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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you expose your kid to chicken pox a week before Christmas?

121 replies

Stuckinthemiddle1990 · 16/12/2022 13:20

YABU - No, she might be miserable and ruin her (and your) Christmas.

YANBU - Yes, get it out the way.

Need some perspective according to DH!

OP posts:
urrrgh46 · 16/12/2022 13:57

Good god no! And get the vaccination if you can!

oakleaffy · 16/12/2022 13:59

Thought there was a vaccine??
Shingles is AGONISING.
One can only develop shingles if one has had chickenpox.
Avoid at all costs.
The pain of shingles is awful.

EarthlyNightshade · 16/12/2022 14:02

I have said YABU as I thought you meant deliberately expose her.
But for your DH to go out with someone who's child has chicken pox is no problem.
The only time I would not do that is if you were pregnant.

Starlightstarbright1 · 16/12/2022 14:02

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 16/12/2022 13:22

I don’t think you should expose them to chicken pox whenever the time of year, you don’t know what the impact might be.

This

updownleftrightstart · 16/12/2022 14:03

frampan6 · 16/12/2022 13:57

Why not get them vaccinated? That's what I did

I think vaccinating against it is a good idea, but he wants to go out tonight. It's a bit late to be thinking about vaccination at this point.
But also, his friend shouldn't be going out anyway if he possibly (probably?) has chicken pox

humpty74 · 16/12/2022 14:04

WaddleAway · 16/12/2022 13:56

I stand corrected, but it’s still not pocket change.

Show quote history

No. But (assuming both parents work) needing to take unpaid leave to look after a child with chickenpox is likely to cost more.

Willyoujustbequiet · 16/12/2022 14:07

WaddleAway · 16/12/2022 13:56

I stand corrected, but it’s still not pocket change.

Show quote history

The NHS did mine.

lanthanum · 16/12/2022 14:07

It's the friend he's going for drinks with that should be worried - it can be very nasty in adults. My dad was ill for six weeks. DH hadn't (to anyone's knowledge) had it, and when DD got it, the doctor prescribed him antivirals ready in case he got it, because if he did, the sooner he took them, the better.

humpty74 · 16/12/2022 14:08

updownleftrightstart · 16/12/2022 14:03

I think vaccinating against it is a good idea, but he wants to go out tonight. It's a bit late to be thinking about vaccination at this point.
But also, his friend shouldn't be going out anyway if he possibly (probably?) has chicken pox

Show quote history

I believe the chickenpox vaccine is effective even given after exposure, it was in the information sheet we were given when we had it done.

Hulke · 16/12/2022 14:09

Kids get chicken pox, and most of the time it's not a big deal. If not vaccinated, they'll get it when they get it. Madness to expose them to it intentionally, though.

VivaVivaa · 16/12/2022 14:11

Hang on, unless DD is going out for a drink with them then she’s not at risk, assuming your DH has had CP as a child?

Hulke · 16/12/2022 14:12

Stuckinthemiddle1990 · 16/12/2022 13:40

Husband wants to go out with friend who's son has just had it confirmed by docs he has it. Friend hasn't had it either as a youngster but has since found a couple of spots on himself but doesnt think it is. Neither DH or friend think this is an issue.

DD has been poorly herself over the last 3 weeks and I just don't want her to get anything else!

Missed this. So your DH wants to go out with his friend whose son has chicken pox and may also have chicken pox? First of all if your DH has had chicken pox it's v unlikely he will pass it on to your child so don't actually think that's an issue. What is an issue though is your DHs mate thinking it's OK to go out whilst potentially infected with chicken pox! Dickhead.

Badger1970 · 16/12/2022 14:13

My eldest DD got chickenpox at nursery and I wouldn't have known she had had it... she literally had 2 spots and both were in her hair.

She passed it to DD2, who was 7 months.... and she ended up being sedated and tube fed in hospital as there wasn't an area of her skin without a spot on, including inside her ears, nose and mouth. She also got a horrible infection in her groin. She was in hospital for a week, and it took weeks for her to fully recover. She still has the scars aged 28! It makes me want to scream hearing people say it's a mild illness... it bloody isn't for some.

Sirzy · 16/12/2022 14:15

I wouldn’t mix directly with someone with chicken pox but I don’t think your DH going out with someone who has a child with chicken pox is going to pose a massive risk. Any trip out of the house especially to nursery/soft play type places probably has a similar level of chance of catching it

Newwardrobe · 16/12/2022 14:17

Stuckinthemiddle1990 · 16/12/2022 13:24

Its not me wanting to expose her. It's DH for the sake of going for a drink!

How selfish, he's happy for his child to possibly be miserable and unwell because he wants drink . Dickhead

ZandathePanda · 16/12/2022 14:17

Usually around 10- 20 children die in the U.K. each year from chickenpox. Lots more are hospitalised. You don’t want to be in hospital at the moment.

clpsmum · 16/12/2022 14:18

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 16/12/2022 13:22

I don’t think you should expose them to chicken pox whenever the time of year, you don’t know what the impact might be.

This! Why the actual fuck would you

Emmamoo89 · 16/12/2022 14:19

Definitely not. Not worth the risk. He's being selfish. Kids come first.

KaroH · 16/12/2022 14:21

Boots is £140 for the full course (two vaccinations). I got my DC vaccinated and glad I did. If you have the spare cash it's worth doing as then you don't have to worry about it at all.

There's a chance they'll still catch chicken pox but at the same level as if you've already had it and catch it again as far as I know.

humpty74 · 16/12/2022 14:21

Stuckinthemiddle1990 · 16/12/2022 13:40

Husband wants to go out with friend who's son has just had it confirmed by docs he has it. Friend hasn't had it either as a youngster but has since found a couple of spots on himself but doesnt think it is. Neither DH or friend think this is an issue.

DD has been poorly herself over the last 3 weeks and I just don't want her to get anything else!

His friend hasn't had chickenpox, has it in the house and now has spots. Of course he has it and he is infectious.

Whether your husband or daughter get it or not, this friend is being a dick and potentially exposing vulnerable people to infection. I wouldn't want any part in encouraging that.

EarthlyNightshade · 16/12/2022 14:21

Has your DH had chicken pox?

Fimofriend · 16/12/2022 14:24

Shingles are caused by having had chicken pox. Just vaccinate your child instead.

LondonLovie · 16/12/2022 14:25

No, get them vaccinated instead

KvotheTheBloodless · 16/12/2022 14:25

VivaVivaa · 16/12/2022 14:11

Hang on, unless DD is going out for a drink with them then she’s not at risk, assuming your DH has had CP as a child?

This.

Curiosity101 · 16/12/2022 14:26

Definitely not. But then I've vaccinated my eldest and will be vaccinating my youngest. Even if I wasn't I still wouldn't actively choose to expose them at any point.

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