AIBU - chicken pox and Christmas plans…

[anon2423]

Chicken pox is doing the rounds at my DC nursery and they’re starting to show the first signs. However, we’re meant to be going to my parents for a quiet Christmas just us, them and DC. All our presents are already down there and waiting!

Parents and husband think we skip the cinema trip and festive plans which would expose DC to the public, but we could still travel down. I’m not sure - parents live quite a distance and I think being in the car for 3 hours would be really hard on DC if they have chickenpox. Everyone else thinks we should just get on with it - all of us (bar DC) have had it before, and no one is vulnerable.

YABU - you’re overthinking this, you’re fine to go (and remain in their house avoiding the public for the duration!)

YANBU - that’s too far to take DC when they’re poorly

Yeah I'd go.

Well, what do your parents think? They have almost certainly had chilcken pox when they were young, and exposure to the virus now will potentially activate shingles. They might not want shingles for the NY!

Can't remember clearly from my eldest having it but f they're showing first signs now then they should be all scabbed over in 5 days? So you may be lucky and be all clear by 23rd

When are you due there?

I’d wait and see. Some of my friends’ kids had a dozen spots and a couple of days feeling off colour and would have been perfectly fine to travel. Mine had literally hundreds of spots, a week of being really unwell with high temperature etc and my toddler daughter screamed every time she used her nappy for days as the spots were so sore. I wouldn’t have taken them anywhere.

Besides, Christmas Day is still a week away, you could be out the other side by then.

I would go as long as your hosts are happy to still have you stay. Make sure you take calpol, a thermometer and your own blanket and pillow, as my DC (and myself!) find comfort in our own bedding when we are poorly. I would cancel outdoor visits and just hunker down and chill out at your hosts house.

They think not going would be a complete overreaction! (Both fit and healthy, still working age and don’t consider themselves at any risk!)

When a kid gets chickenpox, they are generally unwell for 24-48 hours. Does it not normally just last about 5 days. You'll probably all be fine. Ask your mum. Stock up on calpol and calamine lotion. Have a great Christmas

Chicken pox exposure does not activate shingles. If they’re well enough to travel and not have to go to any public spaces I’d go. If they’re miserable, can you push your plans back by a few days?

Due to travel Saturday - but would obviously move this if needed! Should have said we’re driving - so no risk to other passengers

When are you going? In all honesty I think it's a wait and see with your parents and DH needing to remember the poorly babbas come first here. If that means they are too ill to travel for Christmas don't push it just because it's christmas. You could always go down a few days later?

I’d go and make sure I had calpol and calamine lotion with me.

I absolutely depends on the child.
And I'd get some of the cooling gel you can get from a pharmacy.

I’d wait and see. My kids got them, one was fine, the other was miserable. You certainly don’t want to drag a miserable kid anywhere, but they might be scabbed up and basically over it by next week.

No public spaces is definitely possible - we’re driving down, and grocery delivery already booked! Had tickets to a few local events but will try to give those away as we obviously can’t go!!

Guess we just have to wait and see how DC is feeling and travel if/when they’re up to it! They’re young enough that if they’re feeling really rough we could probably also move which day we celebrate on, and they’d be none the wiser!

You’re absolutely right though - we can move plans if needed (and I’m definitely overthinking!!)

My kids ended up hospitalised. Slightly extreme but does happen. Also shingles is fucking awful.

My DCs were over the worst by day 5. If today (symptoms) is day 1, they might be ok on Saturday. They’ll look spotty but hopefully they’ll feel well.

Mine came out in spots last Thursday and they've started to scab over today. Other than spots she had no other symptoms and has been fine. So you might be lucky!

It really depends on your DCs.
DD1 caught CxPx at her school's end of term disco ca. 22 December. Her first spot showed the first day she'd been back to school in January. She was itchy and liked soaking in the bath plus needed calpol to take off the edge but after a few days was bored rigid so I packed her off to MiL for crafts and fun b/c her main problem was visible spots.
DD2 caught CxPx from DD1 but had no symptoms or spots until 20 days later!!! DD2 had it differently, was miserable with general virus symptoms, needed regular calpol and needed to be home with mummy.
It is a virus so no telling how your DCs will respond. At least you're visiting GPs and you can take things as they come. Can GPs visit you this year and bring any presents with them? Then DCs can take to their beds if necessary without everyone missing out.

Meant to travel Saturday - but can move this if needed! I just worry that DC will be too uncomfortable to travel - but if so I’ll put my foot firmly down!! We will only go when they’re up for it!!

DC also LOVES visiting their grandparents and is really excited, so another reason to move not cancel - they’d be so upset to cancel!

Get them vaccinated!!!

Might not prevent them having already contracted it, but prevents future worries, scarring and sick children.

You cannot get shingles from Chickenpox.
You can get chickenpox from shingles.

Why would you vaccinate at this point? They’re already symptomatic and once they have had it once they are unlikely to get it again.

We were already booked in for end of February as I’d wanted to avoid this if possible!

Thanks. I'd missed that they were already symptomatic.