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Original poster

Help - to bath or not to bath with chickenpox

24 replies

bagpussmice · 13/02/2006 17:59

dd2, 2.3yrs is on day 4 of chickenpox and has really been suffering today with itching/sore spots. Is it better to give her a bath tonight or give it a miss? She's got old calomine lotion on still from this morning - can I reapply new over the top?
Last night bathtime was very teary - she is v. tired and irritable...
to bath or not to bath?

OP posts:
edgetop · 13/02/2006 18:12

will she go in a warm shower, just to freshen her up. i known when my son had cp it did him good, because it was quick & the new camomile was soothing, good luck, it dosnt last for ever. it just feels like it.

Hulababy · 13/02/2006 18:14

We found that piriton was much better for the itching than calamine. When calamine dries it can irrate the skin, making the itching worse.

Even if she doesn't want a bath - how about a bit of a sponge down?

MrsMills · 13/02/2006 18:14

DS2 has just about recovered from chicken pox, he's just turned 2.
I put him in a cooler bath with a bucketful of bicarbinate of soda every night. I'm not sure if it's just an old wifes tale, but it did stop him itching for quite a while. I didn't use calamine lotion though, just cold aloe vera gel.

It'll soon be over, honest! You've probably got over the worst now.

MaryP0p1 · 13/02/2006 18:19

Agreed cooler bath with bicarbinate o soda, does wonders for drying out those spots.

WigWamBam · 13/02/2006 18:21

Oat baths are soothing as well - fill the end of an old sock or tie up a muslin with some oats in and hang it over the tap so that the water runs through it as you run the bath.

WharfRat · 13/02/2006 18:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mszebra · 13/02/2006 18:25

I only found out that ds had cp when i took his shirt off at bathtime and he was eagerly splashing around ... but obv. his spots didnt bother him much.

MrsMills · 13/02/2006 18:35

You might find a few more soon!

Milge · 13/02/2006 18:36

I made a paste up with bicarb of soda in a cool bath and sat them in the bath until the paste dried. Much better than calamine, imho! Also add a handful of oats to the water.

Twiglett · 13/02/2006 18:42

warm bath run through a sock filled with porridge oats

or add bicarbonate of soda to the bathwater

both of the above relieve itching and are superior to calamine lotion IMHO .. I gave my 2 baths 2 to 4 times a day like that

Mercy · 13/02/2006 18:48

Not sure if you can get it here but lacto calamine is pretty good (and doesn't leave those awful dry white/pink patches)

meganandlucymummy · 01/03/2006 22:02

How much bicarb in a bath - does anyone know? Thanks

misdee · 01/03/2006 22:05

i chucked a tub in.

Dottydot · 01/03/2006 22:06

ds2 who had worse chicken pox than his brother really liked having a slightly cooler bath - he's nearly 2 and I think it helped alleviate the itching. We didn't put anything in it, but covered him in calamine and medicated talc when he got out.

MarsOnLife · 01/03/2006 22:08

if you bath then a cool bath is best otherwise it will set the itching off.

RedZuleika · 01/03/2006 22:11

Had it when I was in my 20s. Coolish bath helped me (didn't have any bicarb at the time). Hated the calamine as it made the itching worse.

It also helped me to scratch the bits no one would be able to see. If I ever lose my hair, I'm going to look a mess! Grin

LIZS · 01/03/2006 22:16

lukewarm with a spoon or two of bicarb of soad and pat dry or wrap in bath robe/towel and let her dry off slowly.

Angua · 01/03/2006 22:16

Hi

JanH · 01/03/2006 22:41

Bit late now (assume she's in bed!) but DD2 had chickenpox very badly when she was just 2 and spent hours in a bicarb bath, it was the only place she was comfortable.

jetsetmum · 01/03/2006 23:09

sorry to hi-jack thread - but DS2 has been sent home with suspected chick pox at 13 months from nursery

  • only it's not like DS1 when he had CP - no spots on body - apart from a few dots where he has really dry skin on his legs & really red face. But he is really unwell so I do feel the worse.

Is he going to wake up in the morning covered or what?

meganandlucymummy · 01/03/2006 23:10

She's just managed to drop off to sleep but if we're stuck in the night or tom - I'll know what to do now! Thanks x

arfur · 02/03/2006 10:31

Medised worked well for my two - paracetamol and small amount of anti-histimine helps the itching and also helps them sleep Wink Obviously not to be given if using piriton.

brimfull · 02/03/2006 10:36

ds is day 3 now and soooooo much better todaySmile

doesn't seem so distressed/in pain.No fever today.Thank God,I was really worried about him yesterday.

RyanGladwin · 10/03/2018 18:52

Am.i right in reading bi carb in a bath????

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