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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take child with chicken pox to playground?

53 replies

Liz79 · 29/01/2011 19:15

Dd is 3. Should I keep her away from the swings etc? It is generally quiet with not many other people, she doesn't go near anyone.

OP posts:
RealityIsKnockedUp · 29/01/2011 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SarahStrattonHasNiceBears · 29/01/2011 19:18

Yes you are. My best friend died from CP when I was 10. It can have (rarely I know) awful complications. And it has huge implications for pregnant women if they catch it.

FFS it's only a week or so you need to keep her away, don't be so bloody selfish.

TandB · 29/01/2011 19:18

The last time an identical thread to this one was started, it went horribly, horribly wrong.

And yes, YABU.

SarahStrattonHasNiceBears · 29/01/2011 19:18

Fuck's sake OP

Meglet · 29/01/2011 19:19

Can you take her to the playing field to run off some steam. No where near a park where she might meet other people?

SleepWhenImDead · 29/01/2011 19:19

Funnily enough we met a little girl and her mum at the playground just the other day, her mum said she had chicken pox and hoped that was ok, that she'd try to not let her get too close etc and they had cabin fever at home- that was totally fine with me as I understand how DS1 gets if he's been inside for too long. I'd go for it as long as you inform the other parents, particularly if there are any pregnant mums there.

pirateparty · 29/01/2011 19:23

This comes up regularly on MN and evokes some strong emotions.

I am 23 weeks pregnant and would be gutted if I saw a child with chicken pox out and about, especially if I was there with my ds who hasn't had it so I'd feel we had to leave, and also then worry afterwards. It is highly infectious.

The risk to pregnant women who haven't had it in the past is very worrying, not to mention immuno-compromised children and adults, and to the unlucky few who get it and it isn't a mild self-limiting illness.

So yes although it's hard being in for a week, yes, I think YWBVU to take your child out even to a playground. Sorry. I hope you daughter is better soon and not suffering too much with it.

katiestar · 29/01/2011 19:24

No YANBU.I think it's much more difficult to spread it in the open air and besides she'll have merrily been infecting people for days before the rash developed

pirateparty · 29/01/2011 19:25

And you can't tell who is pregnant just by looking - I don't think you'd know I am yet and I'm 23 weeks.

pirateparty · 29/01/2011 19:26

But Katiestar - she didn't know then - now she knows that is a different matter isn't it surely?

Original poster
Liz79 · 29/01/2011 19:26

The play ground is generally deserted when we are there. Of course I wouldn't take her near people. If it was a busy one then obviously wouldn't even think of it. Will put her in garden. I know cp isn't always just spots & snotty nose, hence I declined invitation to a pox party (very odd practice that).

OP posts:
begonyabampot · 29/01/2011 19:28

My little on had CP recently and we did stay in for week (easier this time of year with the crap weather) - i did consider taking him out to somewhere where there was no one around but wouldn't have gone where there were other people. Reading a few of these threads in the past has educated me made me a lot more careful about it.

MsKLo · 29/01/2011 19:28

Very unreasonable and very selfish thing to do

Fayrazzled · 29/01/2011 19:28

I assumed when I saw the post title, you meant the school playground and the child was a sibling. I have wondered what I would do about taking my son to school if his younger sister was ill with an infectious disease, like CP. What do people do? It's not like a child who isn't ill can be kept of school because a sibling is, (it certainly wouldn't wash at my son's primary). There are no mums I could ask to take or collect my son who live near by ( school has a large catchment area even though it is state as we will in a semi-rural area).

Back to the original point, I wouldn't take mine to a park playground or supermarket etc if they had chicken pox but do wonder about the school run.

simpson · 29/01/2011 19:30

Have all the spots scabbed over? If so, she is not contageous anymore and should be fine.

clevercloggs · 29/01/2011 19:33

was just going to say if she has the spots, she wont be contagious

or am i thinking of another spotty disease

Portofino · 29/01/2011 19:35

kungfu - you are right there - the last thread on this was carcrash awful!

OP - don't! Stay home til they've crusted over. It's only a short time. It's just not worth the risk.

saffy85 · 29/01/2011 19:36

Unless all the spots have scabbed over YABU.

But then you must know that already right?

MadamDeathstare · 29/01/2011 19:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KalokiMallow · 29/01/2011 19:38

My uncle has just come out of intensive care due to chicken pox (he had spots on his lungs)

YABVVVVVVVVU

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 29/01/2011 19:40

Fayrazzled - leave the younger one in the bar or in the buggy with the cover on and stay away from people, it's the best you can do really.

OP - it's a reasonable question to ask, not everyone knows how devastating CP can be, now you know, you wont do it - all good :)

smallwhitecat · 29/01/2011 19:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Liz79 · 29/01/2011 19:42

Thanks everyone, you're right. she would still be contagious. I wasn't sure about a deserted outside area but you never know do you. Will be stranded inside with baby ds the next week probably. What's the consensus on taking him for a walk in his pram? Is only 9m so wouldn't be getting out to run around touch the equipment etc.

OP posts:
purepurple · 29/01/2011 19:46

The exclusion period for chicken pox is 5 days from the first spot, not till they have scabbed over.
The most contagious period is before the spots appear.
So, it depends on when she first got the spots.

ziva · 29/01/2011 19:48

Fayrazzled i had CP a couple of years ago and i asked if i could collect dd 15mins early for that week so i wouldnt come into contact with anyone.
school had her waiting just inside the door so she saw me when i arrived.

Liz79 your baby can infect other people as CP is airbourne and not anything to do with what they touch.

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