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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take dd with chickenpox to playground?

105 replies

chickenpoxy189 · 18/04/2018 15:13

Dd2 (5) is on day 2 of chickenpox. She’s got lots of spots but isn’t ill at all and is getting very frustrated from being at home all day.

She’s got lots of energy, but we only have a tiny garden.

Would it be unreasonable to take her to a local playground tomorrow that is usually empty during school hours? It looks like the weather’s going to be really nice where we are.

Obviously we’d leave if anyone else turned up.

OP posts:

BlancheM · 18/04/2018 15:51

An empty playground is completely fine! I hope your DD's better soon.

BuntyII · 18/04/2018 15:56

Of course YABU. I have a child who has major surgery soon (time critical) and I've had to practically lock him in the house because of people like you who won't keep their children inside when they're contagious. Really fucking annoys me.

DailyMailFail101 · 18/04/2018 15:56

Yes this would be unreasonable, if she’s bored do somthing in the garden rather than infecting others.

DobbyIsAGoodElf · 18/04/2018 15:57

My ds(4) is on day 7 of chicken pox and we took him to the park yesterday. Hes mostly scabbed over though probably completely scabbed over, i'm just over cautious and we fed the ducks instead of playing on the equipment. We didn't see anyone else though and would have left if we had.
I didn't take him out the first couple of days, he was fine and has sailed through it but still kept him in.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 18/04/2018 15:57

I will write what I always write on these threads. Your child is infectious. They will get bored at home. I lost a friend to a chicken pox infection he caught from a child who didn't stay home. His youngest DS was less than a year old and never knew his father. Which is worse?

mummabearfoyrbabybears · 18/04/2018 15:58

Oh no, please don't. Just because it's a 'childhood Illness' does not mean children should be subjected to it. My eldest son was pretty ok with it but my 9 month old daughter was so ill and in so much pain! It can also be fatal to the right person. My friends 20 month old was in intensive care and on life support for 10 days after chicken pox became internal and imprinted on his lungs and liver.
Sorry as you can see I'm really not in the 'chicken pox party' camp

kyrenialady · 18/04/2018 16:01

No don't she will be touching the equipment. I know it's horrible staying in but you have to do these things.

Hope she gets over them soon.

user1471501171 · 18/04/2018 16:06

There is a good chance your little one will get a second wave of spots by tomorrow and will be feeling worse then. They are still infectious until the last of the spots crust over so really need to be kept isolated. It's not just the playground you need to think of either. What about all the people you will pass on the way there. Anything touched by your kid will be contaminated too.
If it's nice enough for sunscreen to be needed could you pop a paddling pool in the shade in the garden, maybe with some oats in a sock?

flufffysockks · 18/04/2018 16:07

Only on Mumsnet are you expected to stay indoors in complete quarantine.

Back in the real world, yes it's fine to play in an empty park or go for a walk somewhere quiet for fresh air.

namechangedtoday15 · 18/04/2018 16:09

Are you planning on flying there OP? For all the people saying it's not a risk in an empty playground, presume OP is walking there, or driving and maybe car park doesn't join park. There a lots of scenarios when child may be in close proximity to passer by etc.

OP. Completely, 100% unreasonable to go out. Stay in & don't jeopardise anyone else's health.

It's been said hundreds of times on MN that chicken pox can be a very, very nasty infection for some people leading to long term problems (speaking from personal knowledge).

stitchglitched · 18/04/2018 16:09

No you shouldn't. Might DD had cp over easter and was climbing the walls but we restricted her to our garden. You have no idea who you might come into contact with- vulnerable, immuno compromised etc.

BuntyII · 18/04/2018 16:10

@flufffysockks it's really not fine for all the reasons mentioned above.

SluttyButty · 18/04/2018 16:15

Ffs I could become seriously unwell if I come in contact with it and my son has never had it. So he theoretically could go to the same park as you, catch it then come home and I could be ill.

This tripe about only on MN would you be told to stay home with an infectious disease. Bollocks, it's the done thing.

Goodfood1 · 18/04/2018 16:18

take her for a walk in an open space like the park but avoid the playground and just avoid the very few people who will be around.

BlancheM · 18/04/2018 16:20

Flufffy, it's also only on MN where people wilfully misread an OP so that they can be indignant and add to the pile on.

Lovemusic33 · 18/04/2018 16:21

Could you not take her for a walk (away from people) to tire her out?

As others have said, you can’t really take her and then have to bring her home if people turn up.

himynameiss · 18/04/2018 16:22

This is just as bad as having intercourse with people knowing you have aids

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 18/04/2018 16:24

Very unacceptable. How do you know all the adult helpers have ever had it?

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 18/04/2018 16:25

Sorry, read that as playgroup

BewareOfDragons · 18/04/2018 16:26

If the playpark is empty, there is absolutely no reason you can't take her out if she's otherwise fine. People are seriously over reacting. Put her in long sleeves and trackie bottoms and go before sun is an issue for her.

And himynameiss, that is a truly ridiculous comparison. Being outside and keeping well away from other people is not the same as having sex with someone while being HIV positive. Dear god.

pilates · 18/04/2018 16:26

No I wouldn't

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/04/2018 16:26

YOU'RE AS BAD AS HITLER!

Not really. The OP asked on here, she has been given sensible advice to stay home and I trust she will. CP is spread by touch so she shouldn't be touching playground equipment.

No need for the hyperbole. I don't include the people who are immuno-compromised in this. I understand your concerns.

SecretIsland · 18/04/2018 16:27

This is just as bad as having intercourse with people knowing you have aids

What the actual fuck.

Chickenpox or Aids...hmm, yes, so similar it's hard to decide which I'd rather have less.

Pibplob · 18/04/2018 16:28

Just stay at home and the garden! It’s not that hard and will be a lot harder for people like my nephew, who, if he catches it (again as immuno compromised) will end up in hospital for a week or so. His parents won’t be able to work and his brother will also need taking care of. That’s a lot harder for that family to deal with than for you to stay home for a couple of days with an infectious child.

LadyLance · 18/04/2018 16:28

I got chickenpox as a child while my family were on holiday in Italy. My mother and I were quarantined to a single hotel room on medical advice- I'm not sure how long for but I think at least 5 days! Count yourself lucky you have a whole house and small garden to entertain her in!.

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