Chickenpox nursery drop-off question.

[minouminou]

Hi. DS will, tomorrow, be on his 5th day of visible CP - he's got around 40-50 spots, half of which are crusting over, so he's not going to nursery tomorrow afternoon.
His sister is starting nursery tomoz, so this means i've either got to get a neighbour to mind DS while I drop her and pick her up, or I take him with me and he waits in reception, away from other kids, with his jacket on.
WWYD? DD has no spots as yet (she's 8 months old and BF still, so I'm hoping that's giving SOME protection).
I'm assuming DS is over the contagious stage now, unless he has v close contact and someone gets some blister-serum on them (niiiiiiiiiice).
Many thanks.

Our preschool policy is 5 days from the onset of the rash providing the spots have scabbed over.

So if your DS's spots are still 'wet' I'd say he's not really safe to go in yet. But to be on the safe side why not ask the nursery manager what their policy is?

If only half the spots are crusted over then I think he is still contagious.
And it's not just the other children catching it you need to be aware of. It's anyone really. especially pregnant women.

He could be contagious until all the spots have scabbed over, so best leave him with the neighbour, I'd say -- you won't be popular if you pass it on just in time for Christmas.

As it is fairly likely your DD will also be incubating chickenpox, would it not be best to keep both away from nursery tomorrow? Sorry, it may not be practical but don't know your childcare arrangements for DS.

It is best not to underestimate how easily it spreads
You can catch it from having a conversation with an infected person ....keeping his jacket on won't protect anyone.
I'd err on the side of caution with chicken pox.