Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - chicken pox and Christmas plans…

33 replies

anon2423 · 17/12/2024 19:07

Chicken pox is doing the rounds at my DC nursery and they’re starting to show the first signs. However, we’re meant to be going to my parents for a quiet Christmas just us, them and DC. All our presents are already down there and waiting!

Parents and husband think we skip the cinema trip and festive plans which would expose DC to the public, but we could still travel down. I’m not sure - parents live quite a distance and I think being in the car for 3 hours would be really hard on DC if they have chickenpox. Everyone else thinks we should just get on with it - all of us (bar DC) have had it before, and no one is vulnerable.

YABU - you’re overthinking this, you’re fine to go (and remain in their house avoiding the public for the duration!)

YANBU - that’s too far to take DC when they’re poorly

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
wsdr · 17/12/2024 20:29

My child was very unwell with chicken pox, narrowly avoiding hospital admission. You need to wait and see how they are, then decide.

stichguru · 17/12/2024 20:17

I think just see how they are. They could have mild discomfort and maybe feel a little under the weather and be as comfortable in their car seat maybe with a blanket and a story or music on the radio. They could be itching like made all over, headachy/feverish and need to mainly lie down with the option of changing position every few mins to stay even mildly comfy.

mindutopia · 17/12/2024 20:13

I would just go. The only thing more miserable than being stuck at someone else’s house with chicken pox is being stuck at home on Christmas with no presents or fun and also chicken pox.

Nodlikeyouwerelistening · 17/12/2024 20:10

I can’t vote because I sort of think both. If you’re taking precautions to avoid the public and everyone there is okay with it (not vulnerable) then that’s fine UNLESS DC is feeling too poorly. Then I think that’s a long way to travel for them, but surely you will just have to judge that when the day of travel arrives?

LarkinAboot · 17/12/2024 20:06

I'd wait for them to scan over then travel.
We had a similar situation but luckily the second child contracted it and scabbed over just before we were due to travel.

Oneearringlost · 17/12/2024 19:54

mauvish · 17/12/2024 19:12

Well, what do your parents think? They have almost certainly had chilcken pox when they were young, and exposure to the virus now will potentially activate shingles. They might not want shingles for the NY!

Exposure to the chicken pox virus will NOT activate Shingles. But Shingles can give you chicken pox if you've never had it before. It's the other way round from what you've described.

dementedpixie · 17/12/2024 19:49

They normally appear and scab over within about a week.

If they're itchy you can use piriton antihistamine
You can use acqueous calamine cream, poxclin or virasoothe on the spots
Paracetamol is fine to use but avoid ibuprofen as it can cause adverse skin effects.

dimples76 · 17/12/2024 19:49

I think that it is wait and see. It may well be fine. When my DC and 2DN had it, one after the other they were all completely different. DD was barely ill, DS and DN both developed infections were off school for 2 weeks and needed antibiotics and my other DN was extremely ill and hospitalised.

JC03745 · 17/12/2024 19:42

Thedishwasherbroke · 17/12/2024 19:38

Why would you vaccinate at this point? They’re already symptomatic and once they have had it once they are unlikely to get it again.

Show quote history

Thanks. I'd missed that they were already symptomatic.

Original poster
anon2423 · 17/12/2024 19:40

JC03745 · 17/12/2024 19:32

Get them vaccinated!!!

Might not prevent them having already contracted it, but prevents future worries, scarring and sick children.

We were already booked in for end of February as I’d wanted to avoid this if possible!

OP posts:
Thedishwasherbroke · 17/12/2024 19:38

JC03745 · 17/12/2024 19:32

Get them vaccinated!!!

Might not prevent them having already contracted it, but prevents future worries, scarring and sick children.

Why would you vaccinate at this point? They’re already symptomatic and once they have had it once they are unlikely to get it again.

Dithercats · 17/12/2024 19:34

mauvish · 17/12/2024 19:12

Well, what do your parents think? They have almost certainly had chilcken pox when they were young, and exposure to the virus now will potentially activate shingles. They might not want shingles for the NY!

You cannot get shingles from Chickenpox.
You can get chickenpox from shingles.

JC03745 · 17/12/2024 19:32

Get them vaccinated!!!

Might not prevent them having already contracted it, but prevents future worries, scarring and sick children.

