Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

my toddler has chickenpox...can I take him out!?

66 replies

geologygirl · 23/04/2013 15:21

I have a good reason. Ive run out of growing up milk and he wont drink real milk. Can I nip over with him in the buggy to the nearby chemist? He is into day 2 of spots so contagious. ..but dont know what to do. Im a lone parent and all family working. He is a bit itchy but no other symptoms and in good spirits.

Is it ok to take him??? Or am I putting the public at risk??

OP posts:
K8Middleton · 23/04/2013 15:26

Don't take him out. Especially not to the chemist where you are more likely to meet an immunosuppressive person.

Do an online shop, ask a friend to pick some up or see if someone can come over and sit with him when he's in bed and go out for supplies.

I do sympathise with your predicament but chicken pox kills.

You could try warming cow's milk slightly? Mine won't take cold cows but will drink warm.

K8Middleton · 23/04/2013 15:27

Immunosuppresed (autocorrect!!)

Original poster
geologygirl · 23/04/2013 15:32

Yeah he unfortunately wont take cows milk warm either. Tried that last night and have spent most of the day trying to get family to bring some formula over. Sadly work is a problem and they don't finish late! Soooo difficult!

He'll just have to go without then. Not much else I can do

OP posts:
QOD · 23/04/2013 15:34

No. My dn is severely disabled from intentional exposure to chicken pox

SoupDragon · 23/04/2013 15:34

He doesn't need the milk so he'll be fine. Apart from the itchy and crabbiness, obviously :)

QOD · 23/04/2013 15:34

No. My dn is severely disabled from intentional exposure to chicken pox

BeGoodElliot · 23/04/2013 15:36

Does your local chemist do prescription deliveries? I know mine does. You could perhaps phone and explain your situation and they might drop some off for you if they are delivering nearby. Otherwise they might come up with a solution for you to get some.

It's difficult being a lone parent during illness (theirs and yours!) so I sympathise.

Jinty64 · 23/04/2013 15:36

Put him in the buggy with the rain cover on. Wheel him to the door of the chemist. Leave buggy (with son) at door. Open door and shout in for assistant to bring the milk over. Explain circumstances!

sillymillyb · 23/04/2013 15:38

Could you call a taxi company and ask them to pick you some up and deliver it for you? Obviously you would have to pay for this but it might be a solution?

noblegiraffe · 23/04/2013 15:39

Running out of milk with a toddler isn't an emergency is it?

Original poster
geologygirl · 23/04/2013 15:39

Thanks all. I dont want to make anyone sick which is why im asking! I'll phone the chemist as they do prescription deliveries...or he will have to go without. He likes weak hot ribena so I will offer him that tonight instead. It can be a treat seeing as he's ill ;-)

OP posts:
Original poster
geologygirl · 23/04/2013 15:41

Well maybe not an emergency to you noblegiraffe. Its very upsetting to my toddler though...

Thanks again all.

OP posts:
meditrina · 23/04/2013 15:41

Ring the chemist and see if they'll serve you at the door. Or last thing, when there will be no other customers.

DCs often want comfort food (in this case familiar comfort milk) when they're ill. Or could a neighbour help?

Badvoc · 23/04/2013 15:43

Hope you can sort something out.
Do phone the chemists.
They will probably deliver in the circs.

BeGoodElliot · 23/04/2013 15:45

Maybe not an emergency but if I was the OP I'd want some milk in that I knew he would drink, he could become itchy, unsettled later on and the milk might comfort him.

Definitely ring the chemist I'm sure you'll be able to get some. Smile

noblegiraffe · 23/04/2013 15:47

I thought you said your family could bring some over later? Confused

K8Middleton · 23/04/2013 15:49

It's formula milk so why not get Tesco or another supermarket to deliver?

PoppyWearer · 23/04/2013 15:52

What Jinty said. I did exactly that when I had to pick up a prescription with poxy-DS in tow. Ditto for the school runs for DC1 when I didn't have anyone else to cover them.

Raincover on the buggy and don't let him touch anything or go near anyone else. Warn anyone who comes near so they have the option to stay away.

This assumes you have had chickenpox yourself?

Chickenpox is everywhere at the moment isn't it? You have my sympathies!

Original poster
geologygirl · 23/04/2013 15:59

No family cant bring later. They all finish work after 9 so will be too late for him tonight. Ive rung the chemist and they say im okay to come to the front door at around 7pm. Its quiet then and they can pass the milk over. Phew!!! I really didn't want more tears at tonight, especially when he already feels a bit rubbish!

OP posts:
Original poster
geologygirl · 23/04/2013 16:03

And yes I've already had it as a kid. I will keep him well covered when I pop over. We won't touch anybody. Its literally across the road so very quick! The chemist has been very nice and understanding.

OP posts:
twojumpingbeans · 23/04/2013 16:53

No. Stay at home, ask a neighbour to help. Or anyone! This makes me very very cross that anyone could consider going out with chicken pox. My DD2 could become very very poorly with chicken pox. Stay at home please.

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 23/04/2013 17:00

I think for some people they have no choice but to pop out, I think the OP is one of these cases, she has said that she is popping across the road when it is quiet, covering her child as much as possible and the staff will bring the milk out for her. When I was a lone parent I had absolutely no one to ask, it can be really hard, I cant see that she has much choice tbh.

OP, hope your ds gets over it soon, Im thinking my ds might be coming down with CP, there are cases in his nursery and hes not himself today at all, Im on spot watch Sad (naturally he`ll get it as the sun is shining)

crashdoll · 23/04/2013 18:03

Even with a buggy cover, please don't risk it. I know he's miserable without milk and that's horrible for you both but it's not urgent. If family could drop it over later, he'd only have to wait until tomorrow morning. I'm sorry but this is a choice and it can wait. Please don't do it.

NorthernLurker · 23/04/2013 18:08

Oh give the OP a break. Chicken pox is infectious through close contact. She isn't putting anybody at risk by taking a child outside and keeping him in the buggy and away from people. The chemist knows the score and she isn't even going in to the shop.
Chicken pox is endemic at this time of year. The risk is there in the community. The only thing that will change that is not a single parent sitting miserably at home whilst her child cries for milk, it's vaccination.

crashdoll · 23/04/2013 18:11

Chicken pox unintentionally in the community is different. Being immunsuppressed, I take risks every day because I want to life a normal life. People who don't live with the fear of catching something horrible are blind to it.