Any ideas on cause of 3 yr olds coughs/colds??

[Schlomo78]

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone can think of any reason my son keeps getting ill. I know kids, especially 3 year olds, do quite often get coughs and colds but I'm at my wits end because he always comes back from a weekend at his Dad's with one or the other - or both. Just as he gets rid of it, it's time to go back to Dad's - and lo and behold, another cough or runny nose! He doesn't have any allergies we know of, and his Dad is adamant his house is warm and clean(ish), that he doesn't let him run around without his coat on or anything like that. Sometimes there will be 2 weeks between his weekends and his cough/cold clears up quickly, but the minute he goes to his Dad's he develops one again. His Dad does have a long haired dog, but we never had any problems when we all lived together and my partner has a dog, so I don't see how it can be that. I just wondered if there's something obvious I'm missing?! Any ideas would be appreciated.
Many thanks in advance :)

[ummmm]

Being cold doesn't give you a cold.

[Robinia]

"He doesn't have any allergies we know of"...but there could be allergies that you don't know of that are being triggered by something at his dad's house? What kind of a pillow does he have there? He could try taking his own to see if that's causing problems. Or maybe it's just a coincidence that he's had a lot of colds recently, there've certainly been a lot about this winter.

[Schlomo78]

His Dad does smoke, but he swears he does it outside when he has him. I have no doubt he smokes in the house during the week though, but how much and how much of an effect this would have I have no idea! Something is definitely causing it though, I just don't know what to do, this can't carry on as he has a permanent cough and cold with only a couple days of recovering a week! :(

[Schlomo78]

Robinia - I didn't think about the pillow but I did have a moment of wondering if the mattress might be a cause. I've yet to speak to his Dad about it this week, so thought i'd try and come up with some ideas before I do. I'll mention the pillow though, it might be something to do with it. Cheers ;)
Vibrasphere - really? Has your sister had any thoughts on what it might be?

[moonshadow]

Pet allergy can cause the problems you mention and asthma, eczema and rhinitis. It's the dander and saliver on the pets coat that causes the problem. The allergens increase as the pet matures. There is a product your ex could try called Petalcleanse that you treat the dog with and it reduces the symptoms. On saying that many moons ago when my daughter visited the in-laws she had the same problem as your little one and yes it was the fags, as when we moved away the symptoms disappeared. To this day she can't tolerate cigarette smoke.

[katerich48]

My daughter has three boys and they go through periods like this...My daughter was exactly the same in fact I took her to the doctors saying she is constantly getting colds as one finishes she has a few days respite..He said childrens immune systems are not fully developed until they are 7/8 years old.and some have a better chance of fighting things off than others....she once had 10 days off with chicken pox went back to school on monday came home friday with the mumps!! my grandsons do seem to be growing out of it now..Her middle son had a constant horrible thick runny nose and was tested for everything - nothing showed he is now 8 and it seems to have gone away..So personally I think its just one of those things with some kids...

[Nosha123]

Or maybe his Dad isnt as strict when it comes to washing of hands before eating etc....
Colds cannot be caught by being in cold weather...
But picked up by poorer hygiene.. maybe he is being exposed to more germs there and as he's just 3 - not washing his hands - he's picking them up and getting ill!
mind you - I didnt think the cold virus lasted very long on hard surfaces!!!
Maybe there is something there is is reacting to! Mould spores.. dampness.. feather allergy?? You could try sending him off with his own bedding???

[karenmac60]

Do you both have all carpetted homes? My daughter used to be constantly snuffley and always had a bit of a cough till we moved house when she was 4 and I got laminate flooring put in. Almost overnight the stuffy nose and cough cleared and I can only assume it was the carpet in the old house that was causing it.

[Schlomo78]

Hi all, can I just say thanks to you all for your answers and ideas. His Dad has wooden floors at his house, but there is probably an amount of dog dander about, and I've just remembered his partner has 2 dogs as well, which presumably she takes to his house for the weekend, so that's a possible...so many options, he's normally a very healthy kid, and when he's just at mine he practically never has a cold or cough, it just doesn't add up. I've spoken to his Dad and asked him to clean the fireplace - which he has a tendency to leave overflowing with ash :/ - and I've also said he'll take his own pillow and bedding and we'll see if that makes a difference. He then said that we won't know which thing it was if he doesn't come back with the cough/cold again, but I explained that I just want it to stop, whatever it takes! No doubt by Friday night his cough and runny nose will have gone and be back in full swing by Monday morning. I'll double check that he is watching him wash his hands and not just taking his word for it as well! The ex also said he is sleeping in the room where the airing cupboard is (which has a tendency to get very warm) so presumably the room isn't damp. Ex won't let me in the house as he picks him up and he wouldn't let me back in to get my stuff when we split up - Mr Private - otherwise I'd go in and have a look about (and probably see 5 or 6 things it might be!) Oh well....let's see what the weekend brings...:/

[Nosha123]

Keep us updated Schlomo and Good Luck!
BTW - I wouldnt imagine 3 yr olds are very good at washing their own hands properly so Dad should supervise to make sure its being done correctly! As with teeth brushing etc too!
Hopefully it will sort itself out!

[Schlomo78]

Thanks Nosha :) He's off tonight, with his own pillow. His cough has nearly completely gone and his cold is barely there too, so I'm hoping that he won't come back with yet another one! Won't hold my breath though...:/ I'll keep everyone updated, looks like it might end up being a process of elimination...meh!
:)

[Schlomo78]

Well, it's Wedsnesday, no sign of a cough or cold after he's been to Dad's for the first time in weeks!! Huzzah!! He took his own pillow and also his Dad cleaned the firegrate out thoroughly and aired the living room out as well. Presumably it's something to do with one or the other, i'm just pleased that I don't have a sickly child this week!
Just want to say thanks to all of you for your advice and support! Thank God for AB!!
Cheers peeps :) xx

[Robinia]

Great news Schlomo! hope your little boy's visits are good from now on. :o)

[Schlomo78]

I spoke too soon!! He's had 2 weeks off from his Dad's and was fine, just been for the weekend and he's come back the worst yet. Constant coughing (both been up all night Sun night and last night :( ) and a seriously runny nose. I'm REALLY annoyed! Back to the G.P as soon as I can get an appt, and beginning to get annoyed with my ex as he doesn't seem really bothered, whilst I lay there all night scouring my brain for possible reasons and he can't be bothered to try and think of anything it might be. Grrr...
I'm going to have to speak to him and insist that if he wants to continue having him then he'll have to go over to his Mother's or girlfriends and stay there with him, as something in that house is making him ill and it's been going on far too long. If he doesn't agree, then it'll be very sad, but I can't keep letting him get ill and maybe Dad will take it seriously then. :( Stress!!

[mollykins]

i'd say it was an allergy, the bedding, dad smoking or a combination of all three.

[Schlomo78]

I've got a sneaky suspicion you might be right Mollykins. Dad is adamant he doesn't smoke in the house when little one is there, but knowing him like I do, I know he's a lazy booger and if it's cold he might just shut himself in the kitchen with the extractor fan on and think that's enough...also, if he's smoking in the house all week long without opening windows I guess that might be enough to start a cough up.
The bedding is probably not as clean as it might be, he took his own pillow before but it's been left there, so presumably might be contaminated. I mentioned the bedding before but got a stroppy reply from his Dad along the lines of his house isn't dirty etc etc. He's going to have to do something, though, it can't carry on.

[mollykins]

when i was little and my dad smoked in the house, i'd have nearly 10 weeks off school a year, last year i had about 10 days.