How often is considered ok for a baby to get sick as in colds/diarrhea?

Question

A few nights ago my grandma made the comment that my son is sick alot. But to the best of my memory he has had the stomach virus thing twice and a head cold 4 times. He is 17 months. To me that doesnt seem too bad. Is that too many for a baby of his age?

Answer 1

Sounds pretty normal to me. Especially if he has ever had an antibiotic, which most infants are pumped full of during their first year.

Answer 2

I wouldn't worry, 4 colds and a stomach thing in 17 months is not that bad. Little ones can be exposed to a lot, especially if in daycare or if they have play group friends who are. Not to mention all the things we get exposed to but are strong enough to fight off. Their little immune systems are still developing and sometimes something slips through. In my experience grandparents tend to make these comments when they feel that perhaps they don't see the grand kids as often as they would like or if they feel that you are a more attentive hands on parent then they were and in some way need to knock you down a notch. I know my Husbands grandma will do this because she didn't get to be a stay at home mom and for some reason feels like the stay at home moms in the family are trying to show her up or something, strange and neurotic I know : ). Just let it roll off your back, you know you are a good mom, right?!

Answer 3

i think it sound normal. my child got pneumonia when she was four months and every since she gets colds and other viruses all the time. i will give her Motrin for the fever and will only take her to the doc for prescriptions unless i think she really needs it. now is the time you want you child to build up a really good immune system so later on in life they can fight off the sickness. my mother hardly ever gave me medicine as a child and i can only remember getting sick like th flu maybe 4 times in the 27 year i have been alive. pedialyte is very good for your child. it helps with the diarrhea. keeps your child from being dehydrated. my daughters pediatrician told me to get the clear kind and mix some of her favorite juice in it.

Answer 4

She is over protective of your baby, in her day colds were much more serious than today, especially in young children. Just tell her his pediatrician isnt worried about it and that kids get colds all the time. And dont you worry about it either thats not bad at all sounds like a normal healthy boy to me.

Answer 5

well, kids get sick alot cuz they dont understand the comcept of germs, and all that great stuff! LOL! and they dont wash their hands like we do, they dont know that by sneezing in their hand and then touching a toy that he/she is sharing with another child can get the other chld sick. no its not too bad!


my 1 yr old, gets sick ALOT! when she is teething she gets really sick and is sick for atleast a week! sometimes its as long at 2 weeks! everytime she is brekaing threw a new tooth she gets and ear infection, and then gets sick!


its normal! if YOU ARE worried about it, go to his doctor and have him checked out, or call them!

Answer 6

i say you are doing good!!! it depends on the baby, the environment he is in all day, and where you live...........for instance, my son is 15 mo and has been sick more times than i care to remember(2 very bad viruses and alot of head and chest cold) and my best friends son who is 11mo has really only been sick once......as long as your pediatrician doesn't question you on how often your baby is sick i really wouldn't worry about it.....tell grandma to shush!!

Answer 7

If I saw another child with a runny nose at a playgroup I would be pissed. How would the other mommies know that it's just a runny nose and not a cold??

Answer 8

no not really i was sick alot when i was young but just in case i would take him to the doctor

Answer 9

my son has diarrah everyday. limit the fruit juice. also see a pediatrician. ;) dont worry your son is fine