Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A regular cold.

We just got word that masks are no longer required, in Montgomery.

So jealous! Ours still wants masks on two year old even though they take them off to eat and sleep (so, you know, 70% of the time they are there).


It has been fine, OP. Even pre-COVID, each of my kids was in daycare from six months to 5.5YO and each cost me two sick days. Not all kids are constantly sick (though some are).

Yeah ours is requiring masks until that age group can be vaccinated, which I think is BS. I also wonder how they are going to handle families who decide not to get their toddler the vax for the time being.

Anonymous wrote:A regular cold.

We just got word that masks are no longer required, in Montgomery.

So jealous! Ours still wants masks on two year old even though they take them off to eat and sleep (so, you know, 70% of the time they are there).


It has been fine, OP. Even pre-COVID, each of my kids was in daycare from six months to 5.5YO and each cost me two sick days. Not all kids are constantly sick (though some are).

A 15 month old just tested positive for Covid at our daycare. It appears to be isolated, as all of the other children/staff have tested negative (except for one whose mother refused to test). In general, illnesses are about the same, but that means that children get sent home much more frequently since runny nose on its own is considered to be grounds for exclusion in DC.

A regular cold.

We just got word that masks are no longer required, in Montgomery.

When my DD (now almost 2) started daycare at 14mos (in the winter, pre-COVID vaccines), she was sick on average every 3 weeks. It sucked. But that only lasted for maybe three months. Her immune system got used to stuff and the change of season seemed to help. Only two or three major illnesses since then -- two were classroom outbreaks of RSV/roseola. For what it's worth, we've tested for COVID each time and it's always been negative.

She does have a low-level runny nose on occasion but as long as it's clear and she's acting like herself with no fever/cough, we still send her (which is compliant with their policy).

I sometimes send her with a mask now just for practice since she is about to turn 2 and will have to wear them in some spaces. I don't think she actually wears it consistently enough to protect from disease, but it's good practice.

No covid, but we have been sick on average every 3-4 weeks since June, with outbreaks of both RSV and hand foot and mouth in October. My kid was home 6 days. I still have a sore throat. This is a day care that's pretty strict on precautions and has never closed for covid.

Anonymous wrote:weighing childcare options for an under 2. Since they can't wear masks, should I prepare myself for more sick days? I've heard from friends with kids whove been able to mask at daycare that very little illness, everyone wears a mask in class.

How much exposure has your child had to other kids and illnesses in general? Because if they’ve been isolated at home up until now, they are bound to get something once in a childcare situation, masked or not. Anecdotally, my 2.5 yo probably had one cold in the first year back at daycare once they reopened last summer- infant room so no kids masked. But we werent really doing all that much outside of childcare, I just think the avenues for exposure to common illnesses was lower than average. She’s had more colds since moving up to the masked 2s room, but masked is relative because between eating, nap time, and outside time they’re taking them on and off all day and usage at 2 is a mixed bag IME.

Our youngest is 18mo and has been at daycare in NoVA for the past 14 months, with the exception of about 6 weeks in between Thanksgiving to just after the New Year (our choice to pull out and isolate prior to spending Christmas with grandparents). She’s had 2 colds and RSV in that time. Negative covid PCR each time. Her caregivers are fully masked, and they’ve made changes to policies regarding cleaning and common toys to cut down on germ spread. One caregiver tested positive for covid prior to vaccine availability, but none of the infants or toddlers have ever tested positive.
That bout of RSV was pretty rough for us…but RSV is like that.

We are at a daycare that none of the children mask (in VA). No covid cases. We have had one stomach bug in the last year but that was all. The teachers do mask though.

weighing childcare options for an under 2. Since they can't wear masks, should I prepare myself for more sick days? I've heard from friends with kids whove been able to mask at daycare that very little illness, everyone wears a mask in class.