Every parent knows the feeling: your child starts crèche, and within days they're sick. Then sick again. It feels relentless – and for many families, it is. In this episode of the Her Health™ Podcast, Dr Julie Morrison, paediatrician, paediatric pulmonologist, and integrative health specialist, shines a light on the questions parents ask most – and worry about most.
From crèche syndrome and chronic bronchitis to asthma, the allergic march, and the integrative framework she uses in her own practice, Dr Julie makes a complex, often anxiety-inducing topic realistic and practical.
Rapid Fire: What Matters Most for Children's Health, Rated
We asked Dr Julie to rate common factors from zero to 10 based on their importance for children's health:
- Sleep – 10/10: The non-negotiable foundation. More on why below.
- RSV vaccine – 7/10: More accurately a long-acting monoclonal antibody than a traditional vaccine. Most beneficial in pregnancy and the first two years of life.
- Flu vaccine – 10/10: "Prevention is better than cure."
- Humidifier – 3–4/10: Useful in the right environment – but a poorly maintained one can become a source of mould and infection.
- Removing tonsils – 5/10: Tonsils are immune tissue. Removal should be appropriate, not reflexive.
- Supplements for kids – 5/10: The sprinkle on top, not the base. Diet comes first.
- Outdoor play – 10/10: Exercise, sensory integration, emotional well-being. Every day.
- Screen time – 1/10 for benefit; 10/10 as a topic: Sleep, exercise, connection, and movement first. Then wise screen choices in whatever time remains.
Crèche Syndrome – What It Is and Why It's Actually Normal
Dr Julie opened with reassurance that many parents may not expect: crèche syndrome isn't preventable. And in many ways, it isn't even a problem.
"Crèche is a knee-high petri dish."
Children are constantly exposed to viruses in group care settings – and that exposure is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. The immune system is having a conversation with each new bug, building memory cells and armies of protection for future infections. Eight to ten upper respiratory tract infections per year is normal for a child in crèche. With an older sibling at home, even more is acceptable.
The goal isn't to prevent infection. It is to ensure that when infections occur, the child isn't debilitated by them – that recovery is complete before the next one arrives.
The Chronic Cough – When to Worry
A dry cough gradually improving over two to three weeks after a viral infection is normal. What isn't normal is a wet, productive cough persisting for longer than four weeks.
Dr Julie explained that this is likely to be protracted bacterial bronchitis (chronic bronchitis) – a condition that needs to be treated very differently from a standard viral infection, and one that is often mismanaged with repeated short courses of antibiotics that never quite clear the problem.
The cycle she described is familiar to many parents: a short course of antibiotics, 80% improvement, never full resolution, then the next virus and back to square one. She has seen this pattern continue for five years in some patients.
The solution, she explained, isn't more antibiotics – it was the right antibiotic, at the correct dose, for long enough to clear the problem. One well-chosen course beat repeated short ones.
Gut Health and Antibiotics – Why Probiotics Matter
Dr Julie was emphatic about this: gut health isn't a secondary consideration. It is central.
Antibiotics don't discriminate between harmful bacteria and the beneficial ecosystem of the gut microbiome. Every course depletes both – and a depleted microbiome has consequences that extend well beyond digestion. The gut microbiome is where so much of children's immune health lies, and protecting it matters both during illness and in general.
Her approach is to give nutrient-dense foods wherever possible, and quality probiotics whenever antibiotics are used – not as an afterthought, but as a deliberate part of the treatment plan. For parents navigating repeated infections and repeated antibiotic courses, this section of the conversation was essential listening.
Asthma – Diagnosis, Management, and Whether Children Can Grow Out of It
Asthma is now understood as an umbrella term rather than a single condition. There are many pathways into it – and many pathways out.
Dr Julie explained the hallmark of asthma – reversible airway obstruction – how diagnosis differs depending on the child's age, and what red flags distinguish asthma from chronic bronchitis. She also addressed a question many parents have: can children grow out of it? The answer is yes – but not always, and the pathway varies considerably between individuals.
