to leave my 2yo in the car?

[fuzzypicklehead]

I can't think of any way around this. DD1 had chicken pox last week and is now able to go back to preschool. DD2 hasn't had them yet, but given the level of exposure I'm assuming she could erupt any time in the next 10 days or so.

DD1 has several classmates with newborn siblings or pregnant mums, one of whom is already past her due date. I won't know if DD2 is contagious until I can see spots, and I really don't want to risk exposing any babies or pregnant mums during drop-off and pick up.

So the only solution I can think of is to leave DD2 in her car seat for a few minutes while I run DD1 in to the school. But the preschool is out of sight behind the primary school, and sometimes I have to park quite a distance away.

Any ideas? WWYD?

Can you text another mum and get them to wait outside to escort them in?

Depends on what the area is like outside school. I would in our village but it is tiny and safe etc. Otherwise, I'd ask a mum to bring DD1 out whilst I watch DD2 in the car. I'm sure they'll be most accommodating considering how much you are thinking of others...

Aask the school office to escort her in to the class teacher and out again to you at the end of the school day. That way you can take dd2 with you and not bump in to people.

When I had this issue, I told the school that I would be late picking up my non-spotty children. Spotty child and I lurked at a great distance, and when the crowds had dispersed we picked up the other children. The school was sympathetic and helpful.

I would do what Beachy said. I would not leave my dc in the car.

The other mums I know are the ones who have the bumps / babies, so they wouldn't be ideal to escort DD1 in and out to me. But wellies idea of asking a teacher to meet her at the gates might work.

I would not leave the child in the car.

I'd Possibly put her in buggy with rainwear on? Not sure if thatd work tho?

Just take your child in your arms and don't let anyone come near her

At the end of the day, all schools/nurseries become rife with CP at this time of year, so that's all you can do.

I wouldn't leave your child in the car, it would be better to make an arrangement to drop off and pick up early or late, or ask a teacher to meet you.

I dont get the drama- if your child who is back at school has had them recently she would have been contagious back then and put all these people at risk you dont want your other child to be remotley close to? I think you are hugely overthinking it, these babies and mums are no more at risk then if they went to Tescos and a child who was 'about to errupt' was there

I did it. It was a couple of minutes and she was fine.

I really hope you get some help here, afterall you're thinking of others above yourself. I hope you find a way around it.

I only wish that someone had been as thoughtful regarding a friend of mine. Her 3 year old was needlessly exposed to CP through a spot free sibling being brought into his nursery. Then when his mum went into labour early with his sister he had to go 2 weeks without seeing his mum and newborn baby sister while they were on the neonatal ward. Poor little chap

Pop her in the buggy with the raincover on. Or arrange to drop dd of after the bell has rung but before end of registration so you don't run into anyone. Pick her up 5 minutes early too.

FGS you cant put life on hold because someone 'may' get an illness- its a ridiculous way to live! Its entirely different not exposing people to an illness you KNOW your child has but if they havent even got it and they 'may' get it?
And surrounded its totally unreasonable to blame one particular child- chickenpox occurs frequently usually in seasonal outbreaks- it could be someone at the corner shop who had it!

Dont leave her in the car I know you are wanting to do it for all the right reasons find a way to take her loads of suggestions by other posters ,

and if chicken pox is probably going round anyway its unavoidable tbh ,

Exactly what Whale said

It's very commendable and all that to be thinking this way but also more than a tad OTT.

I'm the youngest of 5 and if my Mum had done this with us every time a sibling/friend/cousin had CP and we were exposed to it, our lives and everyone elses would have been totally disrupted.

And why? When every time you grab a shopping trolley your'e at risk from catching it anyway.

Just take sensible precautions like using the buggy and raincover or keeping her in your arms as you see your other DD into school.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Don't you have to touch someone with CP to catch it? In which case just don't let anybody touch her, not a big deal really

I think CP is airborne virus.

Don't leave your child in the car. I would make arrangement to pick up/drop off other child early or late.

Are you sure your eldest isn't still contagious? I'd probably still be keeping them home TBH.

I think there is more chance of harm coming to your child left alone in a car that the possibility of chicken pox being passed on while dropping off and picking up.

When I was recently pregnant I spoke to my midwife as I work in a childrens centre. She said it was only risky in first 20 wks of pregnancy and when my blood test results came bk was able to tell me I have immunity to chicken pox. Si it might not even be a risk to ALL pregnant people.

And its not like your staying and playing with your 2 year old(who might not even get chicken pox) your just nipping in and out aren't you?

Your older child would have been contagious before they had spots and could have already passed it on!

Don't worry about it too much.

don't leave DD2 in the - just procure a hand bell and process slowly ringing and shouting "unclean, unclean"

MrNorfolk--That's kind of what it feels like!

In the end I went slightly late and took DD2 in the buggy and had her wait just outside where I could see her. Because of the way the school is set up, there's often a scrum in the corridor leading to the main classroom, and it would be hard to avoid other mums/kids.

I know the chances of passing it on through brief contact are slim, but I'm most concerned about scenarios like the one surroundedbyblondes mentioned. I've read so many threads where vulnerable people have been exposed with disasterous consequenses that I feel obligated to do what I can to minimize contact.

It's true that DD2 may not get it, but since she spent last week housebound with DD1, I'd be shocked if she didn't. I'm confident that DD1 isn't contagious anymore, as it's been 10 days since her spots came out and they've all covered over now.

Don't do it!

You would never forgive yourself if anything happened to her.

Take her with you...the chances of another person catching chicken pox from your DD within that short space of time is very low.

"Her 3 year old was needlessly exposed to CP through a spot free sibling being brought into his nursery"

there is no proof that the child definitely caught the CP off this particular child.
if CP is going round a nursery it is going round and you cant really pinpoint one particular child as being the source.