Original poster
anon2423 · 17/12/2024 19:31

TempuraCustard · 17/12/2024 19:17

When are you going? In all honesty I think it's a wait and see with your parents and DH needing to remember the poorly babbas come first here. If that means they are too ill to travel for Christmas don't push it just because it's christmas. You could always go down a few days later?

Meant to travel Saturday - but can move this if needed! I just worry that DC will be too uncomfortable to travel - but if so I’ll put my foot firmly down!! We will only go when they’re up for it!!

DC also LOVES visiting their grandparents and is really excited, so another reason to move not cancel - they’d be so upset to cancel!

OP posts:
tarheelbaby · 17/12/2024 19:27

It really depends on your DCs.
DD1 caught CxPx at her school's end of term disco ca. 22 December. Her first spot showed the first day she'd been back to school in January. She was itchy and liked soaking in the bath plus needed calpol to take off the edge but after a few days was bored rigid so I packed her off to MiL for crafts and fun b/c her main problem was visible spots.
DD2 caught CxPx from DD1 but had no symptoms or spots until 20 days later!!! DD2 had it differently, was miserable with general virus symptoms, needed regular calpol and needed to be home with mummy.
It is a virus so no telling how your DCs will respond. At least you're visiting GPs and you can take things as they come. Can GPs visit you this year and bring any presents with them? Then DCs can take to their beds if necessary without everyone missing out.

Orangelight23 · 17/12/2024 19:26

Mine came out in spots last Thursday and they've started to scab over today. Other than spots she had no other symptoms and has been fine. So you might be lucky!

BESTAUNTB · 17/12/2024 19:25

My DCs were over the worst by day 5. If today (symptoms) is day 1, they might be ok on Saturday. They’ll look spotty but hopefully they’ll feel well.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 17/12/2024 19:25

Mog65 · 17/12/2024 19:16

When a kid gets chickenpox, they are generally unwell for 24-48 hours. Does it not normally just last about 5 days. You'll probably all be fine. Ask your mum. Stock up on calpol and calamine lotion. Have a great Christmas

My kids ended up hospitalised. Slightly extreme but does happen. Also shingles is fucking awful.

Original poster
anon2423 · 17/12/2024 19:23

Muchtoomuchtodo · 17/12/2024 19:16

Chicken pox exposure does not activate shingles. If they’re well enough to travel and not have to go to any public spaces I’d go. If they’re miserable, can you push your plans back by a few days?

No public spaces is definitely possible - we’re driving down, and grocery delivery already booked! Had tickets to a few local events but will try to give those away as we obviously can’t go!!

Guess we just have to wait and see how DC is feeling and travel if/when they’re up to it! They’re young enough that if they’re feeling really rough we could probably also move which day we celebrate on, and they’d be none the wiser!

You’re absolutely right though - we can move plans if needed (and I’m definitely overthinking!!)

OP posts:
ChubbyMorticia · 17/12/2024 19:19

I’d wait and see. My kids got them, one was fine, the other was miserable. You certainly don’t want to drag a miserable kid anywhere, but they might be scabbed up and basically over it by next week.

TempuraCustard · 17/12/2024 19:18

Mog65 · 17/12/2024 19:16

When a kid gets chickenpox, they are generally unwell for 24-48 hours. Does it not normally just last about 5 days. You'll probably all be fine. Ask your mum. Stock up on calpol and calamine lotion. Have a great Christmas

I absolutely depends on the child.
And I'd get some of the cooling gel you can get from a pharmacy.

TeenLifeMum · 17/12/2024 19:17

I’d go and make sure I had calpol and calamine lotion with me.

TempuraCustard · 17/12/2024 19:17

When are you going? In all honesty I think it's a wait and see with your parents and DH needing to remember the poorly babbas come first here. If that means they are too ill to travel for Christmas don't push it just because it's christmas. You could always go down a few days later?

Original poster
anon2423 · 17/12/2024 19:17

Jeds55 · 17/12/2024 19:14

When are you due there?

Due to travel Saturday - but would obviously move this if needed! Should have said we’re driving - so no risk to other passengers

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 17/12/2024 19:16

Chicken pox exposure does not activate shingles. If they’re well enough to travel and not have to go to any public spaces I’d go. If they’re miserable, can you push your plans back by a few days?

Swipe left for the next trending thread