Preparing for Chicken pox

[cheekycherryza]

My daughters best friend has come down with Chicken Pox this morning. Since my daughter is around her at least 4 times a week at school and playdates I'm expecting my daughter to get it any day now.

What can I do to prepare my home, medicine cabinet etc for the deaded pox? Does she need extra sheets? Do I need to wash everything she's come into contact with with detol or something? Is there any medicine besides Calpol and Ibuprophen I need to get in. My daughter is coming up for 3.

Thanks so much for your help ladies,

No , it isn't the plague ! Just get some meds in to keep her comfortable - Eurax, Piriton and some calamine based lotion and some oats to add to tepid baths

I gave chicken pox to some of dd's favourite toys (with lipstick), so that they could sympathise and compare itches.

Sadly one dolly proved not to be washable and still hasn't recovered

We used a gel called Virasoothe on ds which he complained was cold but seemed to do the trick with regards to the itching.

TBH the worst bit is when they feel better but still need to be quarantined, at home fun things to do will probably be most useful!

The only way you can prepare for it is to buy some remedies for if/when she gets it. I recommend Virasoothe for the spots. It's a gel based treatment which is much easier to put on and eases the itching. Also piraton for when the itching gets too much, calpol for any raised temperature.

Also, if she hasn't already got some, some cotton vests . In this weather they'd be ideal to dress her in while indoors to keep her cool and she will not want to wear anything that irritates her skin.

She might not get it! DH had it a month ago and our 3 have escaped unspotty!

Piriton was the only thing that helped DD at night when she had chickenpox. Mix with yoghurt if your DDis not good at taking meds.

And we used those pampers disposal change mats/bed mats so we could take her nappy off at night as it was really aggravating the itching down there. Sheets are easy to wash and dry, mattresses not so!

Good luck!

Oh yes, nightdresses much more comfortable than pj's as no waistband.

Thanks so much everyone, I will take your advice IF she gets it. Crossing fingersx

Avoid ibuprofen with chicken pox.

My doctor told me absolutely not to give ibuprofen for chicken pox.

Piriton for sure. But don't do what we did when we knew he had chicken ppx and wait until the middle of the night to decide we actually needed it..... Couldn't get the bloody stuff anywhere at that time and had a very grouchy 3 yr old! My advice would be get stocked up on remedies when you know she has it, then you have a complete arsenal of weapons to help her (and you!) out should you wish to use them.

Same about ibuprofen - we gave it to our son the first night and it made the itching worse!

That's interesting re Ibuprofen and chickenpox - DS had a massive nosebleed in the middle of the night after I gave it to him! After that I just stuck to Piriton & calpol. Oh and calamine lotion for the spots themselves.