Why Does My Child Keep Getting Sick at Daycare?

When my son first started daycare, I knew he was probably going to get sick more often. I don't think I fully understood just how quickly it would happen.

I started him at daycare about a month before I was scheduled to go back to work after maternity leave. At the time, part of me wondered what I was going to do with myself for an entire month while he was at daycare and I wasn't working yet.

Then, within about a week or two, he got sick.

And then I got sick.

I am someone who almost never gets sick, and suddenly I was getting everything too. I got the flu. I got strep. It felt like every germ that came home from daycare eventually made its way to me.

Looking back, that month between starting daycare and returning to work was one of the best decisions I made. I realize having that kind of maternity leave and flexibility is absolutely a luxury and isn't an option for everyone. But if you do have some flexibility around when your baby starts daycare, it's something I would seriously consider.

Now I've started daycare with two kids, and interestingly, their experiences have already been different. My son got sick almost immediately. My daughter made it about two months before her first daycare illness.

My theory is that having an older brother has already exposed her to basically everything.

If you’re wondering why does my child keep getting sick at daycare, the short answer is that group childcare exposes young kids to a lot of germs they simply haven’t encountered before.

So if it feels like your child has been sick nonstop since starting daycare, you're definitely not imagining how frequent it can be. Here's why daycare illnesses happen so often, when they tend to get better, and what I wish I'd known before we started.

Why Does My Child Keep Getting Sick at Daycare?

Daycare is basically the perfect environment for germs to spread.

Young children are spending their days close together. They're touching the same toys, putting things in their mouths, wiping their noses with their hands and then touching everything around them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that infections spread particularly easily among infants and toddlers because they frequently touch their noses and eyes and share toys that have been in other children's hands or mouths.

And if your child hasn't previously spent much time in a group childcare setting, they're suddenly being exposed to a lot of viruses they haven't encountered before.

That can make the first year of daycare feel relentless.

How Often Do Kids Get Sick When They Start Daycare?

Potentially, a lot.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children can experience many infections during their first year in group childcare. A child whose first year in childcare is during infancy may have as many as 8 to 12 more colds than a child who is cared for at home without exposure to siblings or other children.

That number made my experience with my son make a lot more sense.

He got sick within his first week or two of daycare, and it felt like we'd barely gotten started before we were already dealing with our first illness.

It can also feel like your child has been sick for months because one illness can run directly into the next. The runny nose from one virus may barely disappear before another one starts.

Does Daycare Sickness Ever End?

Thankfully, it should get better.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that respiratory illnesses generally begin to decrease during the second year of childcare as children have been exposed to more germs and their immune systems have responded to those exposures.

That doesn't mean your child suddenly stops getting sick after exactly one year. There isn't a magic date when daycare germs disappear.

But the constant cycle shouldn't necessarily be your forever.

This is something I think is really helpful to know when you're in the middle of it. When you're taking another sick day and wiping another runny nose, it can feel like this is simply your new life.

For many families, the first year of group childcare is particularly intense.

Why Did My Second Baby Get Sick Less Quickly?

This has been one of the interesting differences I've noticed between my two kids.

My son was my first child, and he got sick within about one or two weeks of starting daycare.

My daughter didn't get sick until she'd been in daycare for around two months.

Obviously, that's just our experience, and I can't know exactly why their timelines were different. But she also has something my son didn't have when he started daycare: an older sibling bringing home germs.

By the time my daughter started daycare, she'd already spent months living with a toddler who attends daycare himself.

So while daycare introduced her to a new group of kids and plenty of new germs, it wasn't necessarily her first exposure to all the things that circulate among young children.

If You Can, Consider Starting Daycare Before You Go Back to Work

This is probably the biggest practical piece of advice I'd give another parent preparing to start daycare.

If your maternity or parental leave and finances allow it, consider starting daycare before your actual return-to-work date.

I started my son about a month before I went back to work, and initially I wasn't even sure what I would do with that time.

