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Constantly sick in the first year of daycare

  • Writer: Johanna
    Johanna
  • Sep 29, 2025
  • 7 min read

Your child has barely completed their first few weeks at daycare when their nose starts running incessantly, a fever sets in at night, and just when things are beginning to improve, another infection is looming. For many families, the first year of daycare can be a real ordeal: sleepless nights, concerns about their child's health, and the pressure of having to function at work.


The short answer: Yes, it's normal. The first year in daycare, with a childminder or kindergarten, is a "school of immune development" for children. In this article, we'll delve deeper into this and provide you with practical tips for everyday life.



Daycare sick
© Mylittlesprout

The immune system in training


  • A newborn's immune system is not yet fully developed at birth.

  • During pregnancy, the child receives antibodies from the mother via the placenta, which protect it during the first months of life. After birth, these "gifted" antibodies are gradually broken down.

  • At the same time, the child's immune system begins to produce its own defense cells and respond to pathogens. Innate protective mechanisms are already present, but the specific immune system must first be "trained" through contact with germs.

  • Every infection is therefore a valuable exercise for the body’s defenses.


How many infections are normal?

In early childhood, around 8 to 12 infections per year are considered normal , primarily respiratory infections. Research has long shown that entering daycare significantly increases the number of infections. This is stressful, but in most cases harmless.


Daycare effect: Children who attend daycare have significantly more infections. Studies show that in the first year of daycare, an average of 7.2 infections occur, compared to only 2.7–4.0 for children without daycare. Important: This doesn't mean your child is "weak," but rather that they're currently learning intensively.


  • These learning processes require encounters with viruses and bacteria. Without infections, there would be no strong immune system. This is precisely why the many minor infections during kindergarten are something of a mandatory exercise for the immune system.

  • Good news: From the second or third year of daycare, the immune system stabilizes, infections become less frequent and milder.



Common illnesses in the first year after starting daycare


  1. Upper respiratory colds/bronchitis/ cough

    Runny nose, cough, hoarseness, sometimes fever – mostly harmless, but annoying.


  2. Fever and 3-day fever


  3. Gastrointestinal infections (gastroenteritis)/ abdominal pain

    Diarrhea and vomiting can be dangerous if children don't drink enough. Pay particular attention to young children: wet diapers are an important indicator.


  4. Middle ear infection (otitis media)

    A common consequence of colds, it can be very painful. Recurrent episodes are typical in children of preschool age. Children under 2 are treated with antibiotics.


  5. Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)

    Fever, mouth blisters, and a rash on the hands and feet. Highly contagious, but self-limiting.


  6. Childhood diseases: Depending on vaccination status, chickenpox, measles, or scarlet fever occur – much less frequently today due to vaccinations.


  7. Conjunctivitis


Immunodeficiency?


  • “My child is constantly sick – is this an immune deficiency?”

    No. An immune deficiency is only considered if infections are unusually severe, persist for a long time, or are caused by rare pathogens. For most children, this is training.

  • “Am I to blame?”

    No. Infections aren't due to "mistakes" in your care. Even the healthiest diet and most loving care won't protect against the flood of viruses in daycare.

  • “I can’t take it anymore – what should I do?”

    • You need support, and that's perfectly fine. Many parents know this feeling. It doesn't mean you're doing something wrong, but rather that the pressure is really great right now.

    • Talk to people you trust. Simply sharing your worries can be a relief.

    • Also consider what small help you can provide in everyday life, perhaps with picking up your child, shopping, or cooking. And don't forget: professional support is available, for example, from family counseling centers, pediatricians, or psychological counseling services.

    • Especially important: Lower your expectations for perfection. Your child doesn't need a perfect mom or dad, but you, just as you are, with your care, love, and authenticity. Seeking help isn't a sign of weakness, but of strength.



Prevention: What is proven to help


Disease can't be completely prevented, but you can improve the underlying conditions. Research identifies the following effective strategies:


  • Hand hygiene: Regular handwashing remains a basic requirement. Studies show that regular handwashing with soap and water can reduce sickness absence among schoolchildren.


