Chicken pox

[kittypower]

How contagious is chicken pox, DS (10 months) has about 10 spots on his legs so think he has a fairly mild dose of it but should he avoid all contact with friends etc until it's cleared up. One of my friends is pregnant and she hasn't had chicken pox, so do you think it is safe for her to see me (who has had it before) as long as i am not with DS at the time? Or if we go for a walk and DS is in his pram, is she at risk then?

Yes you should avoid people until the spots have scabbed over - normally 5-7 days from when they first start coming out. I would especially stay away from anyone who is pregnant and hasnt had CP as it can be harmful to the baby. Better to be safe than sorry imo.

She is at risk if he breathes or talks or coughs or sneezes any where near her.
Are you sure it's chicken pox? Normally spots appear on trunk first tho they can apear only in mouth for example...

TBH I wouldn't risk infecting your friend. Once the blisters have popped and scabbed over and are DRY and no new blisters have appeared then your DS is no longer contagious. In a couple of days, or 3 or 4 in other words.
(My DD1 has had CP since Sunday)

I took him to the doctor yesterday and he said it looked like CP, but it is only on his legs which is odd. I agree far better to be safe with pregnant friend, but is it safe for her to come into our house while he is asleep in bed so nowhere near her and is it safe for me to go to hers on my own, not with DS?

No idea how long the virus survives once in the air but would still say better safe than sorry....

I researched this last year, when going to see vulnerable very elderly granny with potentially (not, as it turned out) poxy dd. Yes, it IS safe for you to go to her house - you can't carry the virus on your clothes etc from your house to hers. I might avoid her coming to your house, unless she's had CP in which case she's immune anyway. HTH