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Original poster

Chicken pox in a 6 week old baby

15 replies

sweetheart · 24/01/2006 09:32

I think my ds who is 6.5 weeks old has chicken pox.

Although someone said this morning babies are immune for 3 months esp as I am breastfeeding, is this true? I've never heard it before.

Also any tips on what I can do medication wise - he's too young for calpol.

OP posts:

Original poster

sweetheart · 24/01/2006 09:54

Anyone?

OP posts:

PrincessPeaHead · 24/01/2006 10:04

He will only be immune if YOU have immunity that you can pass to him through bf. If you haven't had chicken pox, or had it only very lightly, then it is possible that he hasn't got sufficient immunity. And if he has got it, then watch out, you may get it next I'm afraid.
Poor little thing. I don't know what to suggest re medication - is he very feverish? I think you need to manage it through cooling baths and lots and lots of fluids (bf galore) rather than anything else. Good luck!

Angeliz · 24/01/2006 10:05

I don't know about medicine sweetheart but my dd2 had them before Chriatmas and i found it alot easier to keep her forever in a sleepsiut and just calamine lotion. poor little mitw, how's he coping?

Original poster

sweetheart · 24/01/2006 10:09

I'm still waiting to see if the one mark he has develops into full on spots. He hardly slept last night and is not himself today - very grumpy.

I have had chicken pox so in theory he should be immune?!?!?!?!?!

OP posts:

shrub · 24/01/2006 10:10

hi sweetheart - my 3 boys have just had it over xmas, including my 8 month old baby who i am still breastfeeding and he isn't yet eating solids. i would recommend boots calamine lotion with glycerine as it isn't so drying on the skin. my calpol says 2 months +. i did go to the doctor with my youngest as he got it very badly developing a secondary infection as his drool got into one of the spots. he gave piroton which is suppose to be for over 12 months. i also gave rhux tox homeopathic remedy for itching. it is particularly distressing in the first 2-3 days as all mine were very swollen up with it even getting them inside mouths, ears on eyelids, at the early stage iit was painful for them having cuddles . giving baths did help calm the skin down and the children. the fact you are breastfeeding will be helping and giving him comfort. if in any doubt phone doctor.
you have my sympathy

PrincessPeaHead · 24/01/2006 10:11

If you've had chicken pox properly and you are fully breastfeeding he SHOULD be immune.... maybe it isn't chickenpox? Fingers crossed...

lucykate · 24/01/2006 10:14

hi sweetheart, don't worry too much, my ds had it when he was 7 weeks, caught from his sister. its just pot luck as to whether they are immune or not. my ds had it bad, he was covered in them, worst on his head and face. but he was actually ok in himself.

i bathed him every morning and evening, used boots own calamine and glycerin cream. its better than just calamine lotion as its stickier and then dries, stays on the spots better, keep him cool too, in soft clothes, nothing with a waistband that might itch. it took my ds a week before the spots stopped appearing. as they're so young it takes them a bit longer to fight it, but once we had a day with no new spots, they dried up pretty quickly. he has some scars but they are gradually fading, worse one is on his cheek. there isn't any medication you can give, but i would recommend the cream. (the boots own one was the only cream that dried, so it didn't get all over his clothes).

hope he's ok

shrub · 24/01/2006 10:16

i've had chickenpox but ds3 still got it. last post should say ears and eyelids
soooo tired

lucykate · 24/01/2006 10:16

has he been in contact with chicken pox?, incubation period is 14-21 days. my ds had one spot on his head, which grew into a huge blister, followed by about 8 more the next day, and so on, and so on.........!

biglips · 24/01/2006 10:18

my mum said that i had chicken pox when i was 6 weeks old and i was bottle fed

biglips · 24/01/2006 10:18

my mum said that i had chicken pox when i was 6 weeks old and i was bottle fed

singersgirl · 24/01/2006 13:17

DS2 got it at 10 weeks although fully breasfed, but he only developed a couple of spots and didn't develop immunity.

So your baby might get it very mildly, but then get it again later.

Original poster

sweetheart · 24/01/2006 14:14

I'm still waiting to see if anything develops. My mum says she doesn't think it looks like a chicken pox mark.

He was in contact with my nephew two weeks ago who had no spots at the time but developed them a day or two later.

He has a horrible little cough at the moment too so I'm hoping his sleepless night was down to that - the last thing I want is for him to have a cold and chicken pox at the same time. We are supposed to be going away next weekend too!!!!

OP posts:

Bozza · 24/01/2006 14:25

Sweetheart I hope he hasn't got them. DD had them at 5 months (caught from DS) very badly and also cut her first two teeth the same week. She had started solids and bottles but went back to mainly breastfeeding and was very miserable with it all. I would contact your Dr about the calpol. I did because I wanted to give DD neurofen interspersed with the paracetomol and neurofen is from 6 months.

Aussieneets · 03/08/2006 17:01

My ds was exposed to chickenpox weekend before last (friend's dd came out on Monday so we saw them right in the infectious period). He is 13 weeks old. I've had it as has DP. There is no sign of spots yet but I've got a really grumpy baby on my hands, crying lots and sleeping poorly. No temperature as yet either. Should I be worried?

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