What is it really safe to do with a toddler with chicken pox?

[ChairmumMiaow]

DS has a few spots on his tummy today - we just noticed them in the bath - and various friends have had chicken pox recently, so it seems quite likely that it has got round to us.

DS is a very active baby and gets fed up of staying at home for long periods, so the thought of 7-10 days at home on our own is something that will drive both of us absolutely bonkers

So, is it safe to :

• go shopping (we need to eat but DH could do it if necessary, I'd just have to put up with the wrong things being bought!)?
  
• go for a walk away from people?
  
• play in the park when nobody else is around?
  
• have other kids round to play who have already had chicken pox?
  
• have other kids round to play who currently have chicken pox? (if DS has it I would expect his best friend to get it)
  
  I really don't want to make anyone else ill, but I do want to do as much as possible if he does have chicken pox...
  
  Please help!

[Ewe]

Don't think shopping should be done unless it absolutely can't be avoided.

Walk in a very open space with very few people ok I would think.

Surely there isn't a park with no kids in it?

Children can get chicken pox twice so wouldn't risk that to be honest.

Think the last one would be fine though!

However, when my DD had chicken pox she didn't feel like doing anything apart from lying on me and watching cbeebies/reading books so you may find once it really hits all he wants is quiet time.

Good luck, hope he doesn't get it too badly.

[Wallace]

You only need to stay away for 5 days after the first spots appear

He might feel quite ill for a couple of days so not want to do much. Hopefully!

[ChairmumMiaow]

I thought it was 5 days after the last spots appear?

Obviously I hope he doesn't feel too bad but we've had friends whose babies / toddlers felt fine but were very bored and another who was quite unwell and lay around wanting cuddles for a week!

[PerfectPrefect]

Yup 5 days from appearance of first spot

[CrushWithEyeliner]

I wouldn't go shopping or playground tbh - I know 7 days seems like ages but it isn't that long in the grand scheme of things.

[CMOTdibbler]

When DS had chicken pox we spent a lot of time in the garden (fortunatly was sunny), and went round the safari park a couple of times (they had go once, go again free on at the time).

DS was really well with CP, so it was a little trying.

[Innat]

My dd recently had CP and wasn't ill at al. Luckily for us at least 2 of her friends from nursery had it too. We shared childcare (they all seemed to have really mild cases).

We were realy lucky as it was when the weather was nice so we went to an open space nearby (basically a field freely open to the public) and took some balls and a picnic. There was no one else around and they were free to run around with each other. Another friend came along who'd just had CP (and probably given it to them in the first place!).

As for other children I told their parents as soon as I knew dd had CP and left it up to them to decide if they wanted to expose their kids.

We did go to the park too, but there wasn't anyone else around.

[shhhh]

I wouldn't do anything. You shouldn't really venture out to mix with others until the last blister has gone (usually 5-7 days)...the blisters will soon turn into scabs and the scabs will take a while to go.

ds had it 1st about a month ago and it took 7 days till the last blister went..dd got it 2 weeks later and was the same.

Both though didn't want to do much when ill..esp dd (she got it worse..).

[ChairmumMiaow]

Thanks for all the advice. Thankfully in themorning the suspicious looking rash was gone and DS has been fine all day so I don't have to go crazy at home

[whomovedmychocolate]

play dot to dot with a magic marker?