It ended up being incredibly valuable.

He got sick within the first couple of weeks. Then I got sick. Instead of having just returned to work and immediately needing to tell my employer that my child was sick and couldn't go to daycare, I was already home.

I could take care of him without also trying to navigate the stress of a brand-new work routine.

It also gave both of us time to adjust to daycare itself. He could get used to a new environment, and I could get used to sending him there, without my first day back at work also being his first day away from me.

I completely recognize that this isn't realistic for everyone. Childcare is expensive, maternity leave in the U.S. varies enormously, and plenty of parents need to coordinate daycare to begin on the exact day they return to work.

But if you have the luxury of building in even a little overlap, I would do it again.

Why Do Parents Get Sick When Their Kids Start Daycare?

Unfortunately, your child may not be the only one suddenly getting sick.

That was definitely true in our house.

I rarely get sick, but after my son started daycare, I got the flu and strep. Suddenly I wasn't just managing his illnesses; I was catching things too.

It makes sense when you think about how much close contact you have with a baby or toddler. You're wiping their nose, holding them, sharing the same home and getting coughed or sneezed on from approximately three inches away.

Some infections can also spread before it's obvious that a child is sick, which makes it difficult to completely prevent germs from coming home from daycare.

Handwashing and other basic hygiene measures can help reduce the spread of infections. The CDC recommends frequent handwashing, routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, staying up to date on recommended vaccinations and keeping children home when they're sick as important infection-prevention measures in early childcare settings.

But even with good hygiene, daycare isn't going to be germ-free.

Can You Prevent Your Child From Getting Sick at Daycare?

You probably can't prevent every daycare illness, but there are things that can help reduce the spread of infection.

Frequent handwashing is a big one. It's also worth understanding how your daycare handles cleaning and disinfecting toys and surfaces, diapering, food preparation and sick children.

The CDC recommends that early care and education programs use everyday infection-prevention strategies including hand hygiene, appropriate cleaning and disinfecting, improved ventilation, vaccination and staying home when sick.

At home, I think it's also helpful to have a plan for the inevitable sick day rather than assuming you'll somehow avoid them.

Who can pick your child up if daycare calls? Can either parent work from home? Do you have family nearby who can help? How does your employer handle sick days?

Those questions aren't fun to think about before your child even starts daycare, but they're much easier to answer before you get the midday call saying your child needs to go home.

All of the daycare illnesses have also made me much more prepared when we travel. I keep a travel medicine kit for my kids stocked with the medications and sick-day essentials I don't want to be searching for away from home.

When Should You Keep Your Child Home From Daycare?

This is where I would follow both your daycare's specific illness policy and guidance from your pediatrician.

Not every runny nose means a child has to stay home. In fact, if that were the rule, I'm not sure toddlers would ever attend daycare.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that a child with a cough or cold without a fever doesn't necessarily need to be excluded from childcare as long as they feel well enough to participate and staff can appropriately care for them.

There are situations when a child should stay home, though.

The CDC recommends staying home for symptoms including fever, repeated vomiting, certain types of diarrhea, worsening respiratory symptoms and some uncovered draining skin sores. In general, a child returning after an illness should be well enough to participate in normal activities.

Daycare policies can also be more specific, so I always check ours rather than assuming the rules are the same everywhere.

How Long Should a Child Be Fever-Free Before Returning to Daycare?

A common guideline is at least 24 hours without a fever and without using fever-reducing medication.

The CDC says children returning to school after an illness generally should have been fever-free without fever-reducing medicine for at least 24 hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics gives similar guidance for respiratory illnesses with fever in childcare settings.

Again, I'd still check your daycare's exact policy because individual programs and specific illnesses may have different requirements.

Is a Constant Runny Nose Normal at Daycare?

This is one of those things I don't think you fully appreciate until you have a child in daycare.

The runny noses can feel endless.

