Now that we’ve been living with the reality of the pandemic and under lockdown for close to a year, many parents have already adjusted to life in the new normal. But you might still be unsure of the best decisions to make when it comes to the health of your children.

You might be especially nervous about the younger ones because who knows whether they might come home one day wearing their best friends mask or telling stories of how “Jimmy sanitised my hands with his saliva”?

Firstly, you may be wondering whether your child is actually at risk of contracting Covid-19. Data shared by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that as of 21 January this year, children made up 12.7% of all reported Covid-19 cases in the US with 0.00% – 0.19% of Covid-19 deaths being children.

In SA, there have been few reports so far of children being diagnosed with the virus as compared to adults, and fewer deaths. Although the risk of infection is less in children, it’s still important to keep track of your child’s health and development. Be sure to contact your paediatrician for any concerns and questions. 

SO SHOULD I SEND MY CHILD TO CRECHE?

While there’s no clear cut answer, there are a few factors that can guide you in arriving at the right decision:

YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH.

What is your child’s medical history? Are their vaccinations on track? Are they in general good health? As a start, these are some questions to think about. Making sure your little ones are up to date with their vaccination schedule is essential in ensuring the risk of infection from many diseases is reduced. 

Also remember to keep giving them the necessary vitamins and immune boosters prescribed by your paediatrician or family physician. There’s no need to go crazy and double up on anything either! And as always, if ever you’re unsure, contact your paediatrician. 

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES TAKEN BY YOUR CHILD’S CRECHE.

Feel free to ask your childcare provider about the measures they are putting in place to ensure that creche remains a safe and healthy space for the children.

• Are the staff sanitising regularly, wearing masks and checking temperatures daily?
• How do they clean and disinfect the space? How is the ventilation? 
• How do they handle any confirmed or suspected cases in their staff or any of the children? 
• Do they have good hygiene and hand washing protocol?

When it comes to parenting, you can never ask too many questions. But also remember that it’s your responsibility to teach your precious one good hygiene practices and to avoid sharing their things with other children (we can all imagine the nightmare of seeing our kid share a half sucked sweet with another one!) 

As a family, decide what is best for your kids and what suits your lifestyles, all in the child’s best interests of course.

Just don’t let the pandemic rob you of good memories – your children can still learn and have fun while still remaining safe and protected in our new normal.