Another chickenpox thread - is there an ideal age to catch it?

[EldonAve]

Lots of CPox doing the rounds at local nurseries and school here
My elder two have had it but the youngest hasn't (yet)

Is there an ideal age to have it?

I dont think so, mine had it at 7 months and 4 years old at same time, which was hard work but great as youngest did not scratch off scabs and eldest didnt touch them either.
My friend who lived an hour away even brought her 2 children down to "catch them" as they were same age literally and wanted it done, bit mean but it was summer and they were planning a holiday so it was perfect timing.
We also had a holiday booked and that was great for scabs etc, but the looks on the flight over were priceless( I had a Dr cert).

thanks

Personally, I wouldn't be planning to have my children exposed to the virus .. but I do think that having the virus as a child is better (my mum and brother's best friend had it as adults and it was really bad)

There is also a chance (small) that they may get the pox again

DD had it at 6/7 months which was pretty easy - mild case, possibly because she was still breastfed

DS had it at age 3 - wasn't terribly ill, but much harder to handle as after a couple of days of not feeling very well he had all his energy back, so it was tough being housebound - I ended up having to search out deserted places for him to run around outside.

I had it at age 21 and it was a nightmare - spots from scalp to soles of feet, high fever, delirious... I was seriously ill for about two weeks.

But obviously small children do occasionally get really serious complications, so there is never really the right time.