To leave the house with chicken pox

[Pollypanda]

My 11mo has chicken pox. First spots appeared on Friday. Some have scabbed over, others haven’t. Today will be his 4th day at home and we are both going a bit stir crazy - I think some fresh air would do us both good.

WIBU to take him for a walk in the buggy outside, making sure he doesn’t touch anything or anyone other than me? Obviously I wouldn’t take him to soft play, around other people indoors etc. But is a walk round the block ok? What’s the etiquette here?!

Honestly, I wouldn't. You never know if you are going to walk near a person who is pg or whose immune system is weakened.
I feel for you though - it's tough bring stuck inside all week.

Chicken pox is contagious until approximately 5 days after the first spots appear. You're at least 4 days on and the spots are starting to scab, so if you're keeping LO in his buggy and just walking round the block you should be fine. Just make sure he doesn't come in to close contact with people or touch communal things for another couple of days. I hope he feels better soon.

Thank you for replying. I’m so conflicted over what to do. I certainly don’t want to put anyone at risk but I’m confused over whether it is an airborne virus or if it can only be caught via direct contact.

I'd say a walk round the block is absolutely fine, so long as you're not near to people.

Walking around the block is fine. I can't remember the exact details of what is considered chicken pox exposure, but it's something like 5 minutes of face-to-face conversation or 15 mins in the same room.

Walking around the block is probably fine just don't take him into any shops, play areas etc. I'd active wants to stop for a chat warn them in case they are immunosuppressed or have close contact with someone who is

If anyone

It is an airborne virus - but if he isn't coughing/sneezing, and his spots are mostly covered by clothing (it sheds from the spots), you should be fine as long as you don't get too close to anyone.

Don't get too close to anyone, and use hand sanitiser after touching the baby so you don't spread it from your hands to gates, pedestrian crossing buttons, whatever you touch while out. Good for you to get some fresh air, I hope little one is better soon.

Thank you @isittimeforbed that’s really helpful info!

@randomobject in this weather he’ll be covered head to toe apart from his face where on only has one small spot.

As long as you're not near anyone I'd say a walk in the buggy is fine

Use the raincover?

I've was immune compromised after chemo. CP kills. Stay in and suck it up. Don't risk other peoples lives.

and as there will no doubt be poster that say get vaccinated. CP and MMR are both live vaccinations and can't be done until 2 years post chemo. So it's not that simple.

I agree he'll probably be ok but I think I'd wait one more day.

I remember being at the park with my 2 year who was on the climbing frame. A little boy goes over and starts talking to her and his mum casually says to me "He has chicken pox at the moment which is why we're here and not nursery. They have to catch it sometime though don't they?" I was so angry. We were going on holiday in 3 weeks and I had my 10 week old baby in the buggy. She didn't get it then thankfully.

I get really mad about people who spread illness either deliberately or negligently. I've posted before about getting to a birthday party with DS1 and a boy with chicken pox was there. His mum thought she was doing the rest of us a favour by dosing him with calpol and bringing him anyway so our kids could catch chicken pox if they'd not had it. Err not when my final exams at uni are only two weeks away and I need DS well for nursery and plenty of sleep. Idiot. Fast forward 16 years and we went out for the first time yesterday after DS3 went down with chicken pox a week ago. Half term has sucked being stuck indoors with kids with cabin fever but there was no choice. I'm guessing a short walk in the pushchair outside and away from people may be ok but I wouldn't go where anyone could catch it.

I took DD out in the pushchair when she had chicken pox. But we live quite rurally and I could guarantee that I could avoid other people.

I wouldn't.

Do you have a garden?

Why risk it?
Just a few more days.

As someone who has an auto immune illness who was hospitalised by chicken pox, pleas don't.

I actually think it's fine to go got a walk. When mine had it I had to do the school run so I put the rain cover on the pram and kept well away from people.

I would go for a stroll somewhere quiet to get some fresh air.

My view is that it's not going to kill you to be stuck inside, bored for another day, but it could kill an immunosuppressed person if you accidentally infected them.

That's not to say that I'm not sympathetic though, OP, I really am. It's also good of you to really think this through and ask for advice as so many people don't even bother with infection control.

Agree with Snomade

He is 11 months old. He will cope with another day or 2 inside. You are going stir crazy, understandably. Get him comfy on the couch, put the TV on and leave him to rest. I really don't understand people's obsession with taking their sick children out of the house. Who really wants to go wandering about when they feel ill and run down?!

Open some windows for fresh air. Take it easy.

speaking as someone who nearly died from CP. I would advise you to not be so bloody selfish. I was lucky to live, and spent months in hospital/isolation because of some idiot with a similar attitude. Stir crazy because of a few days indoors????? boo fucking hoo!!!!