Chicken Pox woes - crying hysterically - HELP

[auntyspan]

My DD1 is 3 and has chicken pox. We've been having trouble with her (usual attention seeking stuff) as DD2 arrived 6 weeks ago. Unfortunately I think DD1 is using the CP as an excuse and she's running us ragged - up and down the stairs, water, needs a wee, pillow is in the wrong place etc etc.
I bathed her this evening with bicarb, given her calpol and piriton and slathered her with eurax. She's crying hysterically and screaming (I can hear her now) - what else can I do? I just don't believe her spots are itchy, that eurax stuff is fantastic and has kept the itching at bay all day.

Any suggestions?

she might actually be in pain - DT2 had CP when she was 3 and had to have ABs

I would cave in, go up and cuddle her until she calms down. She is ill, she's probably feeling horrid, over tired, on top of having trouble with the whole sibling thing. If she doesnt calm down, I would consider bathing her again and trying a second bed time. They only have chicken pox once, I would be a bit flexible.

My dd ended up being hospitalised when she had cp turned out she had a raging ear infection but of course that wasn't picked up on because she very very clearly had cp.

Give her the benefit of the doubt.

I'd cuddle her too or let her sit up and snuggle on the sofa quietly till she calms down/feels better.
If it doesnt work then I agree, another bath.
CP can be horrible, she must be feeling rotten and especially on top of feeling topsy turvy from new baby arriving.

It's so difficult - instinctively I want to go and soothe / hug / make it better but I've been down this road before (tonsilitus a week after DD2 was born) and it's taken us until now to break all the habits she got into then (Shrek2 on constantly etc)

no-one tells you how hard all this is do they?

(BTW DH in with her at the mo )

She may be a bit (or more than a bit) hyper from the piriton. This happened with our dd, some children have a reaction to it. (most go a bit sleepy but some don't).

The eurax and piriton have probably stopped the itching but she may be feeling really unsettled. Also it can make you really thirsty.

I would suggest offering her a lukewarm shower if she can't settle.

How are you, I imagine you must be knackered? On a practical note can you and your dp try and get a few hours sleep in shifts if necessary?

If the piriton is causing this, it should be out of her systerm in a few hours.

Don't worry about good/bad habits for the next day or two. In your position I let dd down with us until our bedtime and she was able to settle and watch television. Your house must be a bit topsy turvy anyway at the moment.

Big sympathies to you aunty.

Magic cure.....

Put some porridge oats into an old sock and seal the end with string on an elastic band. Put in the bath with your dd and squeeze the sock a few times. The resulting milky mixture is incredibly soothing for spots.

I know it is difficult to get the 'making a rod for my own back' mantra out of your head, but in the greater scheme of things it this is a short difficult period in her life.

You can sort out any bad habits in a relatively very short time period, when she is feeling better. I think routine etc goes out the window when they are ill, when they need you, they need you.