Her take on exercise for asthmatic children is particularly worth hearing: the instinct to restrict physical activity is often counterproductive. The goal is to get the asthma under control so the child can do everything – not to avoid the activities that stress the lungs (such as swimming).
The Allergic March – Why Eczema, Allergies, and Asthma Are Connected
The allergic march describes the tendency for allergic conditions to develop in sequence: eczema in infancy, food allergies, allergic rhinitis, and eventually asthma. It isn't a certainty or a conveyor belt – but it is a pattern worth knowing.
Two interventions Dr Julie highlighted as genuinely impactful: treating eczema early and aggressively – because allergen sensitisation happens through a breached skin barrier, and repairing that barrier reduces the downstream allergic trajectory – and introducing allergenic foods early. More on this in the full episode.
Interested to hear more about allergies in kids? Watch the episode with Dr Kate Browde here.
Allergic Rhinitis, Nosebleeds and Nasal Sprays
A persistent runny nose isn't a diagnosis – it is a symptom, and the treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause. Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common drivers, and one of the most undertreated.
Dr Julie made the point that the why always has to come before the treatment. A clear, watery discharge with itching and congestion looks very different from a thick, discoloured one – and the approach to each is entirely different. Getting this wrong means treating the symptom while the underlying cause continues unchecked.
She also shared something practical that most people may have never been told: the correct technique for using a nasal spray. Most people use them incorrectly – and the consequence is often nosebleeds and the belief that the spray isn't working. The episode explained exactly how.
The Breathe Thrive Framework – Treating the Whole Child
Dr Julie's Breathe Thrive framework is built on the concept of seeing the whole child as a human being with many facets. She elaborated on how sleep is the foundation of health, with three pillars above it: nutrition, exercise, and emotional well-being. Every clinical encounter considers all four – because a child's cough can't be addressed in isolation from whether they are sleeping, moving, eating, and emotionally supported.
On sleep: it isn't just about duration. Quality matters, and the requirements change significantly by age – from 12 to 16 hours in infancy all the way through to adolescence, where the need for sleep is greater than most parents expect, not less.
On supplements: diet comes first, test where needed (iron and vitamin D deficiencies specifically), and then supplement purposefully. Dr Julie was specific about when they are genuinely necessary and what is actually worth giving. For picky or restrictive eaters, her recommendations were clear and practical. More in the full episode.
Community Questions Answered
When does snoring become a problem?
Dr Julie was direct: snoring isn't normal. Occasional snoring during an upper respiratory tract infection is expected and temporary – but persistent snoring isn't cute, harmless, or something to leave unaddressed. Sleep-disordered breathing exists on a spectrum, and the consequences of leaving it untreated are more significant than most parents realise. The episode covered what to look for, when to act, and what the options are.
Does cold air or air conditioning make children sick?
Not directly – but for children with reactive airways or asthma, cold air can trigger the airways to constrict. A dirty air conditioning filter is also a genuine concern. Two simple, practical points that are easy to act on.
What should every parent have in their medicine cabinet?
Burn gel – kept in the fridge. A burn is immediately soothed by cold and having the gel chilled means it is ready to use without scrambling to find it. She was clear that it is a first aid item rather than a treatment – but one she feels every household should have.
One Tip Everyone Can Start Today
"Look at the whole child and the whole pattern. Address sleep, exercise, nutrition, and emotional well-being – and then look at the illnesses specifically and treat them holistically."
Children's health rarely has a single answer – and as Dr Julie Morrison reminded us on this episode, the most important thing a parent can do is resist the urge for a quick fix and look at the full picture instead. The cough, the snot, the wheeze – these are symptoms. Understanding what is driving them is where lasting improvement begins.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider or a qualified paediatric specialist before making any changes to your child's treatment, supplement routine, or health management plan. This unregistered medicine has not been evaluated by SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare provider.
