Do I have anything to worry about?

[Let It Be]

I am about to begin watching a baby during the week while I stay at home with my son, who just turned 1. The new baby is 3 months old, but was born 8 weeks premature. His mom just decided to pull him out of daycare because he recently caught pneumonia . He was diagnosed the day he was supposed to go in for his Hib vax. He has since recovered.

We do not and will not vax DS. Do I need to worry about him catching any respiratory issues from the new babe? DS still breastfeeds for about 95% of his nutritional intake, BTW.

I feel like he will be fine, but I always leave room for worry. Thanks for any reassurance you can offer.

[EVC]

Well, if the baby is recovered, then no. There would be nothing to catch

I'm sorry, I guess I dont really understand your question. What specifically are you worried about? Are you concerned that the baby may in fact not yet be fully recovered from the pneumonia and is therefore still contagious? I think if he is not presenting any symptoms, then likely he is no longer contagious.

[Let It Be]

Originally Posted by EVC

What specifically are you worried about? Are you concerned that the baby may in fact not yet be fully recovered from the pneumonia and is therefore still contagious? I think if he is not presenting any symptoms, then likely he is no longer contagious.

I'm wondering how likely this babe is to bring other respiratory illnesses into our home. BUT because he will be here instead of in daycare, I guess the chances of that happening are greatly reduced...

[EVC]

Originally Posted by Let It Be

I'm wondering how likely this babe is to bring other respiratory illnesses into our home. BUT because he will be here instead of in daycare, I guess the chances of that happening are greatly reduced...

I'm sure he will bring in many other respiratory illnesses, but likely just garden variety colds, flu, etc. Unfortunately, that goes with the territory of childcare (and children in general), and vax status has nothing to do with it. The vast majority of germs going around among children are not thing that are vax'ed for anyway. The only other respiratory illness that is commonly vax'ed for is pertussis, which is pretty common especially as the vax does NOT prevent transmission so vax'ed children can be--and often are--carriers of it. There's not a whole lot you can do about it, except eat healthy and keep your immune system strong--just like you would for anything else

[Let It Be]

Originally Posted by EVC

I'm sure he will bring in many other respiratory illnesses, but likely just garden variety colds, flu, etc. Unfortunately, that goes with the territory of childcare (and children in general), and vax status has nothing to do with it. The vast majority of germs going around among children are not thing that are vax'ed for anyway. The only other respiratory illness that is commonly vax'ed for is pertussis, which is pretty common especially as the vax does NOT prevent transmission so vax'ed children can be--and often are--carriers of it. There's not a whole lot you can do about it, except eat healthy and keep your immune system strong--just like you would for anything else

This was helpful - thank you!

[2boyzmama]

If the baby was 8 weeks premature, he may seem to have a lot of respiratory illnesses, but it's just because his prematurity makes him more susceptible to respiratory bugs in particular. If he's exposed to a common cold virus, for example, it is more likely to settle in his lungs, whereas you and your son may just have a runny nose and scratchy throat. That's probably what happened to cause the pneumonia.

My son has an airway malformation and a primary immune deficiency with t-cell deficit. All of the little bugs and cruds that go through our household effect him worse, and always tend to hit his respiratory tract. And there are many times when no one else in the family gets sick at all.

So you may notice what appears to be a slight increase in the number and/or intensity of his little bugs and cruds, but it shouldn't mean that he's any more contagious or poses more of a threat to your son. It's likely still the common cold bug, it just hits him harder.