Chicken pox in small baby - experiences?

[belindarose]

Our 3 month old DD has chicken pox. At the moment there are only a few 'pox' type spots (with white centre) and a larger number of plain red dots, some of which have turned into the white centred ones. She's had this for two days, with 4 days before that of general, low level unwellness (that we thought was a reaction to last weeks jabs, but obviously part of this really). What course did chicken pox take in your little babies? She seems to be feeding well now (BF) and happy most of the time, but with lots of crying when tired and needing lots of help to get to sleep (usually just drops off easily). So far, she hasn't seemed itchy.

Are you sure it is CPox? The centre of the spot is normally fluid filled, like a blister, rather than white. Has she been exposed?

ds had chicken pox when he was 7 weeks old, caught from his sister. he'd been exposed before we realised she had it. apart from the spots he was fine, not ill at all, although he was absolutely covered in them, biggest blisters ever!. worst were on his head and face, he has been left with quite a few scars, all faded now, just left a bit of a dimple.

in fact, it was because he had it so young that i joined mumsnet, looking for advice.

DD had it at six months, and it was pretty mild - fever for a couple of days, light sprinkling of spots, which didn't seem to bother her too much. All cleared up with no scarring.

Much, much easier for her than DS who had it when he was three: more spots, more inclined to scratch, and got very grumpy, mainly about not being allowed back to nursery until the spots had gone. I had it as an adult and was seriously ill. I think it helps with small babies if they are still BF, so some immunity from the mum.

But - I know one or two people whose DCs have had complications (which can be serious), so def see a doctor if you are at all concerned about breathing changes or high fever.

Thanks everyone. DH is sure it's chicken pox - he's a doctor. Just haven't seen enough of him to ask more about it!
A cruise ship? Sounds a nightmare with a 3 month old anyway, never mind one with the pox! You're brave!

A bath with organic oats I found was very soothing for dd and I used a calamine gel instead of cream- she had an awful bout.

DS2 has just had CP -- he's 6 months. Had a couple of days of just a few red spots then got the whole head-to-toe number, then they turned into fluid-filled (clear, not white) blisters.

He was pretty fine with it tbh -- we gave Calpol for general malaise and a bit of calamine but he was back to himself within a couple of days.

Now he's got bronchiolitis straight afterwards -- and is suffering much more with it, poor lamb.

I had it when I was tiny, but I did get it again when I was older - some gubbins about my immune system not being developed enough to recognise it and antibodies from breast milk helping me get over it without me developing my own.

Oh well, you have an expert on hand! If it does get itchy, my DD found bicarbonate of soda in the bath very soothing. I hope she's ok today.

DD2 had cpox when she was 2 weeks old! I was a bit worried, especially as she was only 5lb 6oz at birth but in fact it was very mild - she only had 3 spots in total.

I don't think it is c-pox now, despite what DH thinks! I think it's a reaction to the vaseline that HV told me to put on her exzema last week. Taking her to GP this afternoon. Thanks.

That must be a relief. Can I interfere further and recommend Aveeno cream and bath oil. You can get them on prescription and they have worked wonders for DD2's eczema and for all the friends I have recommended it to!

Thanks, I'll ask about Aveeno cream. Seeing a GP who I've always found really unhelpful though, so a bit worried but only appointment I could get. I haven't taken the baby to her before, so maybe she likes babies more than adults!