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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking DD out with chickenpox

69 replies

Suntrapped · 29/05/2017 15:15

She's on day 4, some of the spots are starting to crust over. She's not unwell just infectious.

DH is abroad on a work trip. So far I've only taken her out to buy food and essentials (Piriton and calpol etc) and kept her strapped into the buggy.

WIBU to take her for a country walk or to a quiet stretch of beach tomorrow? Obviously nowhere she'd come into close contact with people. We don't have a garden and I feel the sun/fresh air would do her good.

OP posts:
Frankie89 · 29/05/2017 15:16

Definitely unreasonable I'm afraid.

phoolani · 29/05/2017 15:21

Really? If you don't interact with any one at close quarters I can't see why not. Or is chicken pox some kind of super virus these days?

MatildaTheCat · 29/05/2017 15:21

Is that you, DSIL? Grin

If not she's in the same position. I can't see any harm going somewhere isolated but you'll need to be confident enough to shout to anyone who might show up that you have an infectious child with you.

Fintress · 29/05/2017 15:21

Very unreasonable unless you can guarantee not coming into contact with a single person, which you can't. I'm immuno-compromised and it could be nasty if I caught chicken pox.

Bangsheadontable · 29/05/2017 15:23

Your desire for fresh air is more important than the risk to other kids/ pregnant women and anyone otherwise ill who would be affected. Of course it is.

Screwinthetuna · 29/05/2017 15:25

I don't think a walk outside is unreasonable, no.

Soubriquet · 29/05/2017 15:25

I think she should be ok as long as you stay away from crowded areas

I need to take my dog for a walk soon. My Ds will have to come with me even with chicken pox in his buggy

dementedpixie · 29/05/2017 15:26

If you go somewhere where you don't interact with other people then I would do it

guiltynetter · 29/05/2017 15:30

i don't think you're being unreasonable. my 2 year old DD had it a couple of months ago but was not poorly with it at all. we took her to a beach one day (picked a spot miles away from everyone, & the beach was quiet anyway) and one day we went on a country walk. both those days we barely came into contact with anyone.

Original poster
Suntrapped · 29/05/2017 15:37

Your desire for fresh air is more important than the risk to other kids/ pregnant women and anyone otherwise ill who would be affected

How contagious is it outside? I'd obviously stop her approaching anyone or playing with other children.

The spots appeared at nursery so I had to take her home on the bus. Also into the supermarket and pharmacy, but she was in the buggy so couldn't touch anything or breathe on anybody.

OP posts:
MissCalamity · 29/05/2017 15:42

I took my poxy DD for a walk along the industrial estate when she had it, didn't come into contact with anyone else, not the most inspiring walk but a bit of fresh air!

minipie · 29/05/2017 15:45

How old is she? Is she old enough and compliant enough to understand to keep far away from people? Eg is she 2 or 4...

minipie · 29/05/2017 15:46

I think probably yanbu but depends whether you can find somewhere truly uncrowded

3luckystars · 29/05/2017 15:47

Have you a garden or have your parents a garden?
I would wait until she is not contagious to take her anywhere.

dementedpixie · 29/05/2017 15:49

OP says she has no garden. A walk in a place with no people will be fine

Original poster
Suntrapped · 29/05/2017 16:00

She's 2

No garden unfortunately

OP posts:
Enidblyton1 · 29/05/2017 16:06

No problem at all, as long as you make sure you don't go within a couple of metres of anyone else.

HopefulHamster · 29/05/2017 16:07

An isolated walk is much better than taking her into a supermarket...

early30smum · 29/05/2017 16:09

I never understand the response to these threads. Obviously, don't take a contagious child to places such as soft play, playground, restaurant or basically anywhere where they can come into close contact with others. A walk in the fresh air making sure not to come anywhere near anyone else? Fine I think?

Also, to all those saying OP shouldn't go out at all- I understand it's awful if you are immunocompressed (sp?!) and getting sick would be terrible- but what is someone with a sick child supposed to do if they're a single parent, have another child that needs picking up from school say, and no one to help?! Or say you live in a remote location with no online food/medicine shopping available? Not go out for 7 days?!

I TOTALLY agree that those who go out and about and knowingly mix their ill children with other children/people in such places as I mentioned above are selfish and irresponsible. Same goes for taking a child who's been vomiting or had diarrhea within 48 hrs to such places (and I know plenty of people who do this!) or taking children with a temperature out etc. but I do think it's OTT to keep a child completely isolated for days and days. Germs are everywhere and besides which, lots of illnesses are most contagious before any symptoms appear.

LittleBooInABox · 29/05/2017 16:09

Take her for a walk. But no park, touching things.

AppleOfMyEye10 · 29/05/2017 16:11

Yanbu op, I'm sure you would be sensible enough to avoid busy areas so I can't see why not.

StillDrivingMeBonkers · 29/05/2017 16:13

WIBU to take her for a country walk or to a quiet stretch of beach tomorrow? Obviously nowhere she'd come into close contact with people

Not a problem, people have to be in very close contact to catch chicken pox.

[http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chickenpox/Pages/Introduction.aspx#transmission]

TheMysteriousJackelope · 29/05/2017 16:14

If you had to take her on the bus home from the nursery then it sounds as if you need to use public transport to get to a beach or country walk.

I'd stay home until she has passed the infectious stage tbh, unless you can walk along your street with her without coming into contact with anyone else.

somewheresomehow · 29/05/2017 16:14

I would take her out for a walk somewhere in the buggy I doubt you will meet or get close enough to anyone who may be vunerable

from nhs site

contaminated surfaces
contaminated objects, such as toys or bedding
touching chickenpox blisters or the shingles rash
face-to-face contact with an infected person, such as having a conversation
<strong>being in the same room as an infected person for 15 minutes or more</strong>

Someone with chickenpox is infectious from one or two days before the rash appears until all the blisters have dried out and crusted over.
you will be outside so less chance of passing it on

Lovelilies · 29/05/2017 16:16

YANBU at all, take her out and get some fresh air.
PP think she'll infect someone on a quiet beach or in the country? Get real 🙄😤