Reply to Are there long-term consequences if babies get sick frequently?

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Reply to "Are there long-term consequences if babies get sick frequently?"

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[quote=Anonymous]The main danger from frequent mild illness for babies is that their immune systems are new so you have to pay attention in case the illness goes from mild to worse. That's it, that's the issue. RSV and other respiratory illness in babies can be more dangerous because if their immune systems don't kick in strongly enough, they can go into respiratory distress. So always pay close attention to their breathing, look for signs of distress like air sucking or difficulty breathing, and don't hesitate to take them in if you are unsure if they are breathing clearly

You also have to pay closer attention to fevers for babies, but as with all kids, if a fever responds to medication and doesn't hit a certain threshold or last more than a few days, they aren't a big deal and usually a good sign (fever is one way your body fights off a virus, and often a fever spike precedes a vast improvement in symptoms because the fever succesfully kills off the worst of the virus).

But other than the inconvenience to you, as long as the illnesses are mild, there is not detriment to your kid from getting them frequently. And yes, mild exposure to viruses as a baby/toddler, assuming you recover fine, will improve immunity down the road. People can poo poo that all they want but this is basic knowledge about immunity. I say this as someone with an only child who spent very little time in group care environments before age 4. All the studies on childhood immunity point to the benefits of exposure to mild illness at a young age. Watch your baby for dangerous symptoms but otherwise, you don't need to stress about this.[/quote]

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