chicken pox - is there a 'good' age to catch it?

[drinkyourmilk]

Talking about a 21month old. She's healthy otherwise. The neighbours kids have it so im wondering if i should get it over with while she still has a dummy etc. I've heard it doesn't hit them as hard. I'm also wondering if there is any medical proof about this?

Is she vaccinated?

I dont think that I would deliberately expose a child to chicken pox, just in case something bad did happen, I wouldnt want to know that it had been deliberate on my part.

I wouldnt expose her on purpose. She will no doubt get it soon enough when she starts nursery.

After having a 4 year old who is now in her 4th week of chicken pox,(very rear apparently) and a 23 month old who has it now. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I would avoid exposing her, but she will probably get it once she's at nursery.
I seriously don't know why we don't routinely vaccinate against it in the UK

Please do not deliberately expose her to it, but have her vaccinated against it if you can. My mother deliberately exposed me to it when I was 2 and I almost died from it (I can't remember it, but I was hospitalized and had to be ventilated as I could not breathe due to the number of spots that appeared in my throat). I suppose I was ultimately "lucky" in that I was left with few scars, but my brother, who was exposed at the same time and supposedly did not suffer so badly, still has quite a number.

I'm sorry if this post reads sharply or is simply "doom and gloom", but, ultimately, chicken pox is a disease and you do not know the course it might take with your particular child.

TRQ

I think the reasion why we don't routinely vaccinate in the UK is because there are some pro's and con's with the vaccination and a question as to wearther it will increase cases of shingles which is far worse then chicken pox.

It's better they get it younger as the older you are the more complications you can have, but I still wouldn't expose a child on purpus.

thanks for your input all. We did go over in the end - but the child with chicken pox was quite ill, so i got scared and left minutes after arriving. I won't be deliberately exposing her again! Had it in my mind she would sail through it, but after seeing a 4 year old almost hospitalised with infected pox spots (which only appeared 2 days ago) i've learnt my lesson.

TheRedQueen - you were not at all sharp in your post, and i really do appreciate honest input - otherwise what is the point of giving it!