Do you let your kids pay outside when they have colds?

[Tranquility7]

DS(5) has a cold, as do I. DD(2) is fine so far but will probably get our cold eventually since that is how it goes around here.

 

The sun is shining and it is in the mid 60's outside. Would you let your kids play outside if they are sick with colds? I hate their having to be cooped up and think the fresh air would be nice, but I also don't want DS (or myself) getting sicker.

[FriedClams]

Absolutely - just not with other kids. I'm a big fan of fresh air.

[Whereneverever]

Yes, I do.

[2_girls_mommy]

Yes, I do, if they aren't uncomfortable and it isn't a bad one where they feel terrible. I will also probably make them wear warmer clothes or hats, because wind blowing in an ear that has been bothering you doesn't feel good. I play it by ear though. Usually a cold lingers, but they feel better towards the end of it. That is when I would let them out. If it is the first day or so when they feel tired and sluggish, then no I would have them rest instead.

[CAMom]

I would let them out! For the fresh air and the vitamin D from the sun.:)

[Parrothead]

Yes. The fresh air ans sunshine will do the lot of you good.

[lllll]

..

[Mrs Mungo]

It depends. My son has lung issues and a pulmonary appointment later this week. If he had a cold right now, then I probably wouldn't want him playing outside until after his appointment. I would be trying to get him well before then.

[Melinda in VT]

I voted Yes, as long as they are dressed properly, but around here, for three of my four kids, 60s are when they switch to shorts. :D I would have voted Yes, with no mention of clothing, if that had been an option.

[chepyl]

Yes! The fresh air and sun will do them good. Vitamin D is good for the immune system and the best way to get it is time in the sun.

[dirty ethel rackham]

I voted yes, as long as they are dressed for the weather and they feel up to it. Fresh air does a body good.

[myfunnybunch]

As long as they aren't playing with other children (which could pass the cold on), and the children feel well enough to go out, I'd encourage them to play outside.

 

I am a firm believer in fresh air and exercise as helps to a healing body. :)

 

Cat

[silliness7]

It depends. My son has lung issues and a pulmonary appointment later this week. If he had a cold right now, then I probably wouldn't want him playing outside until after his appointment. I would be trying to get him well before then.

 

Once when I took a sick baby to the doctor he said that the cold air was exacerbating the illness. I don't even know if the doctor had labeled it bronchitis. We did have some breathing treatments as part of the healing process, and maybe abx. I can't remember exactly. I do remember his comment about the cold air because we were accustomed to walking daily and I had to cut that out for about a week or so during this illness. Also I remember the doc debating whether to bring him back in 2 days for a recheck but didn't want him to have to go outside. I can't remember what he decided.

 

But that was more than just a common cold. For a common cold, if they have the desire and energy, yes, go play outside.

[melissad2]

Sure, as long as they feel up to it!

[Tammyla]

I'm just trying to remember what 60' weather feels like.:001_huh:

 

We have days here when we're lucky to hit positive temperatures; I might keep a little one in then.

Edited January 30, 2012 by Tammyla

[QuirkyKapers]

Yes- as long as they dress for the weather.

[freesia]

The fresh air is great for a cold. The adrenaline from running will help decongest naturally.

[Tranquility7]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I kind of knew it was a good thing but for some reason I was worried it might not. We played in the backyard for a couple of hours and now they are both down for naps/quiet time. I think the fresh air and sunshine was definitely good for all of us!

[regentrude]

Sure. Nothing is better than fresh air.

I would not let a child with a fever play outside.

[Mommyfaithe]

As long as they have no fever, and want to go out, out they go.

Faithe

[ElizaG]

(vs dh's grandparents who thought moderately cold weather could actually make a person sick - in the South, no less :blink: )

For people who believe this, the danger has more to do with the change in temperature from what you're accustomed to, than with it being extremely cold in absolute terms. This is also why drafts are thought to be bad: part of your body is getting (relatively) chilled, while the other parts are warm. So, while it may or may not be valid, there is some internal logic at least. And I tend to believe it, because we have some times in our California "winters" when it's ~75 during the daytime and ~32 at night, and we ONLY seem to get sick then.

