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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not stay in all day with a 5yo who has chicken pox

139 replies

lecce · 28/08/2012 12:13

Just that really. His spots first appeared about 3 days ago and have not all blistered over yet. He is perfectly well in himself but getting bored and fed up having stayed in for 2 days.

OP posts:
coppertop · 28/08/2012 12:15

Better to have a bored child than to pass chicken pox on to another child or adult.

YABU

Rosebud05 · 28/08/2012 12:15

This thread is likely to become unpleasant, if past MN experience is anything to go by.

Sorry, but you have to stay in. Chicken pox is contagious until all spots have scabbed over (about a week) and it's really dangerous for some of the population.

Unless you take him somewhere where you don't come into contact with anyone, then that's fine.

Hope that he feels better soon.

expatinscotland · 28/08/2012 12:17

Then you have to take him to a place where he will not come in contact with ANYONE.

Otherwise, you are being very unreasonable.

AlwaysHoldingOnToStars · 28/08/2012 12:18

Where do you want to go?

I still had to do the school run and pop to the shops when mine had it. I kept them close to me and didn't let them run about with other kids. During the summer hols I did stay in, it was very boring.

I would say going for a walk is fine but I wouldn't take him to a play area.

Youcanringmybell · 28/08/2012 12:19

Sorry but you have to suck it up I am afraid. Two days is nothing... had to stay in for TWO WEEKS

sleepyhead · 28/08/2012 12:19

Yabu. You can't tell by looking at someone whether they're immunocompromised.

Original poster
lecce · 28/08/2012 12:20

Hope it won't be unpleasant - I'm genuinely asking here Smile.

I suppose the points that made me consider it are that it becomes contagious before the spots appear so you are putting people at risk then anyway (that point is not that convincing, I admit).

The second point is that I had it at 19 and absolutely hated it and would rather have had it as a child. Would obviously keep him away from pregnant people and tiny babies...

Oh, I suppose we're stuck in, aren't we? Am back at work next week so that's it for the holiday now Sad.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 28/08/2012 12:22

'Would obviously keep him away from pregnant people and tiny babies...'

Plenty of people who are not pregnant or tiny babies are immunocompromised or may be pregnant but not showing.

mankyscotslass · 28/08/2012 12:22

It's not just pregnant woman and young babies its dangerous for though - it's people who are immune suppressed, and you can't tell that from looking at them!

It is tough, but unless you know you can go somewhere which is pretty much deserted then its a no go I'm afraid.

coppertop · 28/08/2012 12:23

You can't possibly know that a woman is definitely not pregnant, or whether or not someone has compromised immunity.

BlackOutTheSun · 28/08/2012 12:23

Yep you are stuck in Sad its shit I agree

Your first point, you didn't know so what could you do?
Second point, how can you keep him away from pregnant women, not everyone will be showing.

HoratiaWinwood · 28/08/2012 12:24

You might keep him away from bumps and babies, but cheerfully infect their older siblings or next-door neighbours.

Sorry, it is shit, but you have to suck it up.

If he isn't feeling ill, you could ask a friend round to play. If the family has already had it the parents will probably be happy with the idea. This worked for us after five days when we were climbing the walls.

halcyondays · 28/08/2012 12:26

Yabu. It's a pita having to stay in, but it's a week out of your life. It'll soon pass.
You couldn't guarantee keeping him away from pregnant people if you were in a public place.

QOD · 28/08/2012 12:27

It's up to you if you want YOUR child exposed to cp, but it's not up to you to decide who to spread it to.

My SILs decided to get their kids together when one had the pox, she's a lovely, bright, grammar school educated student nurse, engaged and living in her own flat.
Her cousin, who was exposed to it, is mentally and physically disabled, can't go to the loo alone, or manage stairs,can't be left alone and will never live independently. They are two years apart in physical age, about 15 in mental.

The point is, accidents and accidental exposure happen, intentional exposure brings guilt into the above too.

Whenisitmysleepytime · 28/08/2012 12:27

My dd is perfectly healthy and not immunocompromised in any way but when she caught CP from ds this summer she was nearly hospitalised twice and could have lost her sight in one eye if I hadn't spotted and treated the blisters on her eyeball.

Please stay home - CP is awful and there is no telling how bad someone will get it.

Fwiw I had 2 weeks of confinement with ds and then another 2 with dd. with 5 day break in between. Hmm

WorraLiberty · 28/08/2012 12:29

Would you know a 2 weeks pregnant woman if she bit you on the arse?

I wouldn't

saintlyjimjams · 28/08/2012 12:31

YABU

VivaLeBeaver · 28/08/2012 12:32

You could kill my dad if you passed close to him but feel free. god forbid your kid isbored.

SirBoobAlot · 28/08/2012 12:33

Just because you would rather have it as a child, doesn't mean you get to make that decision for other people.

Stick it out. See it as on oppotunity to stay in your pajamas. Don't put other people at risk because you're a bit bored. Its just plain selfish.

honeytea · 28/08/2012 12:36

Cp is only dangerous to pregnant women before 20 weeks, it is most dangerous in thd first tri when most women are not visibly pregnant.

How about doing something fun in the house like make a den under the table or put the tent up in the living room and have a sllwp over the 2 of you.

iismum · 28/08/2012 12:36

Depending where you live, you could put him in the car and head off for somewhere you're not likely to meet anyone (remote beach, country walk, etc). If you happen to meet someone else you could steer clear of them or, if that's not possible, make sure you let them know that he's got chicken pox before he gets close enough to infect, so they can avoid him. This is obviously not possible in an urban park.

Original poster
lecce · 28/08/2012 12:36

Gosh, clearly one of those topics that arouses strong feelings - despite the fact I made it pretty clear in my second post that we would stay in people are addressing me like I'm something they trod in Confused.

OP posts:
Annunziata · 28/08/2012 12:37

I take it you don't have a garden?

DigestivesWithPhiladelphia · 28/08/2012 12:39

You can look out for obviously pregnant women and newborns. But how would you identify a 7 year old girl who is currently undergoing a course of chemotherapy? (and no, her hair hasn't fallen out so there isn't an obvious clue' for you). Or the healthy looking young woman who is in the park with her nephew - she doesn't wear a sign to tell you she has had a lung transplant and that her immune system is suppressed...

Original poster
lecce · 28/08/2012 12:40

Have a garden but not a huge one and is starting to lose its appeal. Probably wouldn't have if it weren't for the fact that he knows we CAN'T go out.

OP posts: