Children haven't yet had the opportunity to build up years of resistance to many cold viruses, and quite simply don't have the same strength as adults to resist germs. Therefore they are easily infected with cold germs.
Kindergatan children are particularly susceptible. Starting day care, children are exposed to a whole variety of germs they have never come into contact with before.
Toys get passed from one toddler to another, and often one mouth to another, therefore spreading the risk. I often check in with teachers to ask about their hand-washing policy, ensuring they see that children wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before eating, or coming in from outdoor play.
It's also worth checking how often toys are getting washed and disinfected.
Most children, by two years old, have a fully developed immune system, that will help them fight these viruses effectively, but there are children who get sick more easily than others - for example children of smokers often suffer more from sore throats, ear inflammations, pneumonia and coughing.
If you child does catch a cold, keep an eye on their behaviour. If they are suffering from a runny nose but are eating and sleeping normally and are active during the day, life continues pretty much as normal even if the runny nose is a nuisance to both you and them.
But if fever sets in and hangs on, and the cold is prolonged, you'll need a visit to the doctor for advise. If the child has had a fever, then the worst thing I have found is to rush them back into daycare even if they seem fine and the worst of the cold is over. I always make sure that my child is at home for a couple of days fever free, and eating normally again. Rushing back too soon into a normal daily routine seems to result in the child becoming sick again far to soon.
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As seen in Oprah’s Magazine!