Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to take my DS with chicken pox to a park?

76 replies

ColourfulOnesie · 17/03/2022 11:54

Hear me out!
He has chicken pox, he’s been stuck in for 3 days now, he also has ADHD and it losing his shit! He needs to run!
I’d planned to take him to the park now while it’s school time with a ball and his bike and just let him free for a couple of hours
I obviously won’t let him touch any equipment or go near any other people
But I’m worried I’ll get looks/possibly some comments
With my other DC we just didn’t leave the house but honesty, he is crawling the walls!

Also please be gentle with me I haven’t slept in a good 4 nights now

OP posts:
KeyWorker · 17/03/2022 11:58

It’s fine. Take a ball/bike/whatever and get an hour of fresh air. Avoid the shops and other people obviously but it’s fine to get out for a bit.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 17/03/2022 11:58

He needs to stay in. Varicella is incredibly contagious and the risk is older people with shingles or congenital varicella if he meets any non immune pregnant women.

If you must take him out at 6am (it is now light) not in the middle of the day.

SoftwareDev · 17/03/2022 11:58

Given the potential risk to pregnant woman possibly at the park with preschoolers I personally would not consider this.

If I had to, I'd drive someplace remote (like a field in the middle of nowhere), ensure no one was about - and let them loose there for a bit. But nowhere with play equipment/other people around.

Ilostit · 17/03/2022 12:01

What about up and down the pavement on his bike if you don’t live in a busy street? Or drive to a field!

yikesanotherbooboo · 17/03/2022 12:09

He is a risk to pregnant women ,babies or those with damaged immune systems but if he stays well clear of others and is in the fresh air I don't see how he can cause any harm. He can't cause the elderly to catch shingles.

Original poster
ColourfulOnesie · 17/03/2022 12:10

@Neurodiversitydoctor can’t take him out at 6am as I have 3 other children

Just to clarify I was never intending to let him on the playground, just the open grassy area beside it which is generally where people walk dogs
But I will avoid
Trying to think if I can think of any empty fields nearby 🤔
Our street is littered with cars so unfortunately won’t be able to just go up and down the pavement

OP posts:
Sirzy · 17/03/2022 12:11

As Tough as it is you can’t risk going somewhere where there is a risk of contact with others

Mamamia7962 · 17/03/2022 12:12

I think it depends on how big the park is really. We have a massive park near us with green fields where it would be possible to play with a ball and not come into contact with anyone.

If he's riding a bike then he is likely to be riding past other people if on a path, so I wouldn't do this.

Sirzy · 17/03/2022 12:13

Do you have a friend with a garden who would let you use it?

Mamamia7962 · 17/03/2022 12:16

If you have a garden could you make him an obstacle course to help him burn off some energy. You could time him to see what is the fastest time he can do it in!

girlmom21 · 17/03/2022 12:18

If there a football pitch or whatever by your local play area? Let him play there.

Welshmaenad · 17/03/2022 12:19

Play park obviously no, but can't see the harm in him running around a field as long as you are vigilant and prevent contact with others.

You can't catch shingles from someone with chickenpox, it's a reactivation of the varicella virus.

RandomBasic · 17/03/2022 12:21

@SoftwareDev

Given the potential risk to pregnant woman possibly at the park with preschoolers I personally would not consider this.

If I had to, I'd drive someplace remote (like a field in the middle of nowhere), ensure no one was about - and let them loose there for a bit. But nowhere with play equipment/other people around.

Exactly
Flowersandhearts · 17/03/2022 12:21

Do you drive OP? Even a change of scenery might help him? Or driving to a remote field? Like others have said the risk to pregnant women and vulnerable people makes the park a risky choice.

Mariposista · 17/03/2022 12:22

Take him. The poor kid (and you) will benefit

Ponoka7 · 17/03/2022 12:23

Chicken pox can live in the air upto a couple of hours. But most people have had chicken pox. I'm immune compromised, so I've had it a few times. I just get antivirals from my consultant. Other than that it's about him not touching anything. You know the park and who uses it.

incognitoforthisone · 17/03/2022 12:28

I think it depends on how big the park is really. We have a massive park near us with green fields where it would be possible to play with a ball and not come into contact with anyone.

Yes, in the park over the road from me it would be totally fine to take a kid with chicken pox; it's huge and there are woods and fields where he'd never be anywhere near other people. You can walk for miles in it without retracing your steps. But a standard park with a playground and a bit of open space next to it, I would say it's very risky.

Original poster
ColourfulOnesie · 17/03/2022 12:30

I’m fairly sure you don’t catch shingles from chickenpox, it’s the other way round - DD10 has just got over shingles and evidently have DS chicken pox in the process, but shingles comes from the virus being reawakened in your body by something else (trauma, other illness, being immuno compromised) after you’ve already had chicken pox

Anyway, I’ve thought of somewhere I can take him
I discovered a few weeks ago it’s where the local teenagers go to drink and snog on a Friday night so it’s fairly out of the way, hidden, and dead during the day

Thanks all - sometimes you just need to band ideas around when your brain is foggy don’t you Smile

OP posts:
PineappleWilson · 17/03/2022 12:31

We did, when DD got CP on holiday and we had a choice of her crashing round the holiday cottage or out in isolated places. We kept away from swings etc. but went to isolated places, beach, woods etc. and left as soon as anyone else arrived. It was a slightly surreal few days, as we saw the same family twice. I think they thought we had a grudge against them and kept running off, but they had a toddler so we were desperate to keep away from them.

courgettigreensadwater · 17/03/2022 13:02

@SoftwareDev

Given the potential risk to pregnant woman possibly at the park with preschoolers I personally would not consider this.

If I had to, I'd drive someplace remote (like a field in the middle of nowhere), ensure no one was about - and let them loose there for a bit. But nowhere with play equipment/other people around.

This 💯% Too much risk of pregnant women in play areas. My friends daughter is blind as she is a nursery nurse and had it (without knowing) when pregnant.
peachy3 · 17/03/2022 13:12

All I can think of is the risk it causes to someone who’s pregnant. Please don’t be selfish, his chicken pox won’t last forever, don’t risk other peoples health for an hour at the park.

Marmite27 · 17/03/2022 13:14

YABU lots of pre-schoolers will be in the park and you’ll exposing them to the pox.

INeedNewShoes · 17/03/2022 13:58

The park isn't a good idea as you're more likely to bump into a pregnant woman there or child who hasn't yet had CP than pretty much anywhere else outdoors.

When DD had chicken pox I drove up to a fairly rural footpath at 8pm and managed not to come within 200m of anyone else. I didn't let DD touch the gate or fence either. However I know this isn't possible for everyone!

Cas112 · 17/03/2022 14:00

Yes he needs to stay in, very dangerous if someone is pregnant. Dont even think about risking it

mumwon · 17/03/2022 14:12

if someone is on steroids by mouth (for whatever reason even temporary) chicken pox can be very very serious
Most people don't realize that
but - wide open space - mornings are best between 9 & 1130 when dc are at school or morning nursery - not at lunch time or after school