in February 2024 Babies 🇬🇧

Sick Baby Etiquette 🤧: Birthday Parties

Me and my 11mth old hardly ever go out these days, mostly due to the weather. We finally get an invite to another 1yr old birthday party which we were excited about. Unfortunately, the day before, he caught a cold. On the morning of the party, he had a runny nose & sneezed a few times closer to the party’s start time. He had no fever and no high temperature, by the way. Reluctantly, I decided not to take him in the end. Was really looking forward to getting out and about but I just didn’t want to take him for the other little ones to catch colds too. Also, I wouldn’t really like it if someone brought a sick child to my event. I’m interested to know what current attitudes are about this. Was that the right decision or was I being over zealous and over protective?

Show your support

I've found it depends on whether the other family have started nursery or any childcare yet. The ones that haven't protect their children from other babies that even have a slight sniffle at all cost, the ones that have started childcare are a little more blasé about it. Either way, nursery told me the rule of thumb is no fever, no temperature - WITHOUT THE USE OF CALPOL and if they appear good in mood (just a bit snotty) to still send them in. To be fair to working parents, a child can have a snotty nose for weeks. My employer is not going to give me weeks off to look after my baby that is off from nursery over a snotty nose and a bit of a cough. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Yes I usually keep them home if they have a fever or are really cranky and tired with it. If they seem well and just have snotty nose I would usually go xxx sorry you missed out on a chance to socialise, it's so hard when that's what you need to stay sane and it's taken away from u! Hope u managed to have a good weekend all the same xxx

Well, we had a small birthday party with family members a couple of days before her real birthday. MIL had what she claimed to be ‘just a cold’ and passed it onto my daughter during the party. My daughter was hysterical and really poorly during her birthday! She is still fighting it off but luckily gone back to sleeping! We didn’t sleep for days😬 For me, I dont send my daughter to nursery yet as SAHM so we havent started the endless cycle of colds yet. I’d appreciate if people didnt make her really ill and would love if people didnt come round her while they were ill🤣

If he seemed fine otherwise - playing and eating normally, i'd have still taken him - just take plenty of tissues! May also depend where the other babies are from (e.g. if from nursery, they probably all have the same cold already anyway) and what sort of party. At 1 year though, most babies tend to stick with their parents at a party anyway. I also tend to find my lo is more snotty at home than when we go out! Hopefully you'll get some more invites soon.

I wouldn’t keep my baby home with a runny nose and sneezing as long as she’s okay in herself. She’s had these constantly this winter so we wouldn’t leave the house! A fever, lethargy or any other signs of illness id probably keep her away

Thanks guys. 🙏 Next time I’ll ask the Mum whether she would mind, ask more questions about whether the other babies are at nursery and maybe a bit more relaxed about taking him if he has a runny nose and sneezing.