Going on holiday with Chickenpox

[Justanewname]

My toddler has chicken pox. She had a couple of suspicious looking spots on Friday, a few more yesterday and now has a light sprinkling all over. She doesn’t seem particularly bothered by it and doesn’t seem to feel itchy.

We have a trip planned going away tomorrow to stay at a holiday cottage by the sea.

I know that we can’t take her anywhere indoors where there will be other people because of the risk to other people.

So I have two questions-

Is it acceptable to take a poxy child outdoors so long as they don’t have any close contact with others- so for a walk in the park but not on the swings, a play on a quiet beach where we can keep her away from other people, that sort of thing.

Is it going to get worse and when will we know? Is it foolish to risk being stuck in a holiday cottage with a poorly child who then might not enjoy the 2 hours drive home. Or are we being ridiculous to consider cancelling when she is likely to feel fine and at least if we’re stuck indoors it’s a change of scene. We are taking babysitters AKA grandma and grandad so would at least probably get one day out.

Just go. DSD has chicken pox recently, it doesn't last long. Just use common sense and don't go to kids play parks or restaurants etc. It might restrict your activities a bit but it'll probably do her good.

Just go and enjoy your holiday. It won't make her worse by being away and the change of scenery will do you all good

I wouldn’t go. Unfortunate but these things happen.

I certainly wouldn’t take a child with chicken pox on a beach mainly because I can’t imahine the sand would do much good for the blisters.

The only thing I would consider is do you know how to access healthcare if you need it where you are going?
Chicken pox is usually not serious, but one of mine ended up hospItalised with sepsis. It's not usual, but it can happen.

Ditto re the beach though- i would say suncream and sand are not a good idea

I would go but like you say, stay away from others. Hope you manage to enjoy your holiday.

My dc were both so I’ll with chicken pox that they barely got out of bed for 4 or 5 days. They were both extremly ill and miserable. Quite vomitty. Raised temps, both very very spotty and uncomfortable, both very sleepy. We were away at dm’s house when dd came out - we stayed 5 days until we thought she was well enough to travel, and even then I stopped at every service station between Taunton and Leeds pretty much. The 4 hour journey took 8!

I do understand we had a particularly nasty strain though.

No one can say if your toddler will get more poorly or not. My friend has twins, 1 was fine with chicken pox and just itchy and cranky while the other ended up with a raging fever on and off for days and so poorly he couldnt leave his bed.

Sunlight is not good for blistered spots.

If it's definitely chicken pox the itching will start soon. It's pretty unbearable but only lasts for a couple of days. I've had 4 go through it and the itchy days/night were awful but the rest was fine as they weren't ill.
I'd want to be prepared with all the treatments instead of frantically having to find a pharmacy when away.
And don't use ibuprofen under any circumstances as it can cause huge complications. X

I would go for sure, another home is no worse than your home if you do have to keep her indoors. And yes outdoors 50' from anyone else I would take her, too.

We decided to go ahead. We’re on day 4 now and she has a lovely mix of fresh spots and already crusted over ones but still just a light sprinkling. We have packed piriton, aqueous calamine, poxclin and calpol just in case and made sure we know where the nearest doctors/hospital will be so we are prepared.

Now just hoping we can keep ourselves occupied without being too close to other people.

Thanks for all the advice.

You made the right decision. Mine had no fever, no itching, didn't feel poorly at all. Covered in spots but really didn't bother them.