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Original poster

Toddler with? Chickenpox with 2 days old baby.

28 replies

Marylou62 · 04/05/2025 08:05

Looks like my 2 year old GS might have chickenpox and my DD only gave birth late Friday...
I'm not worried about the toddler but has anyone got any advice about the newborn?
NHS guidelines say avoid contact but that is impossible..He already cuddled his baby brother yesterday. He was slightly snotty and grotty for a few days before the birth.
Will they give the baby the vaccine?
My DD has had CP as a child..
Thank you

OP posts:
Groundhogday2025 · 04/05/2025 08:13

I wouldn’t actually worry. The baby will likely still have immunity from mum for a few weeks at least.

Original poster
Marylou62 · 04/05/2025 08:15

Thank you..

OP posts:
Growsomeballswoman · 04/05/2025 08:45

If it turns out he doesn’t have it, get him vaccinated. It’s a nasty illness

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DamnitCarol · 04/05/2025 09:04

I had a newborn exposed to chickenpox from a sibling at 2 weeks old. He did catch it along with RSV at the same time and ended up in hospital for a week, but only got 3 spots and he recovered with no lasting issues.

Bippityboppitybooo · 04/05/2025 09:11

My ds3 caught chicken pox when dd was 2 weeks old. I was concerned too as I've never had chicken pox, but I must have immunity because me and dd didn't catch it.

WonderingWanda · 04/05/2025 09:15

I would say that even if your dd isn't planning to bf long term it would really help to try and do so for a week or two now so as she will provide the antibodies for the newborn.

Doyouknowdanieltiger · 04/05/2025 09:16

I wouldn't worry your baby will have a lot of antibodies from yourself to protect them.

Needspaceforlego · 04/05/2025 09:19

If she is Breastfeeding it's unlikely a child under 1 will take chickenpox.

My LO was about 12 mths and that's what the GP said to me, they had a couple of spots that it.
A colleague recently had the same situation GC with chickenpox and a baby the baby was under the weather for a couple of days, which may or may not have been them fighting it off. But no spots.

Needspaceforlego · 04/05/2025 09:20

I certainly don't think I'd be trying to vaccinated a newborn baby.

Pomer0l · 04/05/2025 09:29

Chicken pox vaccine is from age 1

Freshair87 · 04/05/2025 09:43

Agree with pp if she isn't breastfeeding try and get some breast milk into him for extra antibodies (although should hopefully already have some) I was breastfeeding my baby when DD had chickenpox and he didn't get it.

OtterMummy2024 · 04/05/2025 11:13

Needspaceforlego · 04/05/2025 09:20

I certainly don't think I'd be trying to vaccinated a newborn baby.

This. You can't give the CP vaccine to babies, in part because it's a live vaccine and unsuitable for under 9 months, same as MMR.

OtterMummy2024 · 04/05/2025 11:15

As others have said, the best protection would be for your DD to breastfeed if she can for the next three weeks (the incubation period), as the toddler having CP will boost your DDs antibodies, and then they are transferred to breastmilk.

Also important to let midwives and health visitors know that there's a CP case in the house.

Original poster
Marylou62 · 04/05/2025 12:18

WonderingWanda · 04/05/2025 09:15

I would say that even if your dd isn't planning to bf long term it would really help to try and do so for a week or two now so as she will provide the antibodies for the newborn.

Thank you.. she is breastfeeding and plans to for at least 2yrs . She's already producing breastmilk as he's dribbling out of the corners of his mouth..

OP posts:
Original poster
Marylou62 · 04/05/2025 12:20

Pomer0l · 04/05/2025 09:29

Chicken pox vaccine is from age 1

Thank you.. I couldn't find any information..

OP posts:
Original poster
Marylou62 · 04/05/2025 12:25

OtterMummy2024 · 04/05/2025 11:15

As others have said, the best protection would be for your DD to breastfeed if she can for the next three weeks (the incubation period), as the toddler having CP will boost your DDs antibodies, and then they are transferred to breastmilk.

Also important to let midwives and health visitors know that there's a CP case in the house.

111 were a bit useless to begin with and so she rang the midwifery unit so they already know.. but thank you..

OP posts:
Original poster
Marylou62 · 04/05/2025 12:27

And I should have said in my post that she is breastfeeding which is going well and she is already producing milk.. thank you everyone...x

OP posts:
DamnitCarol · 04/05/2025 13:13

Just for balance, I was breastfeeding at the time and my son still caught it. I have had it myself too as a child so should have had antibodies, but it didn’t stop him catching it!

Original poster
Marylou62 · 04/05/2025 13:14

DamnitCarol · 04/05/2025 09:04

I had a newborn exposed to chickenpox from a sibling at 2 weeks old. He did catch it along with RSV at the same time and ended up in hospital for a week, but only got 3 spots and he recovered with no lasting issues.

Thank you for this... I'm glad everything turned out ok...

OP posts:
Original poster
Marylou62 · 16/05/2025 20:39

If anyone is still following the baby came out with chicken pox yesterday at 14 days old.. but he is not unhappy and feeding well.
He has quite a few spots and more every time we look.
Hopefully he will remain well.

OP posts:
Needspaceforlego · 17/05/2025 07:00

Aww poor wee mite. Hope he is better soon.

Is she BFing?
Just trying to figure out if what that GP said to me was right?

Original poster
Marylou62 · 17/05/2025 08:26

Needspaceforlego · 17/05/2025 07:00

Aww poor wee mite. Hope he is better soon.

Is she BFing?
Just trying to figure out if what that GP said to me was right?

Thank you .
Yes she is breast feeding.
Obviously the GP wasn't right but then looking at all the comments on this thread there's a lot of differing advice/opinions.
It's certainly a mild case in terms of him not being unwell, but he has lots of spots and still more today. Here's hoping it will remain so.

OP posts:
Oneearringlost · 17/05/2025 09:18

I wouldn't worry too much about the newborn, he/she might get it EXTREMELY mildly, but your daughter's maternal antibodies will be protective.

My 2nd ( aged 12 weeks and EBF) caught CP from his 3 year old sister but had literally 3 spots on his neck.

But aged 2.5, he developed Shingles ( GP didn't believe it until he saw it) and gave my then 6 month old daughter CP. She was covered, but all recovered absolutely fine.
Sorry, just a mildly interesting anecdote there...

I really wouldn't fret too much. Hope the toddler is OK X

Oneearringlost · 17/05/2025 09:20

Marylou62 · 16/05/2025 20:39

If anyone is still following the baby came out with chicken pox yesterday at 14 days old.. but he is not unhappy and feeding well.
He has quite a few spots and more every time we look.
Hopefully he will remain well.

Ah, sorry. Just seen your update. Do hope the baby is OK.

dementedpixie · 17/05/2025 09:25

@Oneearringlost having chickenpox under 1 year increases the risk of childhood shingles. My ds had CP at 6 months and shingles age 3. Was misdiagnosed as eczema at first. He still has marks under his arm and on his chest from the shingles spots.