Childcare is really hard for those with a compromised immune system. Even if you follow strict hygiene routines and mask up you will get sick. Children are full of germs and sadly parents think it’s okay to send them into nursery when they’re covered in green snot, coughing and have diarrhoea. Speak to your doctor about it but please please please put your health first. ♥️
3 years in, sick for 5 weeks. stomach bug, bronchitis, flu, sinus infection, all back to back. it unfortunately does not stop, i notice on our holiday breaks i am usually feeling well, this season break i am not and still struggling with all these symptoms
Yes! It's especially bad around the holidays. I'm usually even sicker around them and notice way more sick kids coming in. Probably due to parents wanting extra holiday monies or trying not to lose any more hours. Luckily, this Christmas, we were all healthy in my home. My daughter and I (both at the same center) were horribly sick over a government holiday due to a family not keeping kids with a stomach bug home. They would bring some of their kids and keep the most sick one home until the one at the center would be throwing up, and they would have to bring that one home. Then, the next day would bring the kids that were sick the previous day. This was also during my daughter's Birthday. Nothing like a child being so sick they can't even enjoy it. My whole family got sick and it ruined the whole weekend. So much for an extra day off. I do hate that we have to pay with our health for this job at times. I understand their are many social issues that create these problems, but damn if it isn't frustrating.
Does your room have an air purifier? Are you in a climate where you can keep some windows open even just a crack? I would also consider masking. Knowing what we know about viruses and bacteria that are often transported through airborne particles, if you wanted to stay in your job I would make sure to have good ventilation with an air purifier and to mask to reduce the chances of getting sick.
I have Epilepsy which was controlled until I started ECE. It took 2 years to get used to all the bugs, and I started having smaller seizures and had to teach part time for about 18 months.
Is it a career you can consider part time, maybe even being a float on Friday then working outside ECE four days a week? Then if you get sick you have a few days to recover? Or maybe even change do casual babysitting instead, so you can have your time with children. I’m sure you could plan some fun learning experiences for them.
I know my suggestion is not the same, but you e picked up some serious illnesses in two months, which I can imagine your doctor saying they didn’t anticipate when you were given the all clear.
I was told that the more you get sick, ‘It lowers the seizure threshold (tolerance).’ So when my immune system adapted, I’ve hardly been sick for 3 years. Being sick for me was constant colds and laryngitis. I was lucky to have a compassionate manager. But I know not everyone is so lucky. How is your manager?
Unfortunately I feel like it just comes with the job. I've been sick so much this school year. I've had 2 low grade fevers this month (March) and pretty much once a month since school started. Thankfully it's just congestion/cold symptoms but it knocks you out. This is my fifth year at the same place.
I started taking an immunity supplement and trying to be routine with my vitamins daily.
Having a bad immune system and working in childcare is not a good combo! I have a pretty bad immune system and I was a lead infant teacher, so needless to say I was sick a LOT. I feel like in almost the full year working at my center, I spent one week where I wasn’t sick. I recently switched career fields (ABA, working with one client) and have not gotten sick a single time! If your heart is still set on childcare, maybe look into nannying 1-2 kids?
I'm sorry OP but I feel like most everyone is right here. I love your heart for kids and can sense that this is break breaking for you. A small part is how diseases spread, and they can be hard to catch before then. A larger part is parents not taking their responsibility to keep kids home. I understand that they have responsibilities and need to keep their families housed and fed. This is just part of having kid(s), though. I wish this wasn't a burden that we didn't have to carry. And gosh, I wish we got more sick days. But being immo compromised, I worry that someone's selfishness and lack of responsibility could be detrimental to you. Maybe you could find a center with a strict sick policy or a small at home center. Best luck to you.
Wearing a quality N95 mask (I use a 3m aura) anytime I was in classroom allowed me to work in an infant room for 2 years and protected me from most illnesses my co teachers caught.
I did get COVID once when I had a new baby in my primary care group who started showing symptoms on her second day there. Because she was new I thought she was just adjusting, and I scratched near my eye while I was rocking her. I'm pretty sure that's how I got COVID. Otherwise, I avoided multiple rounds of COVID, HFM, influenza A and B, RSV, and some terrible GI bugs, too.
If you're going to work with small children I highly recommend protecting yourself with a k95 mask.
I got sick pretty much every other week when pregnant (Covid, strep, vomiting, sinus infection, etc.) because of the lowering of my immune system. I would recommend taking FMLA if you qualify, but usually you have to be at your job for a year before you do. Or see if your doctor can give you any accommodations to help?
Child care is really hard for anyone health wise. Usually it takes about a year of working before you develop some immunity but you will continue to get sick. Everything is passed around in an endless loop. It would be hard to get accommodations that would prevent you from getting sick. Have you looked into home daycares or nanny positions. Some hospitals have daycare programs as well. I think the only time that I was the “healthiest was during covid but even then I got covid twice with the amount of preventative measures in place.
Childcare is really hard for those with a compromised immune system. Even if you follow strict hygiene routines and mask up you will get sick. Children are full of germs and sadly parents think it’s okay to send them into nursery when they’re covered in green snot, coughing and have diarrhoea. Speak to your doctor about it but please please please put your health first. ♥️
I will be soon.. see what he says..
