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Original poster

babies and chickenpox....

9 replies

cyan · 03/02/2006 12:24

Im quite stressed out and need some advice please!!!
my MIL is supposed to be having my ds, 11mths on monday whilst i go to an interview. Ive just received a message from her saying that her grandaughter, ds cousin has chickenpox and that she will also be looking after her on monday, do I mind?

AM I completely overeacting by saying yes i do?, I dont particularly want my ds around his cousin as Im not sure of the effects chickenpox could have on a baby. I've tried to doing some research but it's very general can any mummies help me.

OP posts:

Angeliz · 03/02/2006 12:25

My dd had chicken pox at 10 months jst before Christmas and was not TOO bad. She'll get it oneday!
If they already see the spots she's probably not infectious anymore.

starlover · 03/02/2006 12:38

my ds also had this just before christmas (about 10 months)
he wasn't too bad with it either... and i think the younger they get it the better tbh.

as angeliz says, she may well not be infectious by monday... dr's vary from saying 5 days after the spots appear, or when they're all scabbed over.. but it tends to be around the same time...

so, if she has had spots for a day or so then by monday she may very well not be contagious at all!

tangerinecath · 03/02/2006 12:47

My dd had chickenpox at about 8 months and sailed through it with no problems. I would be tempted to send her in the hope that he DOES get it. She was miserable for a day or so and itchy but she was never really ill and had forgotten all about it after a couple of days.

geogteach · 03/02/2006 12:55

Agree with the others DS2 had it at about 9 months, best to get it over and done with and the cousin may not be infectious by then anyway.

LIZS · 03/02/2006 12:58

what are planning to do in 2 -3 weeks time ? If your niece is still conatagious and your ds catches it that is when he would most likely develop symptoms and potentially not be able to go anywhere for a week or so(unless MIL will babysit again for you!). If that isn't a problem then it is up to you whether you want to expose him so young - some get it mildly, others are quite poorly, but the vast majority recover well.

JennyWren · 03/02/2006 13:03

Hi,
My PIL came to visit a couple of weekends ago and called the following Monday to let us know that my FIL had just been diagnosed with shingles... I had to take dd (8 months) to the docs anyway, so I mentioned it whilst we were there. Basically, the doc said we should hope that she does get it! Apparently, it will be milder if she gets it now rather than later, it's much easier to stop a small child scratching as they will tolerate scratch mitts and thus are less likely to scar, and it is good for girls to get it as children so they're not at risk when pregnant, later in life, as it can cause problems if you get it at certain points during pregnancy.
So far she seems fine, but we have gone from feeling very much "We hope she doesn't get it" to "Well, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if she does..."!

Arabica · 03/02/2006 13:15

I definitely think, get it over and done with. I was in a similar position to you when DS was a 5-month-old baby, but he was fine--just slightly miserable for a day, but we put calomine lotion on. You can get homeopathic remedies that help too (get a homeopath to prescribe it for you though, not an over the counter remedy). Be warned though, it can take over 2 weeks for the symptoms to appear.

TinyGang · 03/02/2006 13:16

DT's had it at 6/7 mths. Littlest twin dd was totally swamped with it and I was very concerned about her. Ds got it quite badly too. They caught it from their big sister who picked it up at pre-school so it was un-avoidable in our case.

In retrospect I'm glad they've had it (now 4) and hopefully won't get it again (god, there is no justice if dd does!)

Young babies can't do much about it really, so although they are miserable and unwell, you don't have to keep reminding them not to scratch quite so much. Also, they don't get so fed up about having to stay away from friends etc or get quite so cranky about it, so I think they probably make better patients than older children.

Having said all that though, I have never fallen into the idea that I would hope my children catch anything or even want them to play with anyone with CP hoping they'll get it. I know some mums who have done this though. I accept they will catch things from time to time, but I don't go looking for trouble iyswim, and so no I don't think you are over reacting at all.

As others have said, the little girl may not even be infectious by monday especially if her spots have started to dry out.

Original poster

cyan · 03/02/2006 13:27

thanks for all your advice, hopefully she will be over the worst by monday fingers crossed x

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