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Original poster

9 week old with chicken pox

12 replies

Biscuitsandtea · 12/05/2012 07:38

Hi,

I know there are probably loads of threads about chicken pox at the moment, but any advice for a 9 week old with it?

DS1 had it a couple of weeks ago, but was 'lucky' in that he only got a medium dose of spots and they didn't seem to itch him. So he's healing up nicely.

And I was hoping DS2 might avoid it since he's so little, ebf and I had it when I was a child. However over night he's had a load of CP looking spots come up over his head. Haven't checked his body yet as don't want to strip him off and wake him up needlessly.

So, any tips for one so see? In particular (so I'm prepared if needed) how do you do an oatmeal bath? Obv being so young he doesn't have very long baths.

Thank you in advance Smile

OP posts:
ibizagirl · 12/05/2012 07:43

I just posted on another thread that i used CALAMINE LOTION on dd when she was small. Gp told me to use it and it stopped all the itching. But like i said, check with chemist if you are going to try it. Best wishes.

MirandaWest · 12/05/2012 07:48

DD got chicken pox when she was 6 weeks - I too had been told she was unlikely to get it due to breastfeeding and my immunity. I was a bit worried as she was little but tbh although she was spotty, she didn't seem to be itchy and basically just slept more (which was quite welcome). DS had had it two weeks before and had been prescribed Eurax (which I then discovered was for over 3s - DS was nearly 2 at the time). I used it with DD not realising about the over 3 part but don't think it harmed her.

Not sure about oatmeal baths but hopefully your DS2 will be OK and it will be quite mild.

MintCakeMavis · 12/05/2012 08:00

I swear by virasoothe (can get it from boots and supermarkets). It's a clear gel that was fab when my DS had a bad dose. It cooled him down and took the itching away and can be used all over the body which was great as he had loads on his face.

Original poster
Biscuitsandtea · 12/05/2012 08:02

Thank you both Smile

I have calamine lotion (will check before I use it). Had it for DS but he wasn't that itchy and the one time he was itchy he didn't like it because it was cold! So I have that in already if needed.

What's eurax?

Fingers crossed it'll be mild (and = more sleep Wink).

Anyone any idea on the oatmeal bath?

OP posts:
baabaapinksheep · 12/05/2012 08:34

Oatmeal bath - I put a handful of oats in a muslin and hold it under the running water, then tie a knot in it so the oats are contained and use as a sponge.

Original poster
Biscuitsandtea · 13/05/2012 08:10

Ok, any tips for chicken pox in the nappy area?

Poor baby Sad

OP posts:
ibizagirl · 13/05/2012 08:13

That was where dd had a lot of hers. Calamine lotion was advised. And also to try and keep the nappy off as much as possible, but that would be difficult for you! Good luck and best wishes.

themsthebreaks · 13/05/2012 08:17

My DS1 had it at 12 weeks. You can also use a tight sock / pop sock for oatmeal bath, or chop off the end of a pair of tights. Fill with oats, tie knot at the end then hold under the tap. You can tie it to the tap so it stays in the bath during it too.

Good luck and hope your DS is better soon.

lagoonhaze · 13/05/2012 08:20

Poor baby. My DD is 6mths old and I thought that was young enough. Lots of oatmeal baths (muslin or tights work to hold oatmeal). Keep them a little cooler as it helps soothe the itch.

Im using calamine and glycerin cream. Much easier than lotion. Can imagine it would be find for a NB.

They seem to heal quickly when v young. Fingers crossed it passes soon

Original poster
Biscuitsandtea · 13/05/2012 08:21

I suppose at least if I leave the nappy off he'll stay in one place Confused so I can leave him on a towel, with a towel over the sprinkler system HmmConfused

Will try an oatmeal bath this evening. Does the oatmeal stop the itching or help the spots to dry up?

Am going to slap some calamine on him. He's got little socks on his hands to stop any scratching Sad

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 13/05/2012 08:26

DS got it at 3 months and hadn't really worked out how to scratch properly. The only thing he managed was burying his face into whoever was holding him and rubbing it from side to side. Most of his spots were on his head. He went 5 days before he was diagnosed because of being ebf, and because I was unaware that we'd had coffee with someone that subsequently went down with it.

Original poster
Biscuitsandtea · 13/05/2012 08:48

Fortunately we shouldn't have infected anyone else as we've been pretty much in isolation while ds1 had it and I went back 3 weeks before he got it and told everyone we'd seen just in case!

Poor thing looks thoroughly fed up Sad

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