Young children get frequent respiratory infections, particularly when they're spending time around other children. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that a runny nose by itself, regardless of the color or consistency, isn't necessarily a reason a child needs to stay home from childcare if they're otherwise well enough to participate.

Of course, a runny nose can also occur alongside symptoms that do warrant staying home, so I look at the whole picture rather than the nose alone.

When Should You Call the Pediatrician?

There isn't one rule that covers every illness, and this is an area where I wouldn't rely on another parent's experience to decide whether your child needs medical care.

Call your pediatrician if you're concerned about your child's symptoms, especially if they're having trouble breathing, seem unusually lethargic or unresponsive, aren't drinking enough, show signs of dehydration, have a concerning rash, or you're simply worried that something isn't right.

Age matters too. Fever in a very young infant requires different guidance than fever in an older baby or toddler.

I use our pediatrician for the medical decisions and our daycare's illness policy for determining when my child can attend.

What I Wish I'd Known Before Starting Daycare

Thankfully my twin sister had told me to plan for daycare sickness as part of the daycare transition itself which is why I started my kids before I went back to work.

Most people think about what bottles to send to daycare, naps, labels, drop-off, pickup and whether their baby will adjust. And as kids get older, daycare can bring a whole new set of transitions too. We experienced that firsthand when my son was potty trained at home but not at daycare.

It's hard to think about what would happen when he inevitably woke up sick on a Tuesday morning and couldn't go.

Starting daycare before I returned to work gave us a buffer I didn't realize we would really need. By the time I actually went back to work, we'd already dealt with our first round of daycare sickness.

I also wish I'd known that getting sick frequently at the beginning doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong or that daycare will always be like this.

My two kids have already shown me that every experience can be different. My son got sick almost immediately. My daughter lasted around two months.

Either way, daycare germs eventually find you.

My Bottom Line

If your child seems like they're constantly sick since starting daycare, you're far from the only family experiencing it. The first year of group childcare can involve a lot of infections, particularly for babies and toddlers who haven't previously had that level of exposure.

For me, one of the best things I did was start my son at daycare about a month before I returned to work. I realize how fortunate I was to have that option, but if you have similar flexibility, I would seriously consider giving yourself some overlap.

Your child gets time to adjust. You get time to adjust. And if the first daycare illness arrives a week later like ours did, you're not simultaneously trying to navigate your first week back at work.

And maybe stock up on tissues for yourself too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my child always sick after starting daycare?

Young children in daycare spend a lot of time in close contact and share toys, surfaces and plenty of germs. Children may experience many infections during their first year in group childcare, especially if they haven't previously had much exposure to other children.

How often do kids get sick when they start daycare?

It can be frequent. The American Academy of Pediatrics says infants in their first year of group childcare may experience as many as 8 to 12 more colds than children cared for at home without exposure to siblings or other children.

How long does the daycare sickness phase last?

There isn't an exact timeline for every child, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says respiratory illnesses generally begin to decrease during the second year of childcare.

Should I start daycare before going back to work?

If you have the flexibility and can afford the additional childcare time, I personally would. I started my son about a month before returning to work, and he got sick within his first couple of weeks. Having that buffer made his transition, his first illness and my eventual return to work much less stressful.

Why am I getting sick so much since my child started daycare?

Parents are in extremely close contact with their children, and many infections spread easily through respiratory droplets, hands and contaminated surfaces. I rarely got sick before my son started daycare, and then I ended up getting both the flu and strep.

Should a child with a runny nose stay home from daycare?

Not necessarily. The American Academy of Pediatrics says a runny nose alone isn't automatically a reason to exclude a child from childcare if they're otherwise well enough to participate. Follow your daycare's policy and talk to your pediatrician if you're concerned about other symptoms.

Does daycare sickness get better?

It generally does. The AAP says respiratory illnesses begin to decrease during the second year of childcare. It may not happen overnight, but the especially intense first-year period doesn't necessarily last forever.