AIBU to take a 4 month old on a train through the wider Liverpool area (measles risk?)

[RhubarbRocks]

We have to travel to visit family at the weekend. Big birthday so the trip is important to us.

Family lives in the north west and to get there we have to take a train that stops in Wigan and Warrington - both of which are not far from Liverpool where there is a measles outbreak.

Our baby is too young to be vaccinated against measles. I hadn’t thought it would be a major concern but family are very worried about us travelling on a train through the area and exposing him to something so potentially catastrophic.

In terms of alternatives, for other medical reasons we can’t drive all the way from the south coast (can’t do a car journey over 2-3 hours). We could go up the East coast on the train and hire a car to drive to the North West, which would be a 2-3 hour drive and with the train would be a longer trip overall by a couple of hours.

WWYD? The family member who is worried has a tendency to health anxiety, as do I. So I’m not sure whether avoiding the route is the sensible thing to do or whether we are overreacting (after all, there must be thousands of babies in the region!)

So I’m here for a sense check of what the rational thing is to do:
YABU - too risky for an unvaccinated baby to be on a train in an area with a measles outbreak and you would be sensible to avoid the region
YANBU - don’t be ridiculous, there are risks everywhere and this is not worth worrying about

Voted incorrectly, you’re being ridiculous

You're being ridiculous

I voted incorrectly too. It’s confusing! Anyway, now I’m here I will say I’m sure he will be fine on the train, he will still have some of the immunity you gave him when you carried him for 9 months, just take your usual precautions like wet wipes for his hands in case he’s grabbing something you don’t want him to touch, don’t overthink it, and don’t let your relative panic you.

Oh good I thought I was being ridiculous!! Had started to question myself though. That is very reassuring - just the sense check I needed!

Wigan and Warrington are both miles away from Liverpool …

Anyone can get on a train suffering with anything, just take normal precautions, as you spoof with any baby

Don't forget to wrap we one in cotton wool before going to shops and Def don't take kid to park or send know d to school the risks are immense there best to keep we one indoors wrapped up until aged eighteen

I think you'll be fine. You'd have to have someone who has measles but doesn't know and is feeling well enough to travel to get on, who is contagious, who sits near you, who also passes it on. You can also move seats if you're concerned. If you're worried though, and can afford it, maybe booking first class will help? You'll have less people / more space between seats. Enjoy your weekend away.

I live in Liverpool and apart from the child that sadly died, I’ve not heard of anyone whose child has measles.

There have been 529 recorded cases of measles in the whole of England this year. It’s still too many, but the risk is absolutely minuscule.

I don't think it's fair to ridicule this question- measles is very contagious and a serious illness. Outbreaks can widen rapidly. I agree on balance the risk is low but booking first class would reduce it further. You only have to look on here for threads asking 'I've got diarrhoea & vomiting can I get on a longhaul flight' to see how stupid and selfish some people are with exposing others to their contagious illnesses.

Breastfeeding may help with immunity but it's not as effective as vaccination. A bottle fed 4 month old won't have any maternal immunity to measles left.

Your voting is wrong so I voted incorrectly but yep, you're being ridiculous.

OP, for "ridiculous" please read "naturally cautious as a sleep-deprived FTM but the probability of your child being exposed to measles on this specific journey is very low"

Do bugs not travel first class?

Yep I voted wrong too 😂, you are being silly, but first babies can make us like that, just chill a bit

Obviously where there's people there's bugs. But as there's less people in first class and more room between seats your risk will reduce. A relative with a weaker immune system uses first class for this reason. And I wanted to suggest it as a possibility in case it helped the OP.

Thanks everyone for the sense check (and for the kind words and ideas from those of you who can see I’m a bit sleep deprived and over anxious!)

Measles is really contagious you literally can catch it from walking past someone with it, I voted wrong too. It really isn’t worth the risk.

Given recent publicity and the fact that your protective instincts can go into overdrive with a new baby, I don't think you're being unreasonable to ask the question@RhubarbRocks. I wouldn't worry too much, just be sensible and take whatever precautions you feel are needed, even if that means not making the trip. The risk of your baby catching measles is minimal, so I hope you go and have a lovely time. On a more practical note, I wish someone had told me I could get a chickenpox vaccine for my eldest before he came down with it. He had a horrendous time with it, but ultimately was okay, apart from a few scars. Immunisation was never mentioned by my GP, health visitor or anyone else, and as a first-time parent, I had no idea it was available. I made sure my other DCs got it.