents of newborns out there, I recommend you start thinking about this now. Studies have shown that kids in daycare actually get sick less frequently later in their childhood. The reason is that they are exposed to different germs and their immune system strengthens. It is actually shown that kids are sickest in day care in the first year, and then that prevalence decreases, especially after the age of 3. They rarely get sick later.
So my advice for the parent sending their sick one off to school: pack tissues, give them a hug, and be ready with Mommy’s chicken soup when they get home.
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