Chickenpox… likelihood of my 6mo getting it?!

Original poster

meadowkoa · 27/05/2026 21:54

Bump

OP posts:

Cantthinkofadifferentname · 27/05/2026 22:05

High, I would say. My DD got it at 25 weeks off her brother, she was EBF. Sorry I know its not the answer you wanted. You might be lucky the spots might be out and scabbed over in 2 weeks.
DD was completely covered but didn't contact Docs as she was well in herself. Lots of oaty baths, calpol if needed but not ipruofen

Original poster

meadowkoa · 27/05/2026 22:32

Cantthinkofadifferentname · 27/05/2026 22:05

High, I would say. My DD got it at 25 weeks off her brother, she was EBF. Sorry I know its not the answer you wanted. You might be lucky the spots might be out and scabbed over in 2 weeks.
DD was completely covered but didn't contact Docs as she was well in herself. Lots of oaty baths, calpol if needed but not ipruofen

Edited

Thank you @Cantthinkofadifferentname!! How long after your son did your baby get it? Xx

OP posts:

ThisRareOtter · 27/05/2026 22:49

Sadly I think it's pretty much a certainty the baby will get it, it's so highly contagious with minimal immunity from pregnancy. Have you got travel insurance if you need to cancel?

StrongGirlsLift · 27/05/2026 22:54

I’m sorry, from my experience, chances are high. My elder child had a very mild case of CP and my younger (7 mo) came out in spots around 16 days later, with a dreadful case of CP. The younger child actually had roseola in between (a week after the elder had CP), so we had a rough ride.

Elder kid caught CP at nursery and had about 15-20 spots. Younger must have been exposed to a much higher viral shedding load and unfortunately had hundreds of spots, despite efforts to keep them apart.

Sorry to be the bearer of unwelcome news! Good luck (and remember not to give ibruprofen to kids with chickenpox).

MeridaBrave · 27/05/2026 23:01

This happened to us. DS2 - 12 months came out in spots 2 weeks to the day. On the day we were flying home from a holiday. I’d say v high. Call GP tomorrow there is something you can take to reduce the risk

MeridaBrave · 27/05/2026 23:01

StrongGirlsLift · 27/05/2026 22:54

I’m sorry, from my experience, chances are high. My elder child had a very mild case of CP and my younger (7 mo) came out in spots around 16 days later, with a dreadful case of CP. The younger child actually had roseola in between (a week after the elder had CP), so we had a rough ride.

Elder kid caught CP at nursery and had about 15-20 spots. Younger must have been exposed to a much higher viral shedding load and unfortunately had hundreds of spots, despite efforts to keep them apart.

Sorry to be the bearer of unwelcome news! Good luck (and remember not to give ibruprofen to kids with chickenpox).

Same for us and apparently common due to repeated exposure with sibling.

KnottyKnitting · 27/05/2026 23:03

My 7 month old went down with chickenpox exactly three weeks after her older sister did. She was still being breastfed at the time and didn’t get it badly at all ( I counted 7 spots!)

DappledThings · 27/05/2026 23:19

When DS was 2 and DD was 6 months he got it and she didn’t. She finally got it a few months ago, 7 years after her first exposure! So in my anecdata just as likely not to as to get it.

Eggybreadwithnuts · 27/05/2026 23:27

100% sure.

Original poster

meadowkoa · 27/05/2026 23:47

Thanks everyone. I guess it’s just a waiting game! It’s a staycation so we won’t get a refund. Thanks for ur inputs xx

OP posts:

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/05/2026 04:53

Sorry to come on with more of the same.
DS got CP age 3. DD got them exactly 2 weeks later, age 9 months and was very ill - temp > 41, high concentration of bog spots, lethargic.

In my experience of mine and my friends’ dc, the other sibling got spots 11-14 days later. It seemed quite common to get a chest infection after CP too, but that may just have been a confidence that that bug was going round at the same time as CP.

Magicmushroomsauce · 28/05/2026 05:07

My two have had CP, exactly 14 days apart (3 year old first and then 6 month old) both kids had infected spots and needed antibiotics. It was a horrible time

TheBlueKoala · 28/05/2026 05:17

meadowkoa · 27/05/2026 19:57

Hi all,

my 3 year old came down with chicken pox yesterday. I have a 6 almost 7 month old and I am wondering how soon she will catch it.

we are due to go away in literally 2 weeks so the timing couldn’t be any more bad. I have seen that babies can have some immunity from antibodies however, this naturally wears off. I am not breastfeeding.

im also worrying if we do away and she starts with it when we’re there. What do we do?! Google says to contact GP straight away if they are under one.

