Daycare at gym + nonvaxed 8mo

[To-Fu]

We have so far decided not to vaccinate our 8mo son. I'd like to sign up for a gym membership soon, however, and the gym offers childcare for a small added fee. Because my husband works such long hours and is often out of town, the only way for me to consistently go to the gym is to take advantage of the childcare they offer. I am thinking my son would be there for no more than an hour and a half three or four times a week. I haven't been to the gym yet, but I plan to go soon to check out the childcare facilities. I'm hoping they're as rarely used by other members as the ones at my last gym were (fewer kids that way, right?).

My question is about what kinds of dangers I might be exposing my son to in taking him, unvaxed, to the childcare at my gym. He is still 99.9% EBFing and most of our contact with other kids is through a local AP play group, which just feels a lot safer somehow. I tried to do some Googling but most of the results just alarmed me. Tell me what you know and help me stop freaking out?

[phathui5]

I wouldn't worry about it. You're going to be exposing him to all the normal childhood coughs and colds that kids pass around when they're together. His vaccination status shouldn't have a bearing on whether you take him or not, because he's not at a greater risk in that kind of setting.

I worked at a gym childcare from when my oldest was a baby until baby #3 was a toddler and we never had any problems with them being unvaccinated.

[KD's Momma]

I wouldn't worry about being non vaxed but I will tell you from experience that you will have alot of coughs, snuffy noses and colds! I quit going to the gym and cancelled my membership because every time my kids went they got sick and they were supposedly cleaning the toys and equipment 3x a day. but as far as vax diseases - we never had a problem

[philia]

Germ City

Gym day cares are full of germs but just the normal daycare kinds.
Good Luck

[To-Fu]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. It's a relief to hear I don't have any vaccination worries to deal with, although unsettling to think about all the little stuff I might be exposing him to. I think I'd like to go ahead and give it a try, since it's important to me to have a little me-time and try this route to keeping sane (as opposed to meds).

[columbusmomma]

I've been taking DD(14 mos)and unvaxed to the gym since she was around 2 months. No problems! I wouldn't sweat it. Yes, though, sniffles and other what not's are around! But they also lurk at the grocery,church,shopping centers,playgrounds,library........

[Twinklefae]

I first took DS, completely unvax'd to visit at the daycare where I worked at 2 weeks old (and I let the 3yo's touch him. They had waited a long time for the "baby in my belly".) I never worry about taking DS anywhere. When we have money I plan on taking him a a gym daycare.

[Mommy2Liz]

Did any of your gyms require proof of vaccination or an exemption from the health dept? My gym will not allow any child who is unvaccinated unless you have an exemption from the health dept. I'm confused about that since I thought the exemptions were only for public school aged children. ?

I want to put DD in the gym daycare maybe 2x a week. She is 17 mos and still BFing so I'm not concerned about her health being there. I get frustrated with knowing how to handle the non-vax issue.

[Twinklefae]

Sounds fishy. Ask them to show you the law that requires that... if it's not a law then it's an invasion of privacy.