 

(I seem to remember reading that in Korea, many people believe that having an electric fan in the room can kill you. I do draw the line at that. :001_huh:)

[KrissiK]

As long as they feel like it, sure. Keeping them down is a problem if they aren't really that sick. We all have runny noses around here, but I let them go out. Barefooted, in fact. But my kids are barefooted year round and they rarely get sick.

[Mommy22alyns]

Absolutely! It would probably be better for them to be out in fresh air instead of in the house with germs still around, KWIM? ;)

[Pretty in Pink]

Absolutely - just not with other kids. I'm a big fan of fresh air.

 

This.

[justamouse]

Absolutely - just not with other kids. I'm a big fan of fresh air.

:iagree:

[gardenmom5]

yes. If they are too sick to play outside, they don't want to play outside.

[Mommyof4ks]

I am part of other. :D

 

This time of year, no I would not, because cedar is high, and dealing with allergies on top of a cold is asking for my asthmatic to have an attack and my other kids to end up with some sort of infection. Most of year, yes, they play outside when sick, and even if they feel awful I try to sit them out in the sun for a bit each day. It seems to help them feel better quicker.

[Jen in PA]

I would send mine outside unless there was a fever not responding to ibuprofen or any gastro symptoms.

[herkey6]

I go by how they feel. If they feel up to getting out, then by all means! The fresh air and sun do wonders!

[freeindeed]

I allow my dc to play outside with colds, as long as they don't have fever.

[foxbridgeacademy]

Yes I would, We're from the North and live in the South, anything over freezing and you are good to go. Absolutly loving these sunny days.... It's January and I got a sunburn today!

[kitchen table academy]

My rule of thumb is this:

 

Do they have a fever? Yes or No.

If No, send them out.

If Yes, is it the triple digits? Yes or No.

If Yes, stay inside. If No, buh-bye. Zip your coat, wear a hat and gloves and REAL shoes (NOT crocs, slip on vans, dress shoes, slippers or bare feet, for the love of cheese...)

[Joyofsixreboot]

I want them to take their germs outside.:001_smile:

[nono]

Yes. I live in a place where sick people used to be sent to recouperate. To breathe the fresh salt air and all that...

[LisaKinVA]

I said yes, without hesitations.... because I'm assuming my kids would still be bouncing off of walls, just with a runny nose and cough. Something bad enough to keep them in, would usually be bad enough that they wanted to stay in bed and sleep...

[JessReplanted]

Yes - as long as it's just a cold and the weather is decent (60* would be a treat for us!).

[mytwomonkeys]

yep. if they feel well enough to play, i'd bundle them up and tell them to have fun!

[ktgrok]

no, but only because the rule here is that if you are too sick to do school work you are too sick to play outside. Otherwise he would constantly be "sick".

[MissKNG]

Yes...btdt :D

[In the Rain]

Absolutely.

[simka2]

Yup! If they are in actively sick phase...rising fever, then I make them rest until we get things stabilized. Other than that, they are free to play!

[jjins]

Yes to being outside, but no to over exerting themselves. I believe that fresh air, (nearly) regardless of temperature is healthier than cooped nasty virus air.

 

However, I believe that we need energy to heal and if we over do it then it is harder to heal.

 

More importantly, I believe that as parents we gather information and then do what WE feel is right, not what it seems everyone else feels is correct.

 

:grouphug:

[samba]

Absolutely - just not with other kids. I'm a big fan of fresh air.

 

This is our thinking also...

[mommy5]

I would -- sunlight and fresh air would do some good! I only wouldn't if they were so sick -- with pneumonia or bronchitis and needed to be resting. If it was something more mild, I would.

[Daisy]

All depends on air quality here, but that is true even when my kids are not sick. However, if they have been sick (usually respiratory), I won't let them out on even a moderately poor air quality day.