About Chicken Pox

[Fantail]

Friend posted on Facebook today that her DD was I'll and had symptoms similar to Chicken Pox - she was happy about this. She the said that others were welcome to come round for play dates.

AIBU to think it is weird to be happy your DD is ill and to want to pass the illness on to others? To which others applauded her offer!

I know that at some stage my DD will get chicken pox, but I would rather it be when she is a little bit older than 20 months.

Its probably relief that its coming. I know I hate that its hanging over my head with both my children.

And some parents want to get it out the way young so 'plan' them to catch it.

I wouldnt do it, but some do. I can kind of understand why they would actually. I just couldnt deliberately make my kids ill.

I certainly wouldn't be happy if DS got it.

I can almost understand why people with otherwise healthy children would want it out of the way. But I find the idea of deliberatly exposing them to it really strange - do the parents isolate their child when they know they have been exposed so as not to pass it to someone vulnerable?

I agree 20 months is maybe a bit young (though ds was 18 months and was fine); but I can understand wanting your dc to have CP (or a vaccine) in childhood so that they don't get it as an adult when it is far worse. There gets a tipping point probably around junior school where the herd immunity and the interaction with little children is such that exposure is less likely until they are adults and have their own dc. I was concerned about this for ds, as he is the youngest of three, so no siblings coming up behind to pass it on, and we don't socialise in the same way - in and out of each other's houses as most of my friends have school age children. If he hadn't caught it I would have considered exposing him aroound 4/5 yrs so he had it. As it was he caught it independently from some unknown source.

Dsis and I caught it as adults from DS. Wasn't pleasant. Would have preferred it out the way as a child but wouldn't deliberately expose young dc to it

You child does not have to get it. If you are so inclined you can pay for the vaccine. I would have done had I known about it before my DC had it. It is horendous!!

I was pretty relieved when ds got it, about 18 months iirc - he got it young and so it was out of the way before school. I have looked after kids who got it when they were older and imo it was easier to cope with in a smaller child, so I can understand your friend.

I don't find it that strange that people will knowingly expose their children to the virus and I'd prefer someone to keep their child at home and invite others round (so they have an informed choice) rather than just take their child around as usual. However I do think 20 months is a bit young for this. Having chicken pox at about 6 - 7 is ideal imo. Much younger and they really don't get the whole "try not to scratch" thing, and having it as an older child/ adult is nightmare.