Chickenpox - should I expose my 23mth old to it?

[loveverona]

Hi. A friend has just told me that her 10mth DD has chickenpox (first spots today). We saw her on Monday (3 days ago) so my 23mth DS may already have caught it, but the question is do I visit them tomorrow and actively expose DS to it?

I feel a bit cruel doing that, but I would quite like it out of the way. It's meant to be less severe the younger they are, right? And my DD has had it already.

Any thoughts?

Tough one... Chickenpox is most contagious 2-3 days before the spots appear so the likelihood is that ds will already have caught it. Were you due to visit anyway or would it be a visit specifically to expose ds to it ? Not sure why it makes a difference, but I don't think I would cancel an arrangement but don't think I would deliberately expose him...

My 18mo just had it, and she had it much less severely than her older sibs. She was really miserable for about 48hrs, so if you can cope with that then I'd say go ahead.

Although your ds has probably already got it anyway

You already have. Its most contagious before the spots come out. But another visit won't hurt! No guarantee she will catch it this time though.

Hmm, just feels a bit 'wrong' to be knowingly bringing him into contact with it. Although it's with good intention, so save him getting it a lot worse when he's older, IYSWIM.....

But yeah, probably already has it!

Why is motherhood racked with guilt!!

This is a tough call and despite asking on here. It really has to be your call. Obviously
Issues. It is better caught young. It is less severe and usually mild when caught young. If you know they are likely to have caught it you can be ready and sympathetic to early flu symptoms (unlike me )

But spots can get infected and it can be very occasionally nastier than expected.

Mine both had it at the same time, 3 & 1. They were fine, but not sure if I would have deliberately exposed.

My little one has it too. She had her first spots last night and only has about 10 at the moment so it's very mild. She was in contact with a little boy 2 days before he got it. That was exactly two weeks a go. Ur LO might have it anyway and they do say it best for them to have it when they are younger.
(Obviously your decision and not nice for LO to get ill but he is likely to get it at some point).

I wouldn't deliberately expose him before he is old enough to clearly explain exactly how he is feeling. My dd had it at 23 months, and it wasn't nice.

I wouldn't try to deliberately infect a child. The chances are that she will catch it from nursery or school herself when she is older, and it will be easier to explain why she feels rotten and why she shouldn't scratch the spots.

There is no guarantee that catching it early makes it less severe. Some young children suffer badly, some older children have it milder than others. I wouldn't risk it.

Hmm, starting to think chances are he's got it already and I don't think I have it in me to make him ill on purpose. It's not really fair, is it. Thanks all.

Just so you know, I didn't go in the end! I'll wait and see if the spots materialise anyway....