Chicken pox question

[3k]

I have an 11 month old baby and my 4 month old niece has chicken pox. Should I take him round to catch it now or just wait until he catches it naturally??? I'm in two minds as I think if he has it now he will get it out of the way whilst young and but would feel guilty knowing that I made him catch it iyswim

[dewmeadow]

hiya 3K!!!!

Ds has had chickenpox and Im so glad its out of the way. Apart from a few v itchy spots on his bum, it wasnt too bad. He and DD were in contact with other children before spots and the others didnt get it.

Sorry - not big help.

[dewmeadow]

hiya 3K!!!!

Ds has had chickenpox and Im so glad its out of the way. Apart from a few v itchy spots on his bum, it wasnt too bad. He and DD were in contact with other children before spots and the others didnt get it.

Sorry - not big help.

[WigWamBam]

Chicken pox can make young babies really poorly. You also can't explain to them why they are feeling ill and itchy, and you can't tell them not to scratch! Dd is 5, had it over Christmas and was really poorly - I honestly wouldn't wish that on a young baby.

[3k]

Thanks guys, as I say I'm in two minds really. I dont want him getting poorly but it would be kind of nice to know it is over and done with. I'll have to have a think about it.

[3k]

Mind you if he was with the baby on Christmas day could he be at risk???? Not sure what the incubabtion period is.

[twickersmum]

at 11 months i wouldn't do it yet
age 3 i would.

my dd's had chicken pox last year - DD1 was 2.4, DD2 was 8 months. DD1 coped with it fine, barely bothered her. DD2 had a shocker.
I wouldn't recommend getting it "on purpose" just yet.

[3k]

Had a look on bounty and it says it doesnt really affect babies under a year. Still not sure though

www.bounty.com/reference/azhealth/item/1011/category/1/content.htm

[twickersmum]

when did your niece come out in spots?
the incubation period is 2 weeks, so if your baby doesn't get it within 2 weeks from contact then you should be fine!

[twickersmum]

bounty is taking b@ll@cks

my goddaughter had it at 9 months and was almost hospitalised. had them everywhere including mouth and eyelids. really really distressing.

[3k]

Thanks Twickersmum, I must admit I am more against him getting it on purpose. Think I may leave it. He may already have caught it though as he was with her on Christmas day and apparantly it is spread through droplets. If he gets it then I suppose it is supposed to be. My sister in laws baby is very poorly with it, covered in head to toe and has a raging temperature. Not sure I could inflict that on DS. SIL isnt sure where she caught it from.

[3k]

Thats it then!!! He isnt catching it - well on purpose anyhow!!! Thanks for all your advice.

Off out to another SIL for dinner now!!!

Thanks again

[twickersmum]

yes, if he gets it then he does and he will probably be fine

my eldest was exposed to it lots of times at nursery before she actually got it. i was beginning to think she was immune! at one point she was the only one left in her class as the rest were all off.

[3k]

Thats another thing isnt it he may not actually catch it. I'm not sure when my niece came out in the spots but she is contagious at the moment. Got them this week. SIL said she isnt well at all with it but she is only 4 months old poor little thing.

[kid]

DD had it a couple of months ago at 7 years old. I didn't think DS was going to catch it as he didn't come out in any spots. Well not until 18 days later! He was fine as he only got 3 spots!

I think it can take up to 21 days from contact for spots to appear, but afaik, its only contagious for approx 5 days before spots first appear. So if you saw your niece on Christmas day, she would have needed to came out in the spots by the 30th Dec for there to be a chance for your DS to catch it.