Chicken pox - stay away from nursery?

[Lockdownmummy]

DS goes to nursery two days a week. For the last couple of weeks there has been lots of cases of chicken pox across all the rooms but DS hasn't caught it yet.

We (me, DH, DS and DD) go on a UK holiday in a couple of weeks - our first holiday since covid and as a four (we had 2 under 2 until recently)

Would you still send DS to nursery? Or keep him home so he's not ill for the holiday??

Tough one. I'd try get him vaccinated if you can, although it's hard to get an appointment round here. How would you handle him being off until your holiday? Would you have any worries about him resettling after a long absence? Do you have insurance?

It takes 1-3 weeks after exposure to show symptoms, and then the spots usually crust over within 5-7 days., if that helps you decide on your timings.

I’d keep him home

@JenniferBarkley we were thinking about vaccinating a little while ago then my nieces caught it despite being vaccinated so it seemed like a waste of money!

Being at home would be OK as DH is off as well and I don't think there would be issues settling back in.

Sod's law we keep him off then he catches it as soon as we get back so more time off!!

My eldest had the first dose of the vaccine when she was a baby but we never got around to the second dose. She's just had the chickenpox (it's absolutely rampant around here atm) and was absolutely fine - spots appeared on Thursday, not very many of them and were crusted over by Monday afternoon. A very slight temp at the start and a brief headache one evening was the extent of her feeling unwell.

I would think about vaccinating if you can as it will likely mean a much milder dose.

I was going to say it 's probably too late but then saw he only goes 2 days a week so he might have swerved it so far.

I'd probably keep him off from now. Planning a holiday with DC is so stressful, they always seem to be catching things at the wrong time! I hope it works out for you!

DS got it exactly 2 weeks after his best friend at nursery, and DD's first spot appeared exactly 2 weeks after that, so unfortunately you won't know until your departure date whether you have really avoided it.

Good luck!

I would keep him home, we've all missed so much this last few years.

Given you’ve got two children I’d keep him off, my youngest came down with it about two weeks after the oldest so that was almost a month unable to go anywhere. if he’s incubating it now there’s not a lot you can do but hope!

Oh, and make sure you have travel insurance! If spots appear while you’re away you might need to stay longer until he’s safe to fly again.

Hmmm I think the incubation period is 14 days ish??? Can't remember exactly do he may already have it.
Prob best to keep him if though. Annoying!

14 days incubation, if they have been in contact in afraid it's too late.

We had this situation, it sucks.

OP has said they are having a UK holiday.

I'd also consider getting him vaccination, although they need 2 jabs for full protection, the first one does reduce the risk of them catching, and also if they do catch it makes it much likely to be mild.

If your younger one is under 1, they may well catch it if your older one does but often don't develop immunity - and can then catch it again in a few years time.

I am however a lot more risk averse at the moment as my DC have, however, over the last year had an amazing ability to catch illnesses precisely at the most awkward point for holiday plans!

For a self catering UK holiday I wouldn't worry so much as I'd still go away but just keep the child in the accommodation during the contagious stage. My DD just had it and the spots scabbed really quickly so it was only a few days of staying home.

If a flight was involved I would think differently.

UK holiday park type thing so no flights involved.

Thanks for the input - I have til Tuesday to decide 😬