  • A healthy environment in daycare and at home : Adequate handwashing facilities, cough etiquette, and clean daily routines. This requires cooperation between the daycare team and parents. Clear exclusion criteria: Children with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea should stay home until at least 24-48 hours after symptoms have cleared.


  • Clean air protects health: Around 95 percent of infections are caused by respiratory viruses and are primarily transmitted through the air. Effective measures include regular ventilation, appropriate humidity and temperature, lower occupancy in rooms, and plenty of time outdoors.

  • Vaccinations: Protection against serious diseases (e.g., pneumococcus, measles, whooping cough). Follow STIKO recommendations.


  • Nutrition: If possible, breastfeed during the first year; this reduces the risk of respiratory infections and hospitalizations. Later on: a balanced diet is not a miracle cure, but it provides the foundation for a strong immune system.

    >>> Cough in children: Honey or cough syrup – what really helps?



What you can do at home when your child is sick


  • Liquids first : Offer small amounts frequently. Check for wet diapers in toddlers.

  • Eat well : light food, don’t force anything.

  • Pain and fever relief : After consultation with a doctor, dosage according to weight.

  • Sleep and closeness : cuddling, carrying, reading aloud. Closeness regulates stress for both of you.

  • Realistic expectations: Simplify your household, halve your to-do list. This phase requires care, not perfection.



When should you see a doctor or go straight to the emergency room?


  • Consult a pediatrician if fever lasts longer than 3 days, significant deterioration, earache, severe cough with shortness of breath, signs of dehydration, skin rash with poor general condition, HMFD with pronounced pain or lack of fluids


  • Immediate help : Blue lips, shortness of breath, unusual sleepiness, cramps, stiff neck, refusal to drink for several hours, very few or no wet diapers in babies


  • Before the age of 1, fever is always a reason for medical examination on the same day



Work and sick leave: how to navigate this time


The medical aspect is one thing, the organizational burden is another. Many parents experience pressure when they're absent from work again. This is emotionally demanding. Clear agreements and a plan B, if possible, help here:


  • Communicate openly: Proactively talk to your supervisors about the temporary increase in workload during the first year of daycare. Transparency fosters understanding.


  • Backup in the family network: grandparents, friends, babysitters. A list of two or three contact persons creates breathing room.


  • Get help: Family counseling (many free options)


  • Structure/adapt work, if possible: prioritize tasks, standardize handovers, are there flexible or mobile working hours?


  • Parent tandem: Plan shifts with the other parent, for example, me in the morning, you in the afternoon.


  • Practice self-compassion: Feelings of guilt are common, but unhelpful. You are acting responsibly when you care for your sick child.


  • Child sick days and child sickness benefits: Contact your health insurance provider and your employer to find out about entitlement and procedures.



Child sickness certificate and “health certificate” – what you should know


  • If your child is sick, you often need a child's sickness certificate for your employer. You can get this from your pediatrician so you can stay home and claim child sickness benefits.


  • Many daycare centers require a certificate of health after an illness, i.e. a certificate that your child is healthy again.

    • Important to note: Such a certificate of health does not generally exist. Daycare centers are also not permitted to routinely request a medical certificate.

    • Doctors are not obligated to do this, and the time spent in their practices is needed to care for sick children.

    • As a parent, you decide whether your child is ready to go back to daycare.

    • The Infection Protection Act only applies to specific infectious diseases.



For your heart: You're doing well


The first year of daycare can be quite stressful. You may feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or even alone at times. Please remember: infections are not a sign of weakness, neither in your child nor in you. They are a natural part of development. Every infection strengthens your child's immune system, expands their immune memory, and gradually makes them more resilient.


In the second and third year of kindergarten, the periods of illness usually become less frequent, and by the time they reach school age, most children have a stable immune system that can cope well with common viruses.


It's perfectly fine to be tired. It's fine to accept help. And it's fine if housework and work aren't running as smoothly as usual during this time.


Please remember: You are doing really well, every single day.






Status: 09/2025

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