To ask... Would you give your child chicken pox deliberately?

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DD's cousin is due over tomorrow for a sleepover. Cousin has just been diagnosed with chicken pox.

Should we go ahead with sleepover, assuming cousin feels well enough, in the knowledge it will likely lead to DD catching chicken pox?

DD is 4 (not at school yet), cousin turning 6, and I've got a 9 month old at home to who woke this morning with a high temp so he might be ailing with something toi

No. The vaccination is much less distressing. Why hasn't she had that?

What vaccine? Didn't know there was one for chickenpox

You have to pay for the vaccine in the uk. I think they cope with it having it younger, but its not nice to see them with it at any age really. Its up to you, just be aware of your 9month old being unwell too

Personally I wouldn't. Generally chicken pox is considered mild and lots of people like to "get it out of the way" at the end of the day it's still a virus and every virus has the potential to be deadly, doesn't mean it will, but doesn't mean it won't. I would t want a 9 month catching it. No way, far too vulnerable imo.

Never. It can cause serious complications. I still remember a post on here about a child who became seriously ill and hospitalised through it. If you want her to be immune, get the vaccine.

I wouldn't a 9 month old with it. You can get a vaccine at Superdrug.

No I wouldn’t, simply because I’d feel like a terrible mother deliberately making my kids ill and watch them suffer. They catch it accidentally that’s completely different.

Please don't do this - chicken pox is often harmless but can cause serious complications - dd's best friend spent two months in hospital with chicken pox and related complications at the age of four. I know many people expose their children intentionally but it's really not a sensible choice - it doesn't even guarantee immunity - dd2 had had chicken pox twice - both properly confirmed by drs - I didn't imagine it!
I'm sure you can arrange a sleepover for another time when everyone is well.

I'd never give them anything deliberately.

Postpone the sleepover for a couple of weeks.

No I wouldn't have them over, sure they're all going to get chicken pox eventually, but I've had a few opportunities to expose mine but always changed my mind even though I was tempted.

If I'd said yes and then they'd ended up with complications etc I'd never forgive myself.

NEVER.

Chickenpox is generally a mild illness but even if it’s mild you’re looking at ten days off work and school.
It can however be very unpleasant indeed - dh and I were both seriously ill with it. Ds is vaccinated.

Cancel. If your 9mo has a temperature already it’d be really cruel to deliberately give him chickenpox. He could end up really unwell. You can vaccinate if you want immunity.

I would. My oldest caught it when they was 3 and she had no problems. My younger child didn’t catch until they were 7 and it was much worse. Get it out if the way while they are young. The incidents of complications are very rare.

Also it tends to get worse each day for a few days, so the child could be really really miserable once they get to you and no one would sleep etc.

NDN just asked me this yesterday as DS has just recovered (mild case fortunately, hoping he has enough immunity). I never had it as a child... and had shingles as an adult.

Vaccinate if possible, before she starts school.

Certainly it seems sensible to cancel the sleepover. However, when one of my DC got chickenpox, I didn't quarantine the others.

No. The vaccination is much less distressing. Why hasn't she had that?

Because it’s not readily available. Because it’s not easy to come by. Because you have to jump through several hoops to get it. Because it’s really difficult to find someone who supplies it in certain areas. Because it’s expensive.
I could probably think of more reasons.

About 20 years ago or so, people used to have 'chicken-pox parties', but maybe the thinking has changed on that.

God no. I still remember the poor woman on here years ago who's child had brain damage as a result of chicken pox.

This is something my mum used to do, well all the mums in street back in the day! Send children in to play with CP child!

Strangely I’ve never had CP.

if i had my time again i would have paid for the vacination. eldest dd got it at 2.5. baby dd got it from her. baby had infected spots on her back and scratched herself badly. not fun.

It's the 9mo I would worry about as PP say. So I wouldn't. However, getting chicken pox as a child is far preferable to getting it as an adult. DF got it as an adult and was extremely sick for about a month. As in: couldn't even get out of bed. We also knew a mother who died after getting it. We toyed with the idea of the vaccine but I keep reading conflicting views on it so haven't gone that route for DD.

No and I have never been offered the vaccination. I wouldn't go really out of my way to avoid my child getting it while she's small because it tends to be much worse in older children and adults.
When I was growing up 'chicken pox parties' were actually a thing ..a kid would get chicken pox and parents in the street would send their kids to play with the afflicted child.

Absolutely no way. Lots of people who get chicken pox don’t suffer too badly but some really do. It can be so sore and itchy. Certainly not something I’d deliberately inflict on my child. Not to mention some people get really ill!

No to deliberate exposure. Yes to vaccination.

Chicken pox can have serious life threatening complications. Just imagine for a moment being the parent who deliberately exposed a child who suffered serious consequences.