They say the first year of daycare is the worst for illnesses. But is it really?

This year the universe is honestly taking the piss. 

Lately, it feels like my phone has developed a new hobby. It's flashing the day care's caller ID more often than I'd like.  

It’s my second year as a daycare mum and I’m wondering when I’ll catch a break - instead of the flu. 

Last year, when I returned from maternity leave, all my coworkers assured me that the first year of day care is the toughest.

For me, that couldn't be further from reality. This second year is throwing everything at me.

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We’ve been collecting different variations of snotty noses and mysterious coughs like Pokemon. Image: Supplied.

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Gotta catch 'em all: the germ collection

We’ve been collecting different variations of snotty noses and mysterious coughs like Pokemon. 

We’ve had hand, foot and mouth, gastro, green snot and rhinovirus all over the space of a few months. 

Apparently, just like Pokemon we gotta catch ‘em all. Yesterday we caught a new one.  

“Your son has conjunctivitis,” was what the educator had informed me. 

It’s the latest illness we’ve added to our Winter collection. We’ve also had alerts to be on the lookout for RSV and Influenza A this week.  

Last year we definitely experienced the first year chaos, with my son's immunity system adapting to the new environment. We had a few rounds of gastro and a hospital stay at one point. 

But this year the universe is honestly taking the piss. 

While I would prefer that daycare send my son home so I can be at the helm of his care, it doesn't ease the stress of the juggle.  

Organising work in my absence, dealing with extra sookiness and whinging, and trying to avoid catching the illnesses myself—it all felt easier last year. It felt less frequent.

It's led me to wonder if the second year is worse than the first. Surely, I can't be the only mum questioning if the first year of daycare truly is the worst part of the ride?

The contagion chronicles just keep coming

So I asked GP, Doctor Sam Hay, if this is normal. If this is just me. 

“The answer is that it depends!  Viral infections naturally fluctuate throughout the year and from winter to winter,” Doctor Hay told Kidspot. 

“Some years your kids will come into contact with brand new viruses - leading to lots of colds, whilst in the next year each virus is like ones they've had before - so their immune system is 'primed' and they cope much better.”

He says the infectious period might not be as closely monitored as it could be for some. 

“Some months other sick kids are kept away from daycare for a few days to recover.  Whilst the next month families are really struggling, so kids have that extra day in daycare when they're not quite 100%. That means they're a little more contagious.” 

(Cost of living, anyone?) 

It’s all led me to wonder if his second year is worse than the first year. Image: Supplied.

Embracing my snotty reality

Overall it’s all part of the daycare experience. 

“When your bub is immobile it's arguably easier to keep them away from others. Contrast that with the hyperactive snotty toddler who climbs all over everything smearing their virus laden goop everywhere,” he explained.

“Kids are destined to get colds and flus. In fact, around 12 episodes each year is entirely normal. You can keep them in a bubble for a while, but you're only delaying the inevitable.” 

Maybe our third year will be the charm. 

But until then I'll take the second year of sickly couch cuddles and attempts at reinventing the wheel when it comes to sensory tubs.

It won't last forever. One day I'll wish it would have. 

Originally published as They say the first year of daycare is the worst for illnesses. But is it really?