Going Outside with Colds

[mamamanda]

So I've heard it both ways, that going outside with a cold can make it worse and that going outside in the fresh air actually helps to kill the germs.
It's been staying in the 20s and 30s here and today it is actually supposed to be up to 50F! I really want to go outside, but I have an infant and toddler on antibiotics recovering from sinus infections, one with ear infection the other with respiratory infection. The rest of us have all had colds. Everyone is on the mend, but there is a lot of coughing/runny noses still. Is it wise to go out and breathe some fresh air or should I hold out until next week?

[Play Care]

I would absolutely get outside.
Even if it's for a few minutes, I do think fresh air helps.

[MissAnn]

Fresh air is wonderful especially for sinuses. Get that stuff flowing! I think it's an old fashioned way of thinking....that cold causes colds. Winter is bad for germs because we are inside with the heat on......germ loves that! I go by how the kids feel.....if several tell me they are freezing...we go in. You can always go out and run around, get fresh air and then go in.

[Rockgirl]

We follow our routine, regardless. If they are well enough to be at daycare, they are well enough to join in our activities. Also, I don't think going outside makes a cold worse.

[Blackcat31]

Think about the air inside. (recycled, used, full of germs, viruses etc...... ick!)

Think about the air outside (fresh, clean, unused)
Sunshine, vitamin D....

ALL beneficial. Especially those who are sick.

[Miss A]

Definitely get outside! I had an awful cold last week, and after spending time outside in the afternoon with my kiddos, I felt so much better! Fresh air does a body good, and bei g outside may help your kiddos take their mind off of how miserable they feel.

[Leigh]

Being outside is not going to make them sicker. If they're well enough for daycare, they're well enough for outside time.

[MissAnn]

Parents are hard sometimes. I have one who doesn't want her kid outside if it's cold. If she sees in pictures that we went outside she will text and ask where his hat is. I will have to tell her that the grandma forgot to bring it. I let her know that as long as it's 32° we are going outside. Then I had another mom who would get mad because she wanted her son to decide if he wanted to wear a coat or not. The tip of the iceberg was when he told on me because I made him wear a coat. I told the mom that it was barely 32° outside and he was wearing a tank top. Yes he is going to wear a coat. They took their son out of my daycare after that! How silly.

[MunchkinWrangler]

Absolutely, even if it's short. Fresh air is healthy, I've had my doctors say to get outside while sick, it helps you feel better.

[Thriftylady]

I get lots of sinus infections, and getting outside almost always helps me, until I come back in at least. Now if it was really cold and a chest thing like bronchitis, I might say different just because it is already harder to breathe when it is cold.

[childcaremom]

We follow our routine, regardless. If they are well enough to be at daycare, they are well enough to join in our activities. Also, I don't think going outside makes a cold worse.

[finsup]

I just had to discuss this with a dcm yesterday. Sent dcb pretty close to needing to be home. Typical whiny, clingy, runny nose, watery eyes, coughing type of cold. We still went out. I explained if dcb is well enough to be at daycare, dcb is well enough to go outside. Suggested that tomorrow he stay home if he needs to rest indoors. Rest does not happen here except at nap time . Dcb is home today as a result

As for my own kids, it depends. I don't think it makes them worse but they are far more active outside. It's sometimes better to do a quiet indoor activity with them instead. But it depends on how bad the sickness is

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

If they are not well enough to go outside, they are not well enough to be here.

[mamamanda]

Thanks everyone! We went out for about 40 minutes and everyone loved it. It was very needed!

[momofboys]

I'm glad you got outside. I am definitely in the camp of those who think a little outdoors time is a cure for anything. Hope it helped you all. I did find this article interesting about a study alleging that cold weather can make you sick :

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-colds-idUSKBN0KE1OK20150105