Spreading coughs and colds

I agree with you Pixie, I assume you don't make a big thing of it with the grand children, if so, maybe be a little more subtle. The worst place I cannot stand to be when someone is coughing and sneezing is on an aeroplane!! I literally cover my face with my jacket or other item to hand. My husband thinks I'm crazy...but I can't bear it..especially when the offender doesn't use a hanky!! SNEEZES SPREAD DISEASES...and it hurts more when you are older!!

Never mind hugs and kisses from Grandchildren, I haven't had either a kids as nor a hug from husband for at least 12 years!?

Should have read neither a kiss nor a hug! Predictive text!!

Sparkle199 I am so sorry.

harrigran is quite right - all children need to understand about the risks they may present to some older people/others of any age with compromised immune systems, while they have colds or other minor infections. It is called consideration for others!

Trying to maintain my own health exercising at the local leisure centre in the company of a friend recovering from recent cancer treatment, we were both upset and horrified when a group of sneezing teenagers close to us made no attempt to use tissues, clothing or even their hands to cover their faces. We both felt the spray - with the result that my friend felt more stressed after the visit to the centre than she had felt before going...

My son's Doctor told him that having toddlers and young children was like having an open sewer in the house!
I like to think that anything they catch, I have probably seen before in my 80 years. However I am very careful around them when I have a cold sore, (happily infrequently these days) My daughter was very distressed when a relative, with a cold sore, kissed her child on the lips.
The child picked up the virus, ran a temperature, had a multitude of sores on her mouth and has been prone to cold sores ever since.

Is it just the fact you won't hug or kiss them when they have colds or is this a smokescreen for other things your DD has noticed that makes you feel you don't love her children? Things are rarely as simple as they seem! Perhaps a heart to heart conversation with your DD would help your DD to understand why as you get older you are more wary of illness and she could tell you if there is anything else that makes her feel you don't love them.

I agree with you. Most of the blasted coughs and colds that I get can be traced back to family members who insist on passing their damned germs around. I don't love them any less, I just wish that they'd keep their germs to themselves.

I would never turn a kiss or cuddle down no matter what they had if they ve got it why not share it with me I just can't worry about myself more than a big ole cuddle
I ve never kissed children on the lips somehow seems wrong I know some families do but that's never happened in our family not judging just saying that's how it is for me
I m so honoured that my great big 16 year old grandson still kisses and cuddles me and invariable picks me up and calls me his little Nan (although I m not that little)

My opinion is that your daughter's accusation was plain mean! I also avoid germs cos a simple cold in a child always leads to a debilitating chest infection for me. But I do still hug & plant a kiss on the top of their heads.

My obsession with avoiding his germs has led to my grandson being capable of winning a nose blowing competition! I can't bear snotty noses.

If my daughter said that to me I might just ask why she's being so nasty. Take no notice ....

I have to avoid any germs that affect the respiratory tract, otherwise I can be guaranteed to get a chest infection that lays me low for weeks. Not prepared to risk that so if anybody gets offended, tough.
Fortunately my family all know, and my grandchildren are adults and not prone to getting lots of colds.

I always hug & kiss (on cheek) DGS1 & kiss DGS2 on forehead, he is only 2 weeks old.

I am often guilty of coughing/sneezing in shops/supermarkets, no I haven't got a cold but I do have hay fever. I am also allergic to many perfumes & air freshners. Don't assume some-one coughing/sneezing has a cold & yes I do use a tissue.

Worst cold I had during the winter was caught from next door neighbour & no I don't hug & kiss her

I kiss my beautiful 22 month old granddaughter no matter what condition she's in! I'd kiss her and cuddle her even if she was covered in spots and as infectious as anything! She always kisses on the lips! I simply can't get enough of her! I disagree with your daughter saying you don't love the grandchildren though. We are all different.

I used to think catching germs from my grandchildren was inevitable, although hoped I would be immune to a lot of them by now. However, this winter has changed my mind. My grandson seemed to have a new cold every other week from nursery and we both caught them all. Unfortunately we ended up with bad sinus infections after the colds and my husband went on to have a chest infection. We have never been completely well since February and I honestly don't know if we can go on doing regular childcare next winter. I expect I will say nothing and hope for the best!

If that comment really is just about kissing preferences then I is a daft comment!! Is it abot deeper issues though?

It's difficult - I have recently developed adult onset asthma after pneumonia. I saw a respiratory consultant, who was marvellous, who said to avoid catching coughs and colds. Very difficult with nursery age grandchildren around! But I did pass on the consultants advice that young children, their parents, families and nursery staff often don't wash their hands often enough. We are now ALL hand washing more often and certainly there seem to be fewer family bugs around.

If one of the darling girls or family have a cold, I do a kiss on top of her head and a big hug. Have explained why, and this seems ok with everyone. Like lots of others, we don't do mouth kissing on lips to children anyway ... they do love the sophisticated air kissing! ?

Doctors believe that one of the reasons for the rise in allergies in children is that they are growing up in homes that are over-hygienic and that they need more daily contact with the bacteria and viruses that surround us.

Obviously those who have low immunity and good medical reasons for avoiding infection need to be careful but that apart I see no reason to take especial care to avoid infection whether dealing with adults or children.

I would be in real trouble if sneezing made me a pariah. For the last five years I have sneezed at least 10 times every day, sometimes much more. I seem to have allergic rhinitis or some form of hay fever. Obviously I turn away from people when I sneeze or sneeze into a handkerchief if I get enough warning, but iam unlikely to spreading any infection as I do not have one.

I am lying in bed having caught a vicious cold from my beloved grandson. He generously spread it to both his parents and his brother as well as me! I nursed him, as parents were away, but this time I succumbed! Feel grim and hope as an asthmatic it stays in my head. Tedious, but hopefully not life threatening!

There's always the option of the old fashioned..... blowing a kiss

Sorry if I sounded harsh, my boss has a weakened immune system, so I'm very careful if I have any sort of cold type virus to sanitize the office phone, and keep a decent distance (we don't go in for physical contact, I hasten to add )

However I do think that some people do get a bit OTT about "germs". A friend gets all of a doo daa if a dog comes within a couple of feet of her (she's not afraid of dogs, just germs) but has no problem with handling money!

Can't avoid germs from my 18mnth old grandson, his MO for kissing you when in your arms is to open his mouth and sort of fall onto your face where he clamps on like a limpet- I sincerely hope his technique improves before he gets a girlfriend!

Your daughter is being unreasonable.

Nanna58

I am super-careful about cold sores - unlike my dear mum who passed on her herpes bug to me.
I've always warned my own 3 dc's and 4 gc's to stay clear. To point out not to use the one 'odd' towel in the bathroom. Never to experiment with gran's lipsticks/ glosses.

It seems to have worked as not one of the 7 has ever had a cold sore.

Coughs and sneezes are pretty well unavoidable with wee ones.

But as I've said on another thread my DH has always had cold sores (at least as long as Ive known him - over 50 years) and despite kissing him many times I have never caught one - at least not yet! None of our children or GC have either.