Surviving the Daycare Cold and Flu Season

There’s a moment every new working mom eventually meets: you’ve just settled into a rhythm with daycare drop-offs, your kid is finally adjusting, and then it happens… the first daycare cold.

Then another.
And another.

It’s like a rite of passage no one warns you about: the endless rotation of runny noses, fevers, coughs, pink eye, mystery rashes, and those dreaded “we need you to pick up your child early” calls that always come mid-meeting.

You’ll question everything: your immune system, your childcare decisions, your ability to function on two hours of sleep. But here’s the truth: it’s survivable. Messy, exhausting, but survivable. And if you prepare a little, you can even make it manageable.

1. Build a “Care Kit” Before You Need It

Think of this as your mom survival kit for cold-and-flu season. You don’t want to be running to CVS at 11 p.m. with a feverish toddler on your hip.

Here’s what’s in mine:

• Infant or children’s acetaminophen + ibuprofen (with dosage chart taped to the box)
• Saline spray and a nasal aspirator
• Chest rub (the baby-safe kind)
• Thermometer (preferably one that doesn’t require cooperation)
• Humidifier
• Disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer
• Extra tissues (and a few for the car, too)
• Coconut water or electrolyte packs for hydration
• Snacks you can open one-handed

Keep it all in one bin in a predictable spot. When the next bug hits, you’ll thank yourself.

2. Mentally Prepare for the Early Pickup Call

It always comes when you least expect it. You’ll be deep in a project or on a call, and your phone will light up: Daycare!

Cue the adrenaline.

If you can, build flexibility into your workday where possible. Maybe an early start, a backup meeting host, a trusted neighbor, or a co-parent game plan. Keep a “go bag” in your car with:

• A blanket
• Pajamas or comfy clothes
• Extra diapers or pull-ups
• A snack and water
• A backup stuffed animal or (in our case) blanky

You won’t always be able to rearrange everything perfectly. But having a plan makes the pivot less chaotic! 

3. The All-Nighter Strategy

When your toddler spikes a fever at 2 a.m., it’s not the time to reinvent your life philosophy. Have a loose plan for how you’ll handle those nights:

• Hydrate and caffeinate (strategically). Have water and coffee ready for morning… you’ll need both.
• Create a sleep station. Keep medicine, tissues, and comfort items within arm’s reach so you’re not stumbling around in the dark.
• Tag-team if possible. If you have a partner, even 2-hour sleep shifts between parents can help you both survive the night.
• Lower your standards. Laundry, dishes, inboxes… they’ll all still be there tomorrow. Your only job tonight is comfort and survival.

4. How to Function the Next Day

The morning after an all-nighter feels like an Olympic event. You’ll need strategy, caffeine, and grace:

• Keep expectations low. Today is not the day for deep work or perfection. Triage what’s urgent and let the rest wait.
• Use screen time wisely. If your child is still home but low-energy, this is the moment for Blippi, Clifford, or A Turtle’s Tale.
• Fuel yourself. Protein and hydration over sugar and caffeine alone (you’ll crash less dramatically).
• Take ten minutes for sunlight. A quick walk, even on your driveway, does wonders for your mood and your body clock.
• Forgive yourself for snapping or spacing out. You’re not failing. You’re tired.

5. Stay Proactive: Prevention and Recovery

You can’t dodge every virus (sorry), but you can strengthen your defenses.

For your child:

• Prioritize sleep and hydration.
• Add a daily probiotic (ask your pediatrician).
• Encourage handwashing, even if it’s mostly splashing for now.
• Swap pacifiers and toothbrushes regularly.

For you:

• Take your vitamins!
• Keep your own water bottle within reach.
• Move your body daily, even five minutes counts.
• Wash hands constantly.
• (TRY) to rest when they rest, even if that means napping at 8 p.m.
  
  

6. The Mindset Shift

Here’s what helped me most: realizing that this is a season (literally, cold-and-flu season).

Daycare colds build little immune systems, and test big ones. You’re not doing something wrong; you’re doing something real. The chaos, the all-nighters, the endless disinfecting… it’s all part of this early stretch of motherhood that’s wild, humbling, and temporary.

So, stock the medicine bin. Keep your coffee strong. Let the house be messy. And when you finally get through one of these weeks (your toddler’s energy back, your home quiet again) take a breath and remind yourself:

You did it.

You made it through.

And… you’ll do it all over again.

‍