My 9 MO daughter and I were suppossed to go to her cousin's birthday party tomorrow. Then I was told that he has pink eye. My sister said "I totally understand if you don't want to come." But it turns out we were the only ones who opted not to attend. No one has said anything negative to me for not going but I can't help but feel guilty. Am I being a paranoid germaphobe?
UPDATE: The child with pink eye has been on anitbiotics for less than 24 hours.
If they know it is Pink Eye, then he is probably on antibiotics and if that is the case then he is no longer contagious after 24 hours. You should go.
No you are not being paranoid. Pink eye is highly contagious and your baby is at an age that they but everything in there mouth and are touching everything all the time. I am not a germaphobe but you may have prevented many others from getting pink eye. They should have postponed the party.
No, you are not paranoid. You made the right decision. Your cousin should have cancelled the entire party. Pink eye is contagious. Once a child is in school he/she will be sent home until it is treated.
As you say you are learning with your first child. But this time your instincts served you right. So continue to follow your own natural common sense. It will never steer you wrong! You're a good mom!
Hi Kerry, As a parent your job is to protect your child so no you were not wrong to have missed her party. My sister had my nieced party a few years ago when both of my nieces had lice. I refused to take my daughter and she was so mad at me but she got over it.
I think you did the right thing by staying away from pink eye. It's very contagious, uncomfortable and can be difficult to get rid of once it starts running through a family.
It always amazes me that people will continue on with their social life while kids are sick, it happens all the time. I've always chosen to cancel in favor of my family's health and I'm sure it's been the right choice!
If you do get pink eye the best cure (if you're nursing) is breast milk in the eye. Other remedies are compresses of chamomile and eye bright, you can buy tea bags and use those.
No your not being paronoid PINK EYE is highly contagious and the party should be post poned until he is over the pink eye rather then subject everyone to the possibility of getting it
It is so hard to make decisions like this. I am having the same issue with a party that we were invited to. I know that if my son was sick, I would try to cancel his party, but I also know that there are fees involved with renting a space and bounce house and that type of stuff, so it is really difficult on both sides.
I am opting not to go to the party we were invited to today because the mom said that the child has a "bad cold" and I am pregnant, so this time I am not going, but it has to be decided on a case by case basis for me. However, we should never feel bad for making a decsion to protect our children.
Another thing about Pink Eye, my brother used to get it constantly when we were kids. He probably had it twice a year or more. Meanwhile, my 2 sisters and I never got it. My mom always figured we would get it shortly after he brought it home, but we never did. I think some kids are more suseptible to it, but there's no way to know until they get it. The anitibotics thing is true too, if a kid has been taking antibiotics for 24 hours, then they are not contagious anymore, but I still say it could be a little risky.
Good luck!
To echo what everyone else has said....you did the right thing. And no, you're not being a paranoid germaphobe. Pink eye is soooo contagious! If your 9 month old daughter got it, she would be absolutely miserable as would you. I can't imagine trying to keep a 9 month old from rubbing their eyes! You made the right choice!
You made the right decision.
I work in the optical industry and there are viral pink eye(watery and must run its course) and bacterial pink eye(responds to antibiotics...symptoms are gooey/crusty eyes).
When someone infected comes into an optometry/opthalmology practice ...when they leave we extra thoroughly clean all equipment....even the pen they use.
From the Mayo Clinic about how contagious(since there is mis information from other moms on here and our kids will be exposed alot in the preschool years)
Exposure to an allergen for allergic conjunctivitis is a risk factor, as is exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are common among children and are very contagious. Someone with conjunctivitis may be contagious for seven to 14 days after signs and symptoms first appear.
16 yrs in the industry and I have never gotten it. Until THIS WEEK...UGH! My son and I are both dealing with it and it is not fun. I'm not sure where my son picked it up but we just returned from NYC where I couldn't get him to stop touching everything. No makeup for a week and throwing out my mascaras and eye makeup has also not been fun.
You made the right decision and the schools send your kids home for the right reasons.
You are absolutely NOT being paranoid about pink eye! Yes, we can't protect our children from absolutely every inflammation & irriation out in the world, but when it's a KNOWN case, I personally stay away from it, & most definitely would keep my child far from it as well. I never had pink eye as a child but I've had it 4 times now as an adult, all from being around children who had it. It's a pain to deal with as an adult, I can't imagine the irritation & frustration it would be for a child who isn't speaking yet!
I agree with a previous poster, the family member should have rescheduled the party - period. Hopefully nobody else caught it. When stuff like that comes up with my son, my motto is "when in doubt - DON'T." Rest easy & be thankful you have a happy healthy 9-mth old that you can get close to since she doesn't have pink eye. :)
Stop feeling guilty. Your child's health comes first. Pink eye is very contagious and though you are doing everything you can to make sure he doesn't spread it, kids are very fast when it comes to touching their eye and then touching a toy, swing, plate, fork, etc...then it is spread. So don't feel guilty. Everyone completely understands and there are going to be a lot more events you miss throughout the years because of weird little things like pink eye! I wouldn't have gone either.
Hi Kerry
you aren't being paramoind, in fact perhaps your sister should have cancelled the bday herself (unless the doc said the pink isn't contagious at this point) however, having had several bouts of pink eye as a kid and adult, I truly think it's VERY contagious and easily spread.. I don't think you shoudl have guilt for not attending the party, you did it in the best interest of all.... there will be many more parties to attend...
not only is it Ok that you're not going, it's the better option. I think pink eye is contagious so you're actually making a responsible decision to not infect the other kids who will be at the party.
Pink eye is very contagious. I think you made the right decision. The last thing you want is to have a sick baby.
I would have made the same choice that you are making... Pink eye is VERY VERY contagious. How long has he had it? I am a daycare provider and children with pink eye can return with a doctors note and doctors say you can return to care 24hrs after you've started the antibiotic (eye drops)providing the eye has stopped oozing. I wouldn't worry about what others think, and like you said... no one has said anything negative. There will be more birthday parties. =)
I don't think you should feel guilty one bit! Pink Eye is highly contagious, I'm sure all the other parents are thankful you showed so much restraint in missing out on the parting and saving all of them from having to deal with a bought of pink eye themselves!! I say you totally made the right call!
Hello,
No your not peranoid, pink eye is very contagious. My daughter had it a few weeks ago and she was not allowed to attend school because of this. Don't feel guilty, feel glad that you protected your child from this very uncomfortable eye infections. I'm sure your cousins understood! Have a great day!!
Pink eye is contagious, so I hope they can understand why your not showing up. Dont' feel quilty, it happens.Your not phobic about the situation. Do something fun for your child at home so you don't have to feel quilty.
Honestly, they should have rescheduled the party. Pink eye is extremely contagious and children are not allowed to attend school or day cares with it. Do not feel guilty at all!!