When can premature babies start daycare?

Question

There is a good chance that my wife is going to deliver our daughter premature (she is at 30 weeks now). Someone told her that premature babies need to stay away from other babies for a year because of some lung sickness they can catch. Is this true? At what age is it safe for them to start daycare?

Answer 1

My son was born at 24 weeks and spent 9 months in hospital. He is oxygen dependant, has floppy airways and a tracheostomy. After every thing I heard about risk of infection I was scared to take him out of the house once he was home. His consultant told me that I may be keeping him safe being at home but sometime in his life he will have to leave the house. By not allowing him any contact with germs I'd be putting him at a serious disadvantage as his immune system would not be able to cope when he came into contact with them later. Of course there needs to be a balance so I don't take him to overcrowded places or anywhere smoky and avoid too much contact with people with colds.
So far, touch wood, he has not had anything other than a bit of a sniffle but he does have one heck of a social life and an awful lot of little friends!

Answer 2

My son was born at 32 weeks. I was told to restrict going out with him for the first 3 months . No one was allowed in the house with a cold or even the sniffles. He was only allowed to the Dr office - first appointment of the day. This was to allow his immune system get stronger without combating extra bugs. He also had the RSV shot for 4 months as he was a winter baby. If your daughter needs these shots check if it's covered. In NS Canada they are if requested by Dr and meet criteria, otherwise you're looking at $1500 CDN a shot!!!

Your daughter will be behind in development if really early. It's not necessary to segregate your daughter from other kids unless your daughter has lung problems, which is a possibility being born before 34 weeks as the lungs are the last organ to develop. Your wife will probably receive 2 steroid shots to help the baby develop faster.

As for child care... it depends on where you place her, and when you feel comfortable putting her in someone else's care!

Answer 3

They are talking about RSV.

Here's the deal: you are going to be treating your preemie differently for ages. Our son was 5-7 weeks premature, and was in the NICU for 17 days.

Always check with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to tell you everything.

However, for us she said to be careful but also realize that illness isn't always a bad thing. You have to be careful, but if you have to take your child to daycare, to wait until he's over 2 months. He'll remaind a preemie until he's 2, but some times you can't wait until he's 2 to send him to daycare.

Your child will catch all sorts of things on his own.

I breastfed for only a month, our son was in daycare for 4 months, and he only had 1 cold. On the first trip to the church nursery, he got the worst flu ever.

You can't protect your child from everything. And chances are your child is going to spend some time in the NICU.

In all, because I know I keep going around in circles:
1) Ask your doctor
2) You can't protect your child from everything
3) Good luck!

Answer 4

Preemies are at risk for RSV until they are 2 most doctors will tell you it is not safe for them to be in daycare. Depending on how premature they are they may qualify for social security disability (my preemie twins did) until they are able to be in daycare.
My twin were born 12 weeks early and came home on oxygen and cardiac monitors after being in the hospital for 15 weeks.

Answer 5

To a point it is true. The person was probably talking about RSV. The best person to ask this question would be a pediatrician.