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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do people still throw ‘chicken pox parties’?

36 replies

anotherday11 · 07/02/2022 15:56

My daughter (2) has recently started nursery and on the past 2 weeks there have been 4 confirmed cases of chicken pox in the toddler room which she is in.

I got talking to another mum at pick up time about it and if she was worried, she laughed and said if her child caught it she’d still send them in as she’d be “doing other parents a favour” by letting their children catch it too and that she would throw a chicken pox party at home so all her other friends with children could join too.

AIBU to think this was a thing of the past?

OP posts:
Somethingsnappy · 07/02/2022 16:03

I've heard of the 'saying', but never heard of it happening in real life. That's not a party I'd want to attend!

Soubriquet · 07/02/2022 16:06

They were still happening when my two had chicken pox. So around 4 years ago.

It’s known now that chicken pox can have really bad consequences so I’m hoping that people are more educated about it, but I doubt it.

Soubriquet · 07/02/2022 16:06

And don’t worry about nursery.

They won’t let her leave her child if he has chicken pox

Adatwistscientist · 07/02/2022 16:07

No, you can get the vaccination far more easily

Hospedia · 07/02/2022 16:08

Good luck to her still sending him, nursery will him straight back.

While most children not vaccinated against it will probably catch it at some point, I wouldn't go put of my way to catch it. Some have it mildly, like one of my DC who had spots, was scabbed by day four, and all the scabs gone by day seven. Some get it more than once, one of my DC has had it three times (each confirmed by thr GP as the first time I was a newbie and didn't know what it was then the second and third time I didn't realise it was chickenpox again). Another of my DC got it really badly and is still scarred now from it, they had spots down inside their ear canals and we had to have their hearing tested afterwards in case it had caused damage, a lot of the spots that were clustered close together got infected and took weeks to heal, thanks to all of that it was nearly three weeks before they were all scabbed over (the infected ones kept weeping).

PineappleWilson · 07/02/2022 16:08

They used to be a thing back in the 80s but my nearly teenager was never invited to one. It's recognised as a more serious illness now and they're no longer done as far as I know. That mother has no idea what family situations other children are living with, compromised immune systems etc.

gogohm · 07/02/2022 16:09

Not sure but when my dd caught it several friends brought their kids around to catch it. I could have given them the vaccine as we lived in the USA but chose not to because it doesn't offer that much immunity, not like catching it

Cutesbabasmummy · 07/02/2022 16:11

I was very poorly with it as a child. My DS is vaccinated ( as part of a trial) and hasn't caught it yet xx

toastofthetown · 07/02/2022 16:11

If people want their children to have chickenpox immunity then there’s a safe and effective vaccine. Why risk your child getting sick, uncomfortable and in pain (or in a small number of cases severely brain damaged or dying)?

KeyWorker · 07/02/2022 16:17

Some people are just morons. It’s an unpleasant illness and can have serious complications. Also it can cause complications to babies in utero who’s mothers have no immunity.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/02/2022 16:19

She's an imbecile.

Said from the position of finding out when 28 weeks pregnant that I hadn't had chickenpox as a child and the child who sat next to me in the school playground was in fact both highly contagious and the child of an utter moron who thought it was nothing to be responsible about and let them get out of the buggy and spread chickenpox spot goo over my hand.

The only good thing to come out of being on oxygen and feeling like my entire insides were being bathed in boiling acid (lung and vaginal chickenpox on top of head to toe standard boiling skin is not something I'd wish on my worst enemy) was that a) it wasn't early enough in my pregnancy to cause miscarriage or b) late enough in my pregnancy to cause death or blindness in my baby.

Ffsmakeitstop · 07/02/2022 16:20

It boggles my mind how stupid some people can be. When I was s childminder I looked after a child as a favour for one day and when his mum picked him up she said "I think he might have chicken pox but I had to work". Well thanks all 3 of mine got it one of which was a baby who was so ill for nearly three weeks. Also one of my regular mindees got it too which didn't go down well with her mum.

AmbushedByCake1 · 07/02/2022 16:21

Yes I have an acquaintance who sent her 3 year old to get infected at a friends house.

This woman also thinks 5G caused COVID.

RandomQuest · 07/02/2022 16:23

Most people I know have vaccinated, unless their kids caught it as babies before they had chance. Unless you really can’t afford it I don’t see why you wouldn’t get the vaccine. Chickenpox can be really nasty and the vaccine is safe, effective and part of the standard vaccine schedule in most other developed countries. Chickenpox parties need to stay in 1990s where they belong!

toastofthetown · 07/02/2022 16:23

Just to add, the vaccine is also available for adults. I’ve recently had it, as I didn’t catch chickenpox as a child and I’m aware that there are people as mentioned in the OP who show no regard for those without immunity.

Soubriquet · 07/02/2022 16:25

My dd had itchy spots and that was it.

Poor ds had his get infected around his mouth and had to have antibiotics.

He also has a permanent scar on his face from one of the pox marks

Onlyforcake · 07/02/2022 16:27

My husband had chicken pox really badly as a child. This left him susceptible and he had a secondary meningitis infection, was in a coma for a few weeks had a partial amputation and has visual problems as a result. Definitely against deliberate infection in this house! The woman Is a dick to assume everyone shares her couldn't give a shit approach.

FingersofFish · 07/02/2022 16:27

I got it as an adult and was keen for my kids to have it young but even so I wouldn't have done a party, they were exposed to it at school and nursery by accident. If they hadn't by the end of primary my GP had recommended having the jab.

Westfacing · 07/02/2022 16:28

It's a crazy thing to deliberately put your child in harm's way.

They could be one of the unlucky ones and suffer serious complications - bad enough if they'd caught it at school but how would you feel if you'd taken them to a so-called party!

LampLighter414 · 07/02/2022 17:00

Since when do we vaccinate against chickenpox?

Don't see it on the NHS list, or do lots of people sort it out privately?

PAFMO · 07/02/2022 17:03

Only ignorant twats do.
Many other countries vaccinate against CP as a matter of course.
I had it when I was 16, and have 2 great holes in my forehead.

Willyoujustbequiet · 07/02/2022 17:03

@LampLighter414

My GP gave me it as an adult.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 07/02/2022 17:03

My DDs are early 20s and it’s never been a thing as far as I’m aware. One of mine had it really badly when she was 2 so, no, I wouldn’t willingly expose a child to it.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 07/02/2022 17:05

She had so many spots you couldn’t see any clear skin, they all joined up, absolutely everywhere eyelids, up her nose, mouth, bum. She was in a terrible state.

Westfacing · 07/02/2022 17:06

@LampLighter414

Since when do we vaccinate against chickenpox?

Don't see it on the NHS list, or do lots of people sort it out privately?

Yes, it's not given routinely only if you have a vulnerable family member, so many parents pay for their children to have it privately.
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