GAH! DD (2.5) has chickenpox... i have a busy work week ahead, naturellement. Come, MNers, give me your combined folkspun wisdoms as to how to make the next few days not Absolutely Hellish...

[ExterminAitch]

pretty please?

she seems fine in herself... blah blah blah LIKE I CARE.

how bad is it going to get? (can't believe we're stuck in the house when the upstairs neighbours are knocking down walls with a pneumatic drill. i had hoped to get dd into nursery next week and escape to a pal's house to work).

you are only housebound until 5 days after the spots appeared, NOT until they are all crusted over.

dd1 got chickenpox earlier this year, on holiday. She was absolutely fine and happy, except for the second night, when she was up half the night as uncomfortable and couldn't settle. She was not bothered at all, and we were unable to do most of the soothing stuff (oatmeal baths supposed to be good - run a bath through a sock with some oats in - does wonders apparently)

dd2 had it when we got back, and was far iller, but also fine and happy in herself.

Neither of them were particularly bothered by itchiness etc (dd2 was covered - even had themon her eyeballs but no scrtaching etc), and the worst bit of it was the staying in at the beginning.

Ask around if any of your/her friends have either had it already or would like to catch it?

This worked for us, also grandparents came for the day bringing sandwiches and cakes.

that's interesting, thanks. thing is, i'm not sure really when they appeared. we noticed a couple of spots on friday but she's been out in paddling pools etec so they could just as easily have been midgie bites. today's really the first day when there's been a noticeable blister, iykwim?

good point about teh asking around. although most of her wee pals seem to have brand new brothers and sisters so i dunno if the mums would be that keen right now.

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so is the first thing friday, do we think?

Get yourself a bottle of piriton syrup from the chemist, this will stop your dd from itching as much which will make your life easier.

Other than that, as long as you tell people you are going to be near that she has chicken pox, life should be pretty normal.
Just be sure you don't mix with pregnant women as they are more at risk of complications.

Good luck and hope your dd is better soon

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thanks pp, have just sent dh to boots. have been looking at other threads too, calamine and eurax and ice lollies also on the list.

i'm starting to feel a bit stir crazy myself...

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Also be aware that some people (those who have not had the opportunity to be educated by mumsnet) still think you have to wait for all the spots to scab over and may be a bit if they see you out and about. (just so you are prepared for any "helpful" advice!)

With dd1 I kind of waited 5 days from when they came out properly, so it was more like 6 days than 5 tbh. Probably 5 days from Friday would be ok, but be slightly more cautious about mixing with pg women or other vulnerable people (e.g. don't visit anyone in hospital etc) on day 5 or 6. That's what I'd probably do anyway.

fingers crossed, cod. I JUST WANT TO GO OUTSIDE, though. must say, much as dd claimed she wanted to go for a nap, i can hear her in her bedroom loudly presiding over family dinosaur emergencies... 'oh no, stegosaurus mummy has fallen off the bed! quick, get the ambulance!'

i am itching like crazy of course. i feel like we've only just got over the lice thing...

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dd1 was fine after a whingy day or two. (she enjoyed lots of coolish showers) She was 4 at the time. Agree re going to the park - we went at quieter times so probably not this afternoon.

dd2 was tiny, only 8 months and was really really miserable.

Just been through his with both my boys, there is a new thing out call Poxciln is a foa all natual and was great to stop the itching and is also easy to pop on.

Piriton sent mine wild for some strange reason.

I will add paddling pool
Ice lollys
Cold drinks

Also we neded to leave DS2s nappy off, as the spots got really sore

Foam - I meant

I need to clean keyboard

gotcha. we'll probably venture out to the bowling green gardens across the road later for her to have run about. the few women who might be there are not of child-bearing age.

Piriton works for the itching but may make her tired or a bit hyper - dd1 was a bit hyper and irritable so we had to be cautious re timings. Gave it to her first thing and midday but avoided bedtime. (just thought you might like to test her reaction prior to bedtime just in case)

will do, ta.

We went out - it was wet, so I put waterproofs on them and we went to the empty park, puddle jumping and to the beach.

it's bloomin' glorious here, the parks will be hoaching with pregnant ladies For Sure. poor wee dd, having waited all this time for decent weather...

Porridge oats are brill. Put into a sock and put in the bath with dd. Squeeze sock regularly to get all the liquid stuff out. Very soothing. Especially good for really itchy spots on the head as you can just pour bath water all over them.

Ice lollies or tiptops are great especially if she gets the spots in her mouth ( my dd had them in her eyes, crotch...everywhere)

Not sure where you live but there must be somewhere you could go that won't be packed with people

poor wee thing had a wee attack of the skitters which necessitated a bath anyway. she was pretty miserable but has perked up since eurax and piriton, thanks all. (btw, how seriously should i have taken the 'get advice from gp if putting eurax on an under-3'? didn't notice until it was administered...