Chicken pox

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I’m fully prepared to be told I’m being unreasonable but:
DD (2.5yrs)came out with chicken pox last Saturday. So have stayed in all week. Seems to have had it mildly as only had 20 spots and all scabbed over by Thursday but not going anywhere till Monday just in case. Also have 4.5month old boy who has no spots/other symptoms of it and a friend of ours has said that as he could be infectious before he gets spots we should stay in for another 2 weeks just to make sure he doesn’t have it as that is the incubation period (1-3weeks).
I’ve said that seems a little extreme since there is no way of know if he has or hasn’t got it until he comes out in spots and if we do go out he’s in his pram so hardly sneezing or rubbing himself over other children! I don’t see why we should stay in for another two weeks, just in case he has it!

Sod that.

Get out and about, lovely fresh air and sunshine.

I would not be quarantining for another two weeks.

Can you phone your GP for advice?

No you don't need to quarantine unless he shows symptoms. It was around 15 days before my ds got chicken pox symptoms after dd had it

NHS says that children can be infectious 2 days before spots and until they scab over and friend of ours who is a nurse practitioner has said no need to stay in. To be fair DD has probably already given it to whole nursery class as would have been infectious both Thursday and Friday before the spots came out 🤷‍♀️

He won't be contagious until 1-2 days before spots come out and until they scab over

No you don't need to. My kids still went to school while their siblings had chicken pox. Partner still went to work, I stayed home to care for ill child. Don't stay in chances are your youngest won't catch it anyway.

@Singlebutmarried @dementedpixie That’s what I though from reading but friend says I’d be being irresponsible 🤷‍♀️

And she probably caught it from nursery anyway

@Plumbear2 exactly my thoughts….husband is at work now!

@dementedpixie so true!

YANBU
Provided your younger child seems to be well, there's no need for you all to stay at home.
Sometimes dcs can seem a bit off-colour for a day or two before coming out in spots so perhaps would stay home if that's the case. Having said that siblings don't always catch things from each other, especially babies so your friend is over doing it.

I often think about this.
We stayed in while child 1 had spots, went our and about when 'safe' and of course child 2 came out with spots so we were effectively carrying on our lives with child 2 out and about while contagious.

But I guess that's how the infection spreads.

The section in which you don't know if they are contagious.

Your youngest might well catch it. Two year old DS1 had cp when bf DS2 was a week old and he caught it too, although very mild. Now 16 and never had it again.
Keep an eye out.

I think it's fine. He'd only be infectious for a day or two before the spots came out.
If you're breastfeeding and have had it yourself he may not get it anyway as he could be getting antibodies from you still.