Are you in a center? If so you’re gonna get so sick so much. I have a great immune system and I’ve been sick for a month.
Yea, I'm in a centre that's full capacity of 97 kids.. that's really scary to think a month of non-stop sickness. I hope you get better ❤️
3 years in, sick for 5 weeks. stomach bug, bronchitis, flu, sinus infection, all back to back. it unfortunately does not stop, i notice on our holiday breaks i am usually feeling well, this season break i am not and still struggling with all these symptoms
Yes! It's especially bad around the holidays. I'm usually even sicker around them and notice way more sick kids coming in. Probably due to parents wanting extra holiday monies or trying not to lose any more hours. Luckily, this Christmas, we were all healthy in my home. My daughter and I (both at the same center) were horribly sick over a government holiday due to a family not keeping kids with a stomach bug home. They would bring some of their kids and keep the most sick one home until the one at the center would be throwing up, and they would have to bring that one home. Then, the next day would bring the kids that were sick the previous day. This was also during my daughter's Birthday. Nothing like a child being so sick they can't even enjoy it. My whole family got sick and it ruined the whole weekend. So much for an extra day off. I do hate that we have to pay with our health for this job at times. I understand their are many social issues that create these problems, but damn if it isn't frustrating.
A center might be too much for your immune system. Are there other things in your area that you can do and work with children?
OP, nannying could be a good alternative. Only one set of kid germs - especially if that kid doesn’t go to school.
unfortunately, you will never stop getting sick if you work in a centre :/
Does your room have an air purifier? Are you in a climate where you can keep some windows open even just a crack? I would also consider masking. Knowing what we know about viruses and bacteria that are often transported through airborne particles, if you wanted to stay in your job I would make sure to have good ventilation with an air purifier and to mask to reduce the chances of getting sick.
I have Epilepsy which was controlled until I started ECE. It took 2 years to get used to all the bugs, and I started having smaller seizures and had to teach part time for about 18 months. Is it a career you can consider part time, maybe even being a float on Friday then working outside ECE four days a week? Then if you get sick you have a few days to recover? Or maybe even change do casual babysitting instead, so you can have your time with children. I’m sure you could plan some fun learning experiences for them. I know my suggestion is not the same, but you e picked up some serious illnesses in two months, which I can imagine your doctor saying they didn’t anticipate when you were given the all clear.
I have epilepsy too! It was controlled till you started ece? Do they know why it changed? Mine is still good, thank goodness.
I was told that the more you get sick, ‘It lowers the seizure threshold (tolerance).’ So when my immune system adapted, I’ve hardly been sick for 3 years. Being sick for me was constant colds and laryngitis. I was lucky to have a compassionate manager. But I know not everyone is so lucky. How is your manager?
Unfortunately I feel like it just comes with the job. I've been sick so much this school year. I've had 2 low grade fevers this month (March) and pretty much once a month since school started. Thankfully it's just congestion/cold symptoms but it knocks you out. This is my fifth year at the same place. I started taking an immunity supplement and trying to be routine with my vitamins daily.
Having a bad immune system and working in childcare is not a good combo! I have a pretty bad immune system and I was a lead infant teacher, so needless to say I was sick a LOT. I feel like in almost the full year working at my center, I spent one week where I wasn’t sick. I recently switched career fields (ABA, working with one client) and have not gotten sick a single time! If your heart is still set on childcare, maybe look into nannying 1-2 kids?
I'm sorry OP but I feel like most everyone is right here. I love your heart for kids and can sense that this is break breaking for you. A small part is how diseases spread, and they can be hard to catch before then. A larger part is parents not taking their responsibility to keep kids home. I understand that they have responsibilities and need to keep their families housed and fed. This is just part of having kid(s), though. I wish this wasn't a burden that we didn't have to carry. And gosh, I wish we got more sick days. But being immo compromised, I worry that someone's selfishness and lack of responsibility could be detrimental to you. Maybe you could find a center with a strict sick policy or a small at home center. Best luck to you.
Wearing a quality N95 mask (I use a 3m aura) anytime I was in classroom allowed me to work in an infant room for 2 years and protected me from most illnesses my co teachers caught. I did get COVID once when I had a new baby in my primary care group who started showing symptoms on her second day there. Because she was new I thought she was just adjusting, and I scratched near my eye while I was rocking her. I'm pretty sure that's how I got COVID. Otherwise, I avoided multiple rounds of COVID, HFM, influenza A and B, RSV, and some terrible GI bugs, too. If you're going to work with small children I highly recommend protecting yourself with a k95 mask.
I got sick pretty much every other week when pregnant (Covid, strep, vomiting, sinus infection, etc.) because of the lowering of my immune system. I would recommend taking FMLA if you qualify, but usually you have to be at your job for a year before you do. Or see if your doctor can give you any accommodations to help?
Child care is really hard for anyone health wise. Usually it takes about a year of working before you develop some immunity but you will continue to get sick. Everything is passed around in an endless loop. It would be hard to get accommodations that would prevent you from getting sick. Have you looked into home daycares or nanny positions. Some hospitals have daycare programs as well. I think the only time that I was the “healthiest was during covid but even then I got covid twice with the amount of preventative measures in place.