TIA xx

My then 3 year old passed it to my then 6 month old. Even his little bald head was covered with blisters the poor thing. But then it was over and done with. I found it easier for the 6 month old than the 3 y old because he didn't scratch and he wasn't appalled when looking in the mirror. This too will pass.

MyballsareSandy2015 · 28/05/2026 05:32

2 year old twins … DT1 had it terribly, spots absolutely everywhere … DT2 went down with it two weeks later and just had a couple of spots.

MDDR · 28/05/2026 05:38

Two weeks apart in my experience. Have you considered getting the vaccine,if you're still in the window for it to be effective?

Original poster

meadowkoa · 28/05/2026 06:46

MDDR · 28/05/2026 05:38

Two weeks apart in my experience. Have you considered getting the vaccine,if you're still in the window for it to be effective?

Have looked into it but she’s still too young unfortunately. Most places don’t offer till 12. Months. 9 months being the earliest

OP posts:

Original poster

meadowkoa · 28/05/2026 08:55

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/05/2026 04:53

Sorry to come on with more of the same.
DS got CP age 3. DD got them exactly 2 weeks later, age 9 months and was very ill - temp > 41, high concentration of bog spots, lethargic.

In my experience of mine and my friends’ dc, the other sibling got spots 11-14 days later. It seemed quite common to get a chest infection after CP too, but that may just have been a confidence that that bug was going round at the same time as CP.

Oh gosh sounds awful! Not heard of getting chest infection afterwards so hopefully!

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 28/05/2026 09:02

My dd had it age 3 and gave it to ds at 6ish months. Was 14/15 days before he got the spots. He then had shingles age 3. Childhood shingles is more common if they have CP under 1 year

Oneearringlost · 28/05/2026 09:24

Hi, OP,
I would say the liklihood is high.
My 3 year old DD got CP and gave it to my 3 month old.... he got about 3 spots on his neck, mild due to maternal PN immunity, at that point.
However, at 2.5, he got Shingles! ( not severely, but diagnosed by GP), And then my new 6 month old got CP from his Shingles...( profusely!).
So over a 3.5 period, all three of my children, ( including the as yet, ( when oldest got CP), not conceived youngest, shared the exact same CP virus.
Its very contagious within families.
I do hope its OK, but maternal antibodies only last a few months; at 6 months, I think it's likely that your youngest will get it.
But a difficult decision to decide whether to go away...all the best of luck!

Original poster

meadowkoa · 28/05/2026 09:38

Thanks everyone. I guess it’s just a waiting game! I don’t know whether to risk going away if my 6mo hasn’t caught it. She could completely bypass it as I’ve seen this happen to others in rare cases however, she could get it and be really ill with it. We are staying 3 hours away from
home and she already hates the car. Decisions :(

OP posts:

Antihistamine62 · 28/05/2026 09:46

On a flip side… my 8 month old got them and his older brother didn’t despite them sharing baths etc. I actually thought he was immune until he got them a year late x

MissyPants · 28/05/2026 09:52

You might be in luck, my 7 year old didn't catch it from our 3 year old, he caught it around 2 months later due to an outbreak in his classroom.

Original poster

meadowkoa · 28/05/2026 09:53

@Antihistamine62@MissyPants both giving me a slither of hope, thank you!! I guess it’s hard to say as it’s such an individual case by case situation. Thank you for sharing!!

OP posts:

ACynicalDad · 28/05/2026 09:58

meadowkoa · 27/05/2026 23:47

Thanks everyone. I guess it’s just a waiting game! It’s a staycation so we won’t get a refund. Thanks for ur inputs xx

Do you have travel insurance with your bank or an annual policy, I think mine covers a UK break as long as it's a couple of nights booked in something. Whilst your eldest wouldn't be covered as it's a pre-existing condition, your baby doesn't have it, so I'd look at buying cover today in case you need to cancel. If you're in the UK you may well get an emergency GP appointment /111 appointment and get virtually the same care you'd get at home and you won't have language issues but you may have a long journey home.