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Original poster

Would you take your dc to Tesco if they had chickenpox?

180 replies

QueenEagle · 29/01/2007 11:12

ds3 came down with chickenpox on Saturday, bless him. Hopefully ds4 will catch it very soon as I am due to start work in 4 weeks.

I need ideas on what I can do with the two of them for the next week. I think we will go stir crazy if we don't go out! Today is first day off playgroup and I am getting frustrated already!

Of course, I need to get some groceries in, it will be ok to nip in and straight out wouldn't it, if I kept him in the trolley and didn't let him run around?

dh is not available until late on Thursday this week and I am severely limited to what help I can draw on from family members due to their own health problems - dad has leukaemia so he just CANNOT come anywhere near atm.

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenEagle · 29/01/2007 11:47

bandstand - you're not kidding!

And btw I wasn't looking for permission, I was after opinions. Guess I got those, didn't I?

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenEagle · 29/01/2007 11:47

chandra -

OP posts:
pooka · 29/01/2007 11:48

Personally I'd second the vote for online shopping. Have you friends locally who could pick stuff up for you - parents of your dcs' friends for example.
I do also think that there is a big difference between going for a walk in the fresh air, where you do what Hulababy did, keeping away from other people, and going to Tesco's.
You just don't know whether the other people in the supermarket/using the trolley after you and so on are at greater risk of complications and now you know your ds is infectious I think it'd be wrong to deliberately put others at risk.

southeastastra · 29/01/2007 11:50

i wonder what women did years ago, when they had to shop everyday

LIZS · 29/01/2007 11:50

oh and of course just as ds3 finishes ds4 may start so perhaps you'd better order in bulk

Soapbox · 29/01/2007 11:51

Is there really no other option?

Internet shopping?

Ask a friend/neighbour to pick up some essentials for you?

Wait until DH is around and pop out to a late opening supermarket?

I really would try not to mix with other people if at all possible. There does tend to be a lot of elderly folk at supermarkets and I would hate for someone to pick up a serious illness because my children were out and about while ill

I think all people are saying, is that you should extend the same care and concern to stangers as you are extending to members of your own family. If you are kind enough to make sure your own elderly/immune compromised relatives are not subject to this illness, then why would you not also take the same actions for mine/your neighbours etc etc etc.

Chandra · 29/01/2007 11:51

Southeastastra, children mortality rate was quite higher in the past, life expectancy was quite low too.

DumbledoresGirl · 29/01/2007 11:52

FWIW to you QE, I have told you I have done it, and I would do it again (ds3 has yet to have CP). I don't think sitting in a trolley is really letting your child be in contact with others.

What is the alternative? To not eat? To let your child risk scarring by scratching at the spots? Needs must, sometimes.

Oh and btw, although my 3 children had CP, they were not ill with it, so I do not feel I was making them suffer by taking them out. As I recall, they enjoyed the distraction.

I am sorry there are people out there with vulnerable children. How do you face taking your child to any public place I wonder? I am asking that genuinely, not sarcastically.

southeastastra · 29/01/2007 11:52

i'm not talking about that long ago!

Original poster
QueenEagle · 29/01/2007 11:53

LIZS - glad you raised that! Although I hope he will, ds4 may not get it now so how long until I can safely assume he won't? I mean, if, say, in 2 weeks he hasn't got it, or 3 or whatever, can I let him run around in Tesco or sit in a trolley?

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 29/01/2007 11:54

LOL SEA at your last post! Yes I remember when I was a child there were some things that were bought daily. But you know, mums left their children outside the shop in the pram in those days!

Original poster
QueenEagle · 29/01/2007 11:57

DG - in my dad's case (leukaemia) he is obviously particularly vulnerable - but when he feels able to he goes out and mixes, carries on his life as much as he can, otherwise he would just sit at home waiting to die.

Of course, he would avoid us at this time, but he can't constantly worry what he might or might not catch from Joe Bloggs in the street (or Tesco's )

OP posts:
misdee · 29/01/2007 11:57

QE please dont. you all know about my dh.

when mine all had CP and i had to go out as dh was in hospital, i put the raincover over dd3, and kept dd2 clamped to my side, in the playground i stood away from everyone (collecting dd1 from school) and if anyone came near i would inform them that they had CP. some moved away, some shoved their toddlers closer.

i did internet shopping and got my aprents to bring over piriton and lotion.

LIZS · 29/01/2007 11:58

up to 3 weeks depoending if it is likely he was exposed at the same time as ds3 (so imminent) or could catch it just from ds3

Blu · 29/01/2007 11:58

QE - I think it would be fine to take your ds out for a walk in the fresh air and keep him out of coughing / breeathing distance of people.

WideWebWitch · 29/01/2007 11:59

I'm surprised this is so controversial!

I wouldn't go with the vaccine dejags but both mine have had cp. I wonder if we will suddenly be told in a ten years time that CP is a deadly disease and we MUST vaccinate?

belgo · 29/01/2007 12:00

It can be up to four weeks! Are we really supposed to keep our children in quarentine for this length of time? My paediatrician didn't answer this when I asked, obviously didn't want to commit herself, so no help at all.

flutterbee · 29/01/2007 12:00

I agree with soapbox.

Internet shop for goodness sake or shop during the night (unless of course dh is away totaly till Thursday).

Yes take the kids out for a walk if you have no garden but just keep them away from other people.

How angry would you be if you knew someone had knowingly infected your child or worse still what if your Dad got infected by someone who just wanted to nip in and out of the shops.

belgo · 29/01/2007 12:02

There is so much suspician regarding vaccines in the UK, that I think it is very unlikely the chicken pox vaccine will be pushed any time soon.

speedymama · 29/01/2007 12:04

My DTS came down with chicken pox two weeks apart so they had 4 weeks of just going into the garden for fresh air. I went shopping when DH was around to be with them. No way should you take them to the supermarket.

Sugarmagnolia · 29/01/2007 12:06

I've already voiced my opinion but i just want to say I agree with you that there's no need for some posts to be so nasty. There are ways of making a point....

speedymama · 29/01/2007 12:07

I meant to add that taking your child amongst the public when you know they are infectious is extremely selfish.

misdee · 29/01/2007 12:08

yes we had 4 weeks of being unable to visit dh

dd1 went down with it on xmas eve, then 2 weeks later dd2+3 also got it,

Chandra · 29/01/2007 12:09

I have reviewed the advertising for the chicken pox vaccine and aparently the main benefit is a lower number of spots/scars, which are very likely to disapear in a few years anyway. So, I wouldn't bother with the vaccine.

slalomsuki · 29/01/2007 12:10

Can I just say i the midst of this dicussion

QueenEagle I hope your DS gets well soon

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