Taking DD out with chickenpox

[Suntrapped]

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.

[NotAnotherUserName5]

A quiet beach on a bank holiday Monday, really?

Yabu-let her play in the garden! My kids caught chicken pox from some selfish parent who thought it was ok to take their child to legoland a few weeks ago. And I'm pregnant and had to wait for tests to see if I was immune.
I myself had to stay in for weeks and I know it's frustrating, but needs must.

[KnotsNotLanding]

YADBU and selfish and stupid.

I've just finished chemotherapy and an massively immune compromised. CP could kill me.

[dementedpixie]

OP said tomorrow not today. LEGOLAND is not the same as a quiet walk in the country or at the beach

[dementedpixie]

She's not got a bloody garden!

[dementedpixie]

So you be on the deserted beach or country walk then? Some people are getting a bit dramatic now

[OutComeTheWolves]

Do it - I took ds out to walk the dog when he had it.

I just didn't take him to parks, shops etc.

[StillDrivingMeBonkers]

A quiet beach on a bank holiday Monday, really?

I've just walked from Bexhill to Hastings, both popular spots and barely met other people

[Soubriquet]

Jeez it's a good job I'm not this neurotic

Some of you seem to think we need to keep them confined to the house with a big Red Cross on the front door warning about contamination

Having a walk in the country is fine

[somewheresomehow]

notanotherusername5 ^^ RTFT she hasn't got a bloody garden to play in she wants to go for a bloody walk in the fresh air not an indoor play centre or McD's

[theymademejoin]

YANBU.

I have to say, I really don't get the hysteria on mn re chickenpox. Provided you take reasonable precautions (e.g. keeping away from crowded places, preventing touching of surfaces, preventing close interaction with others etc) there isn't really a problem. Bringing a child for a walk in the way you described is perfectly reasonable. Bringing a child to a friend's house (or to Legoland) is not ok. I really wish people could see the difference.

[NotAnotherUserName5]

dementedpixie

That's fine if tomorrow they've all scabbed over isn't it? CP isn't straight forward for everyone.

You can live without going out for a mere few days if you don't really have to. I have managed this just recently as have others.

How can you be sure you won't bump into someone vulnerable though? You can't, so you shouldn't do it.

[theymademejoin]

Soubriquet - maybe a bell to carry while walking in addition to the red cross.

[Det54]

You need close prolonged contact to catch chicken pox, my youngest had it, the middle one never got it, she never had it before, go out, save your sanity

[theymademejoin]

Notanother - walking past someone in the open air is not a problem. Some form of interaction is required for contagion. If the OP meets someone who looks like they want to stop and chat, then all she has to do is say she can't stop to chat as dc is ill.

[wonkylegs]

As long as you understand (which you seem to) the need to properly stay away from others a walk out in the countryside or on a beach is no problem. I say that as somebody who is immunocompromised and would be hospitalised if I caught CP as I have no immunity to it.
The problem is that many people don't think and take their kids to places where they will bump into people and think well it's outside or won't be for long so it'll be ok.
As long as you do keep away from others, go out get some fresh air it'll probably do you both some good. If you can't think of anywhere that is truly isolated then you should wait I'm afraid.

[ScipioAfricanus]

Why do people keep asking this? Yes it's unreasonable to risk the health of unborn babies, small babies and the immuno-compromised. It's boring and horrible being stuck in your house or flat with pox child but if you are a decent member of society that is what you will do. By all means if you wouldn't mind your parent going through chemotherapy (etc) being potentially killed by someone's need for fresh air and a nicer time, do go right ahead.

[dementedpixie]

And even then they'd need close face to face contact with the poxy child. Just walking past or being in the vicinity in the open air will not pass it on

[WellThatSucks]

Take your child out for a walk, fgs. You sound considerate and sensible enough to know to stay away from other people, don't let her touch surfaces it's likely others may touch.
You don't need to wear a hairshirt and intone 'Unclean' while ringing a bell as you walk although that might appease some of the more hysterical overreactors among PPs. Hope your little girl feels better soon.

[Lilybensmum1]

It's only for a short space of time, stay In until fully scabbed over. My DH Is immunocompromised and contact with cp for him could mean stopping treatment and blood tests etc meaning his condition can worsen.

[TrueColors]

YANBU OP and I wish your little one better but I must say some posters on here are acting in their usual arsey ways. Oh aren't you hilarious jabbering about about your red crosses, so witty! I suppose you're lucky that you're not worried your loved one may die because some people (not the OP who is being kind and considerate) don't understand basic infection risks. Chicken pox is very scary and dangerous to a certain groups of people, so no need to be such twats about it.

[NennyNooNoo]

Do you have a car, OP? If so, then I think it would be fine, taking basic precautions. We walked along holkham beach today and didn't come within 10 metres of anyone. If you need to use public transport to get there, then sorry, no.

[theymademejoin]

Truecolours - the most arsey comments have been from some of those telling the op to stay home.

I think if you're immuno-suppressed, it would be more sensible to educate yourself about actual risks, rather than stressing out about imagined or exaggerated risks.

[GeillisTheWitch]

I took DD out for walks on our local beach while she was spotty, it was winter and the only people we saw were a couple of dog walkers in the far distance so I'm pretty confident she didn't infect anyone. If you know a very quiet spot to take her I'd do it but it might be more difficult if other kids are off school for half term.

[WhatWouldDarylDixonDo]

My DD has just had CP. She only played in the garden or out the front with her friend she caught it from and others who have already had it (checked with their parents)

Yes it was a PITA especially as it also meant my 3 year old couldn't go anywhere else either, but it was only a week. I couldn't in all consciousness take her where she could pass the virus to someone.

If yours is day 4 today then tomorrow they could all be crusted anyway if it's a mild dose?

[expatinscotland]

SHE DOESN'T HAVE A GARDEN!!! Not everyone has a garden! It's only on MN that everyone has a garden and lives in a 'quiet cul-de-sac'.

If you have a car, I'd take her on a country walk in her buggy or a deserted beach.