Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Chicken pos and wedding

13 replies

IWishIWereWitty · 21/05/2010 08:59

My DS has a very mild dose of chicken pox at the moment. Only about 30 spots, they came on Monday night and have nearly all crusted over already.
We have a wedding to go to next weekend (so in 8 days time). Obviously he won't be contagious anymore, but I also have a DD who may or may not have caught chicken pox from her brother.
What is the etiquette for these things? Obviously I cannot guarantee she will not be contagious so will she have to sit this wedding out?
There will be another baby there who is less than a year old and is on steroids for suspected asthma.

OP posts:
Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 21/05/2010 09:00

Chicken pox obviously

OP posts:
IMoveTheStars · 21/05/2010 09:13

I don't know what the official etiquette is for this, but if there was a small baby there, I would leave the kids at home. Could there be any pregnant women there too? They certainly wouldn't thank you.

Leave them with a sitter and enjoy yourselves

OnEdge · 21/05/2010 09:17

No, dont risk it, it isnt worth infecting the at risk groups. Its a pain in the bum though innit.

Gracie123 · 21/05/2010 09:26

I have to say I was pretty pee'd off to get to a friends wedding (we had travelled 4.5 hours and were staying at the hotel) and find out that there was a woman and her kid with contagious CP there. There were also 3 other pregnant ladies.

I think it's pretty unfair to take your kids unless you know the entire guest list and/or are willing to leave if there is someone pg/with newborn.

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 21/05/2010 09:29

I would not take them if they were definitely contagious - it is the maybe contagious thing that was a question mark.
It is a pain in the bum and even more so if she doesn't get it - but thanks for answering and we will not take her.

OP posts:
wannaBe · 21/05/2010 09:34

it's simple. If your daughter has come out in chicken pox spots then you leave her at home. If not you take her.

This idea that children should be isolated just in case is ridiculous. You don't know that your dd is going to have chicken pox or even when, she may in fact have been exposed to it at the same time as her brother.

Obviously you don't take a child with active chicken pox out, but until there actually are chicken pox the child needs to be considered to be healthy.

Or do people think that the siblings of children with cp should be kept off school until they catch it too?

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 21/05/2010 09:41

In general I'd agree with wannaBe. But in this case there is going to be a small baby on steroids there and that would make me more inclined not to take your DD if that's an option.

wannaBe · 21/05/2010 09:56

nope still don't agree. Small baby on steroids might have passed chicken pox carrying child in the street/almost certainly in the supermarket/at baby/toddler group/at nursery (if said baby attends one).

If people are suggesting this child be kept away from others at a wedding then you might as well isolate the child which is just silly. If anything I would give small baby with steroids' parents the choice - child has been exposed to cp but doesn't actually have cp, so it should be choice of small baby's parents whether they take their child to the wedding, op's child should not be ostrosised (sp?) because of something she hasn't done/caught.

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 21/05/2010 12:51

Thank you all for your replies. I am in agreement with WannaBe - she is not actually ill and if we all put ourselves in quaranteen when we were exposed to nasties then we would never leave the house.
However I don't want to upset people so I will let the bride make the decision. The baby is her nephew so I think my child will be bumped rather than that one.

OP posts:
IMoveTheStars · 21/05/2010 13:09

good call IWish.

ConDemNation · 21/05/2010 13:16

yes but ensure the bride knows of the risks associated with steroids.

I wouldn't risk it personally, but understand your situation. and if there were an immunosuppressed child at my son's school, then yes, I would keep a possibly incubating child at home.

Original poster
IWishIWereWitty · 22/05/2010 12:36

Update - The bride has asked that we don't bring DD. She decided that whilst the risks are fairly low, the consequences if her nephew does catch CP could be pretty severe.

We're going to leave both DC with their Grandparents and
we will just have to enjoy a child free night in a hotel .

OP posts:
ConDemNation · 22/05/2010 13:05

Sounds very sensible - well done for giving her the option, I think that's the best thing you could have done.

Hope you enjoy your child free night!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page