Do you take your kids out if they have a cold?

[biblionerd]

The kids went to the museum last Friday, picked up a cold and were sniffly and snotty on Saturday. It's been a week and they're still hanging on to this cold. It's a lot better, but they still need some tissues and have an occasional weak dry cough . Do you go out in public like this or stay home? We had plans with the inlaws to go to the zoo tomorrow and I don't know parent etiquette... I obviously wouldn't if it were a pukey miserable kind of sickness but today they're acting totally fine, just a little snotty.

[Deleted]

Oh I'd go. Maybe that makes me an awful parent, but being stuck inside for a week?! No way! Plus, they are just snotty... some kids stay snotty forEVER (Not that you want to hear that, lol, sorry!) and I could never stay inside that long. Go have fun at the zoo!

[carawestt]

If it's just a cold and he's not miserable, I still go out. I don't take him anywhere where he would interact with any other kids though, just quick errand trips. I'd go enjoy the zoo!

[rjamz]

Yup, otherwise we would be inside all winter. Not if he's super sick, but if he's just snotty, yeah.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards

[greenkitty98]

With what you're describing, I would take my kids.

Our ECFE classes (parent/child classes through the school district) had a policy that you weren't to come if your child had green snot, throwing up, or fevers (or were diagnosed with something else contagious), but you could come if they just had a little cough and slightly runny noses with clear snot. Without that policy, they would have had no one at classes for most of the winter.

[charmediamsure]

Yeah. I think it depends on what is wrong with him: a stuffy nose or a cough is fine with me, we can't quarantine ourselves. I try to avoid letting him touch things that we don't intend to buy though. Jack has only had ear infections so far so i havent had to think about it, but diarrhea or pukiness would be a no for sure.

[katie]

Yes. As long as she is acting normal, no fever then I take her out. She goes to school like that along with all the others in her DC room. Someone's nose is always running and someone is always coughing in her room.

[biblionerd]

Thanks guys! I figured that was the norm, but we live in the boonies and don't honestly do a whole lot. Plus, the zoo is (mostly) outside and hands off.

[kkfeb04]

Oh I was that parent all week this week. I didn't realize the kids had strep. I thought Katelyn was teething since she's a snotty mess with barely a cough. Kalvin only coughs laying down. We check temps and no fevers for either...they were at daycare all week. Katelyn doesn't even act sick. She's still running and playing. Kalvin isn't too bad. We even told his teachers on Thursday that he didn't sleep well Wednesday and thought maybe an ear infection. I said at any sign of him being sick, to call me and we will pick him up. He had no temp, so he was allowed to stay...oops, they tested positive for strep this morning. Her symptoms started Monday/Tuesday, his started Wednesday, mine started Thursday. Sometimes you can't help it if you don't know something is wrong.

Now the 5 year old in Kalvin's class that mentioned to another child (I overheard this) that she threw up several times overnight SHOULDN'T have been there.

[nilex0102]

Asking as there is no fever and they are acting fine absolutely! In fact I think it is easier to go out and do stuff than to sit home bored, same goes for school as long as it is nothing contagious.

[devotchka]

No fever, no fussiness, just runny clear snot and it's been a while since the original virus is ok in my book to go out and do whatever, as long as the kid is comfortable. Otherwise if he is still recovering and clearly not himself, snot is colored, but it's been a while and he's going stir crazy, we run errands and go out but try not to go anywhere where he would interact w/ other kids. Like go to a park but take a walk instead of the playground w a snack, etc.

[eav2c]

The first day or two of a cold I might not but that is mostly for MY sanity because he is more prone to a freak out when he isn't feeling well. Several days in, yep, absolutely would as long as he seemed to be acting normal and fine.