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Original poster

Chicken pox - is 5 months too young to expose?

29 replies

Octaviapink · 23/04/2011 15:34

Been looking around online for this, but can't find any advice. My dd is 2, and ds is 5 months. A friend has a chickenpoxy daughter and obviously I'd like both DCs to get it out of the way. But is 5 months too young for ds to have it?

OP posts:
boosmummie · 23/04/2011 15:39

My DS got CP at 5 months, but I was still BF and he only had about 15 spots max. He then got it properly at 2.5. Some will get it again and some won't. If it was me I would try to get it out the way as I can remember how dreadfully sick I was at 8 (and giving it to my DSDad and putting him in hospital too). I would love for DC4 to have it sooner rather than later as my bigger ones were over and done with it by 3.5 without real problems.

greencaveman · 23/04/2011 15:40

Think 5 months is too young because he runs the risk of getting it again as he is still a baby.

Original poster
Octaviapink · 23/04/2011 15:41

I am still BF-ing him, so perhaps he'd be ok - though maybe a waste of time if he then might get it again!

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themildmanneredjanitor · 23/04/2011 15:42

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boosmummie · 23/04/2011 15:46

If you're still BF he may get it mildly. But he may not even get it or get it again. Luck of the draw so to speak. Personally, though (I have 4DC) the earlier the better IMO! Someone will probably flame me for that but I really was very very sick at only 8 and my others really were ok (if a tad itchy for a week!). At least you know if one has definitely had it you will only (maybe) have to deal with one the next time. Lots of calamine for nights and potassium permanganate crystals in the bath should help alleviate the worst of the itchiness. If was there I'd be asking them for lunch!

itsabiggywhatdoidonow · 23/04/2011 15:49

DO NOT DO IT. CP AND SECONDARY INFECTION CAN KILL.

why not let them catch it as and when.

boosmummie · 23/04/2011 15:50

NHS site - complications in children are very rare and it is common knowledge that the older one is the worse it is likely to be. I wouldn't deliberately GET my child ill, however having suffered terribly as an older child and seen the older children of various friends suffer equally horribly, the minor suffering from Chicken Pox when younger is far preferable to me. Each to their own. I would HATE my DC4 not to get CP until she is older. Absolutely hate it.

Seona1973 · 23/04/2011 15:52

getting it under the age of one can lead to them getting it later on again or can lead to them getting childhood shingles which isnt nice either (shingles normally associated with the elderly). DS got chicken pox at 5 1/2 months and got shingles at the age of 3. I wouldnt deliberately expose them to chicken pox as they will probably get it at nursery/school anyway

itsabiggywhatdoidonow · 23/04/2011 15:53

my dd nearly died at 2 with cp and secodary effection causing fluid in chest and cranial cavity. you just never know.

itsabiggywhatdoidonow · 23/04/2011 15:53

infection

RitaMorgan · 23/04/2011 15:55

If he gets it now he'll probably catch it again anyway, so I wouldn't.

boosmummie · 23/04/2011 15:55

That's terrible. But it is very very rare. I hope she is ok now. As I said in my early posting - each to their own. I know how ill I was and I made an informed decision when my older DCs were small. I have a 2yr old daughter now and would do the same again.

FossilMum · 23/04/2011 15:59

I wouldn't give it to them deliberately. DS had it at 2.6 and it was horrid, esp. where it coincided with his eczema. There is now a vaccine. It's routinely available in some countries, but not yet in the UK. For now I'd hope they could avoid getting it until the UK decides to vaccinate.

itsabiggywhatdoidonow · 23/04/2011 16:11

she is 5 and fine now, lost most her hair at the time, due to extensive scabbing and infected sites all over her scalp. Please dont expose them on purpose, you would never get over the guilt if it ended horribly wrong

boosmummie · 23/04/2011 16:15

I am pleased to hear she recovered well. I know and I understand that there are extremes for any illness (my son was born at 28 weeks and was hit with everything possible til he was about 8), but there are extremes and just knowing how awfully sick I was (not to mention my poor Step Dad who was 33) I was glad that my older children had CP when they were very young IFSWIM.

nickelbaalamb · 23/04/2011 16:22

I wouldn't expose my child to chicken pox deliberately.

I've never had chicken pox, and it's not done me any harm...

itsabiggywhatdoidonow · 23/04/2011 16:23

octavia please think twice about this.

Allegrogirl · 23/04/2011 18:17

My DD1 had it at 3.4 very recently and wasn't too bad. Quite a few spots but not terrible and a high temperature. She had Piriton and Calpol and was plonked in front of DVDs for a few days. DD2 at 6 months got two weeks later and was completely covered. Trying to scratch all the time and distressed. Plus every nappy change was hell for both of as she she got covered in poo trying to scratch. The poo and wee must have really hurt the spots on her bum. GP wouldn't recommend Piriton so it was Calpol only. She is BF so I assumed that would offer some protection but didn't appear to, although I guess it could have been even worse.

I'd rather she had got it when older and able to be distracted and preferably out of nappies. I'm gutted to hear that being so young she may get it again anyway.

everyspring · 23/04/2011 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 23/04/2011 18:35

You are being naive if you think they both need "to get it out of the way" . It is oen thing to ctach it in th course of normal life, another deliberately . A young child died of complications near here a couple of years ago. One might catch it and get over it only for the other to get it 3 weeks later - do you really fancy putting your life on hold for a month to 6 weeks ? Hmm

Original poster
Octaviapink · 23/04/2011 19:13

A good spread of views! I guess the ideal age is somewhere between 2 and 6 to catch it. LIZS, it is better to have it as a childhood illness than as an adult - it can be really serious then.

OP posts:
dikkertjedap · 23/04/2011 20:16

You may find this website helpful in making your decision. Personally, I think that having the vaccination and booster is preferable ...

Lollyo80 · 05/05/2017 18:50

Why oh why would you do this ???? Why not vaccinate your poor child instead ?! Why do parents feel chicken pox is some harmless rite of passage of childhood. This is propoganda formulated by the UK government because they don't want fork out for everyone to be vaccinated. There is a vaccine out there that protects your precious child from this horrible dangerous disease that's been used by the USA, Australia & other countries for decades.

ScarlettFreestone · 05/05/2017 18:52

It is irresponsible to deliberately expose your child to Chickenpox.

It can be very serious.

TheMasterNotMargarita · 05/05/2017 18:57

Chickenpox is, for many children, unpleasant, uncomfortable and not something you would want to have voluntarily.
Some children are lucky and only have a few spots.
Some children are not so lucky and end up with serious issues due to it.
You cannot predict which your child will be on the basis they are bf or not.
It is a nasty virus. Please think very carefully before knowingly exposing your children to it.

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