DC with chicken pox - do I cancel her party?

[Bacardi101]

More a WWYD my 4yr old DD has just come down with chicken pox along side half of her class mates! It’s her birthday next Thursday so 7 days away she hasn’t got that many spots yet but do I cancel her class party for next week? I don’t think I’m going to get any money back and it’s cost me a small fortune! Help!

Of course you bloody do. HTH

It's a no brainer really isn't it.

HTH?

It’s the first time any of my DC’s have had chicken pox and I don’t know how long they last for and obviously don’t want to put anyone else at risk of getting it.

Some people actually TRY and have their children around others who have chicken pox so they contract it earlier in life rather than later 🙄
I think you need to cancel the party.

Yes, cancel it.

If you don't think you'll get your money back, I would wait and see. If it's a full 7 days away, her spots will probably all be scabbed over and not infectious by then.
I might see if the venue would be willing to rearrange it for a different date in about 4 weeks time when your daughter, plus all her classmates will have got over it. If the venue can't accommodate that, then I would wait and see until the day before.

All of mine were over chicken pox by the end of 7 days. I'm not sure I'd cancel it, especially if you won't get any money back anyway.

Hope that helps.
Your child has a contagious and potentially life threatening (for some people) illness. You’re wondering whether to have her in close contact with lots of possibly vulnerable people.
Seriously hoping you’re a troll and not really that stupid.

I might see if the venue would be willing to rearrange it for a different date in about 4 weeks time when your daughter, plus all her classmates will have got over it. If the venue can't accommodate that, then I would wait and see until the day before.

I agree with this.

Have a look at the NHS website for approximate timings of how long the spots take to scab over etc.

Seriously hoping you’re a troll and not really that stupid.

It's seven days away.

Where is the party being held? If at home, perhaps the other poxed children could still attend (if they feel up to it) and you could explain the situation to the parents of the non-poxed children and say it is best if they don’t come. I wouldn’t want to knowingly expose a child to CP.

See if the venue will let you postpone the party before you cancel.

So the NHS website says:

"How long chickenpox is infectious for?
Chickenpox is infectious from 2 days before the spots appear to until they have crusted over, usually 5 days after they first appeared."

So actually you possibly could still have the party if all the spots come out over the next 2 hours...BUT it is going to totally depend on how she feels...she may still feel pretty lousy. You would have to tell people too that she had had chicken pox, you didn't think she was still contagious so they could make their own decision.

See if the venue will rearrange if not wait and see chicken pox can be scabbed over in 7 days

If not and you would lose the money anyway go ahead with the party without her - DD has been to one where that happened and I threw DS 5th birthday party without him. It was an all inclusive soft play place and it seemed silly having paid for it for his classmates not to enjoy it. He then got to enjoy opening the presents up afterwards

If you can rearrange to the next again weekend without losing any money I would. If not then id just keep it as it is. She, and the rest of that class that are currently infectious with it, will be over it by this time next week.

next 24 hours....

Wolfiefan I’m sorry but I think your being overally harsh. No not stupid but haven’t come across this before and looking for advice from other parents and no not a troll.

Thank you everybody else for your constructive advice.

If you can’t get the money back I would leave it and see. If all spots are crusted over which they may well be in 7 days she will be fine for her party. I would give guests the heads up but as long as she isn’t contagious by then there is no reason not to have it. NHS advice says spots are usually all crusted over 5 days after they first appear

By day seven they're usually scabbed over, I'd wait and see until the day before and then make a decision. If they're not scabbed then you'd have to either cancel or rearrange but if they are scabbed then she's no longer contagious and it'll be able to go ahead as planned.

Bit harsh Wolfie?!?....
...if the OP hasn't had any other children, or been around children much before then she might not know anything about chicken pox.
Whilst of course you should not knowingly put people at risk, as with many of these viruses, a person is usually most infectious before they know they are ill.

The best advice is see if the venue will postpone and if not decide at the last minute when you know who is ill and who is better.

Hope she isn't too poorly. It's horrid but imo good to get out of the way for a usually healthy child. When my DC had it they were asked to lick my friends DC

Thank you I will give the venue a call now and see what they say. Bless her she’s normally on the go all the time but all she wants to do is have a cuddle on the sofa I’ll happily take the cuddles