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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to try to stop the DC from getting chickenpox?

29 replies

Bicnod · 08/01/2012 09:36

I've put this here as there is more traffic but this is probably more of a WWYD.

We are very close to exchanging contracts on our house and will hopefully be moving in about 4 weeks - big move, have never moved with the DC before (they are 2.8 and 6 months) and need to do lots of work on new house before we move in.

DS1's CM texted me yesterday to say that a girl who goes there on a Thursday has now got chickenpox (so was probably contagious on Thursday). DS1 goes there on Monday and Wednesday only and would not have been in contact with the girl but two of his friends who we see a lot during the rest of the week are there on a Thursday.

So.... do I:

a) send DS1 to CM, see friends as usual and just deal with chickenpox if it happens?

b) stop sending DS1 to CM for the rest of our time here and avoid friends so as to try to avoid chickenpox?

c) something else I haven't thought of?

I realise this is an immensely dull thread for AIBU so thank you if you have read this far. I am concerned about DS2 getting it so young (6 months) and I am worried about the impact it could have on the move if one or both of the DC have it.

DH being no help whatsoever and basically saying do what you think is best so I'm turning to MN.

TIA :)

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 08/01/2012 09:41

You can try and avoid it but it's very hard as this is coming up up to the usual epidemic time. Not a problem if your baby gets it though - lots of siblings do. My dd2 was 5 months and much easier than dd1 who was 3.
However if you don't have to use the CM then I would probably isolate and hope for the best. Will ds be upset about not seeing the friends?

sasaunde · 08/01/2012 09:41

I was in a similar situation and did b. Thought DD was too young. She didn't get chicken pox.

Original poster
Bicnod · 08/01/2012 09:42

Thank Northern. DS would probably be upset yes, but he's going to be upset when we move away anyway

OP posts:
Original poster
Bicnod · 08/01/2012 09:44

Thanks sasaunde.

I'm supposed to babysitting for one of the girls on Monday with DS2 (as DS1 would be at CM) which I think would still be fine as from what I've read they wouldn't be contagious by that point - it would be from Wed next week onwards that I would need to start avoiding...

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Original poster
Bicnod · 08/01/2012 10:03

bumpety bump

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littlemisssarcastic · 08/01/2012 10:47

Can I just say If your DC do get chickenpox, consider buying Poxclin since it is the best thing for the itching and helps prevent spots getting infected.

(No reason to promote it, am just impressed by it, as are many other people.)

trixie123 · 08/01/2012 10:52

my two had it just before xmas and to be honest it made life with the 2 yo a bit easier cos he started napping again and just quietly watched a lot of TV. Not a lot of point trying to avoid it, they'll only get it at a worse time when you're about to fly off on holiday or something. Mine didn't seem to be bothered much by itching but I was recommended to put bicarb in the bathwater as the best remedy

ladyasriel · 08/01/2012 10:58

Get DS1 vaccinated. Simple.

littlemisssarcastic · 08/01/2012 11:00

I wanted to get DD vaccinated, but in the UK, they wont vaccinate under the age of 13 years.

twilight3 · 08/01/2012 11:04

littlemiss, I assume you mean 13 months???

littlemisssarcastic · 08/01/2012 11:07

Nope, I went to the GP, asked about vaccinating DD (who was 18 months at the time) and was told that yes, the vaccination is done privately but only when DC are 13 years and over.

twilight3 · 08/01/2012 11:09

no, 13 years and over is given on the NHS, if there are certain reasons. Privately you can vaccinate toddlers. Costs just under a hundrend pounds

littlemisssarcastic · 08/01/2012 11:09

DD has since had chicken pox, and I was advised to get Poxclin. Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in DD's case.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 08/01/2012 11:10

littlemiss means I think, that free vax not available under age 13

here a google search result, chosen at random

littlemisssarcastic · 08/01/2012 11:11

Hmm Maybe my GP got confused then. I definitely asked him wrt paying privately. Doesn't matter now though, because DD has had chickenpox, so hopefully wont be getting it again.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 08/01/2012 11:11

oh, stupid fat sausage fingers

twilight3 · 08/01/2012 11:14

Bicnod, if you're interested in vaccinating DC1, even if he has been exposed but no symptoms yet, the vaccine can reduce or even prevent symptoms

gamerwidow · 08/01/2012 11:24

I think try to avoid it if you can but it is very tricky because CP can be contracted 3 weeks before the symptoms start to show and its in the time before the symptoms show that you are the most infectious.
Fingers crossed that keeping DS at home will do the trick because while CP is usually not harmful you don't need extra stress at the moment.

EauDeLaPoisson · 08/01/2012 11:42

I don't get why you think he's 'too young' to have cp? Kids deal with it far better the younger they are. My dd had it aged two and a half, then my seven month old ds got it, he was fine she was very distressed by it

WoollyHead · 08/01/2012 11:52

I agree, look into vaccination privately. It cost me £60 each for mine at a private travel clinic. It can be done after their first birthday. Well worth it, and totally standard in practically every other Western country except the UK.

Original poster
Bicnod · 08/01/2012 12:06

Thanks for all the replies. Been looking at chicken pox vac info and it looks like you have to have two doses so not sure DS1 would be protected even if I got him vaccinated straight away? Can't seem to find any info on how quickly immunity kicks in after vaccination.

EauDe - I'm not sure why I'm worred about DS2 - he still seems so little I suppose. Also worried that if he got it now he might get it again later - think I've heard that somewhere? He's teething like mad at the moment and doesn't sleep more than 2 hours at a time at night so from a selfish point of view not sure I can cope with throwing chicken pox into the sleep deprivation mix!

BoysAreLikeDogs - totally off topic but I love your username - I actually say that to people all the time about my two Grin

Littlemiss - if we decide to carry on as usual will get some poxclin in just in case - thanks for the tip.

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twilight3 · 08/01/2012 12:12

it would kick in straight away, the second dose is to ensure long-term immunity

PQ77 · 08/01/2012 12:16

Agree with twilight - had my DS vaccinated privately in london (at 9 months btw) and it saw him through an outbreak at nursery a couple of weeks after. He's just had his booster 2 years later and that's just for long term immunity.

WoollyHead · 08/01/2012 12:52

Yes, the booster is to ensure the protection continues. When my first had the vaccination tthey weren't sure about whether a booster was needed or not, but now it's recommended. DC3 had the booster after a month or two, whereas for the eldest it was a few years.

Original poster
Bicnod · 08/01/2012 13:44

Just spoke to private GP clinic (can't believe they picked up on a Sunday!) and apparently DS wouldn't be immune until 2 weeks after the first dose anyway, so not much help for this particular dilemma Confused

Actually, thinking about it, if DS1 were to get chicken pox from his friends he wouldn't get it until probably next week and symptoms wouldn't come out for another 2-3 weeks after that so, hopefully, we would be moved by then anyway. Hmm.

Maybe I should go with it, see what happens and in the meantime just keep DS2 away from DS1's friends as much as possible.

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