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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:
Original poster
ColourfulOnesie · 17/03/2022 18:31

Yes we did go out and of course I took him onto all the play equipment made sure to get him to lick everything and rubbed him directly on every pregnant woman we saw

Honestly can people not read?! Hmm

Great tip about the calamine lotion @BOOTS52 I will definitely be doing that thank you Smile

OP posts:
Mojoj · 17/03/2022 18:43

Of course you can take him to run about the park. All these eejits saying he'll infect someone are talking crap. And they clearly have no idea what it's like being stuck at home with a kid with ADHD. Enjoy the fresh air!

Polyputthekettleon · 17/03/2022 18:43

I wouldn't take a child out with Chicken Pox. Morning/afternoon (before school finishes ) is when parents tend to take babies and preschoolers to the playground. I am sure you wouldn't like people taking their covid positive child out to a playground when you are there. What you are trying to do is no different. Hope your ds gets well soon

liveforsummer · 17/03/2022 18:46

Sorry not a public park. That wound be really irresponsible. Somewhere deserted would be ok though

BorgQueen · 17/03/2022 18:54

Oh for god’s sake - vulnerable people are responsible for protecting themselves, if you are compromised then you stay away from risky situations - let’s just lock up all kids shall we in case they pass on normal childhood illnesses 🙄

nether · 17/03/2022 19:01

Less risky a disease that covid.

I would have hoped that people would have become more careful,about keeping infectious diseases to themselves, which means keeping away from people when likely to be infectious.

But it's not the law that you must isolate until scabbed, and it seems to be the new normal that if it's not the law then crack on

Gilead · 17/03/2022 19:10

Love all the people saying immunosuppressed people are responsible for ourselves. My crystal ball appears to be broken so should I take my dog for a walk I can’t know who to avoid and who not to avoid. Ffs.

Moody123 · 17/03/2022 19:11

@BorgQueen

Oh for god’s sake - vulnerable people are responsible for protecting themselves, if you are compromised then you stay away from risky situations - let’s just lock up all kids shall we in case they pass on normal childhood illnesses 🙄
I'm 35 weeks pregnant and never had chickenpox Why should I stay in with my DC? The OP has found somewhere and that's fine, however it is not up to the vulnerable to keep away , it's up to the people with contagious disease to stay inside (chicken pox is highly dangerous) if OP was that worried about her child having to isolate she should have got them vaccinated , like I did with my DS
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 17/03/2022 19:12

@Moody123

Have you considered getting the jab once you’ve had your baby incase you have another pregnancy?

Chely · 17/03/2022 19:15

Our 6 year olds had it recently and 7mth old has it atm. I had to take ours out to walk the dog as dh is working away, also had to take older ones to school so they had to come too.

Chely · 17/03/2022 19:18

You can get aqueous calamine cream by Care+, so much easier to apply.

BOOTS52 · 17/03/2022 19:18

You are welcome and I brought my son into my room and he slept on his mattress beside my bed incase he woke up as he had high temperature first few days and woke afraid. It was like I was whitewashing him with the calomine lotion. I just put an old towel or newspaper on the ground and we had a bit of a laugh. Let him pick a movie and snuggle up with some goodies and just watch for the high temperature as that is when complications can arise. I remember I could have nearly fried an egg on my son he was so hot so had to keep cooling him down and medication also. Lucky had a friend who was a doctor across the way so was great as could not go doctor's when he had it. It will be over before you know it.

Betty000 · 17/03/2022 19:27

Just out of interest those saying OP must stay at home........do any of you have children with ASD? and what did you do if one of your dc had chickenpox and you had to take other dc to school/nursery?

OP absolutely fine if he plays out in an open space.

INeedNewShoes · 17/03/2022 19:32

@ColourfulOnesie Advice has changed and calomine lotion is recommended anymore as they realised it’s great for offering immediate relief from itching but then really doesn’t help.

After reading that somewhere I got poxclin for dd which combined with taking antihistamine syrup and calpol seemed to do a good job.

Frazzledhen · 17/03/2022 19:33

@Betty000

Just out of interest those saying OP must stay at home........do any of you have children with ASD? and what did you do if one of your dc had chickenpox and you had to take other dc to school/nursery?

OP absolutely fine if he plays out in an open space.

Yes I do asd and adhd I still stand by thinking you should follow the nhs and other health advice that you stay away from others. I don't think it unreasonable for vulnerable people to assume if you are infectious you will stay at home x How ever I appreciate my circumstances will make me more aware of what the risks are x
Moody123 · 17/03/2022 19:35

@Betty000

Just out of interest those saying OP must stay at home........do any of you have children with ASD? and what did you do if one of your dc had chickenpox and you had to take other dc to school/nursery?

OP absolutely fine if he plays out in an open space.

I'd have got him vaccinated if I was that concerned being housebound would be such an issue , like I did my DS
Moody123 · 17/03/2022 19:38

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@Moody123

Have you considered getting the jab once you’ve had your baby incase you have another pregnancy?[/quote]
I hadn't actually thought of that to be honest as I didn't know the risk to pregnant women until I was actually pregnant, I got my DS vaccinated as one of his friends had it horribly (inside of eyelids ect!) and it just terrified me ... however it is safe to say I won't be having another after this one but will get vaccinated at the same time as this little one

Sirzy · 17/03/2022 19:42

I have a child with autism, and other medical conditions which meant he spent large chunks of the last two years shielding.

As tough as it was I didn’t take him out when he had chicken pox. Nor did I take him out for big chunks of the last two years.

It seems like some on here think he should stay hidden away for ever rather than people following sensible rules for a few days

BOOTS52 · 17/03/2022 19:56

Sorry if Calamine lotion outdated. It was 14 years ago since my son had chickenpox, things have moved on. Good you got updated advise on what creams to use

Snoopsnoggysnog · 17/03/2022 20:00

@PineappleWilson

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.
This happened to us as well and we did similar
Gilead · 17/03/2022 22:27

Mine are adults now but yes, three with Autism and two with ADHD. I paid for the vaccine.

SeasonFinale · 18/03/2022 08:34

@ColourfulOnesie

Yes we did go out and of course I took him onto all the play equipment made sure to get him to lick everything and rubbed him directly on every pregnant woman we saw

Honestly can people not read?! Hmm

Great tip about the calamine lotion @BOOTS52 I will definitely be doing that thank you Smile

Apparently you can't as you missed the part about it being airborne so licking and touching isn't required - just being in the space itself is enough!
bringonsummer2022 · 18/03/2022 09:59

I would just go out. Presumably you aren't planning on letting him kiss any babies or cuddle random pregnant women.
You sound sensible and reasonable to me. Your son's well-being (and yours) are also important.

Pandypuff · 18/03/2022 11:53

I went to the park like every day when I was a kid and had chicken pox. With my Nan. Still remember it as one of the loveliest weeks of my life! I'd take mine out with chicken pox to a park. Anyone who didn't have it as a kid has presumably had the vaccine or if not knows the risks?

Volhhg · 18/03/2022 13:08

Yeah I think most people who didn't have it as a child are aware of the risks especially pregnant women. In any case people are most infectious 1 to 2 days before the spots and some people only get very few spots to begin so presumably aren't aware and going to parks etc during the infectious period beforehand.