Mumsnet users share their tips for helping their child through chickenpox with PoxClin

[JustineBMumsnet]

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It may not be front of mind for many parents right now, but chickenpox is an illness most children will get, making it almost a rite of passage. Despite this, having a child who doesn’t feel well - whether that’s with chickenpox or anything else - can be something that’s difficult to deal with. With children at home (along with almost everyone else at the moment) and feeling restless, as well as parents feeling stressed from juggling work and unexpected childcare, it can make the situation even more challenging. With that in mind, PoxClin Cool Mousse would like to hear your tips for helping your child and the family cope with chickenpox.

Here’s what PoxClin Cool Mousse has to say: “It is natural for parents to feel concerned about itching and scarring, in fact, 46% of parents say that stopping children from scratching is the most important thing for them when their child has chickenpox and 34% also worry about longer-term effects like scarring. It’s at times like this that support and advice from other parents can be invaluable. So, if you have some amazing parenting “hacks” to share, we want to hear from you!”

Do you have tips for helping to relieve their itching and scratching? Perhaps you have practical tips for keeping their mind off of it and making them feel cared for? Maybe you’ve picked up tips for helping your child when they have been poorly with something else that could be just as helpful if they came down with chickenpox?

Whatever your tips for dealing with chickenpox, share with PoxClin Cool Mousse below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Both my DC had chicken pox (one after the other) a year ago. We used a combination of Poxclin mousse, calpol and anti-dandruff shampoo in the bath to help the itching. Even a year later my DD still talks about the bubbly cream we used on her when she had chicken pox. It was the only thing she would tolerate, brilliant stuff. I hadn't heard of it until a pharmacist recommended it.

Cooling spray gel and ice cubes helped relived the itching for mine. My little ones had very bad mouth sores too, so lots of ice lollies and a numbing throat spray helped. They hated the chalkiness of calamine lotion, so we couldn't use that. Plenty of fluids, calpol and antihistamines too!

Had experience with both children , trick was to keep them distracted from the itch by watch their favourite movies . Using good quality organic oat baths helped to soothe and reduce inflammation on the skin.

Oat bath here aswell. Also distraction techniques and soothing lotions.

We were lucky in that neither of my 2 were too badly affected. We found cool baths/flannels really helpful, and they did seem to live the Poxclin mousse. My youngest would grab the container and give it to me every time she wanted it on!

We could get poxcyclin so had to get a competitor. Was good and did help.

Piriton helped too. Lots of cuddles and tv.

My daughter was about 8months old when she got chicken pox. She was very unsettled by it at night. Most nights I have her an oat bath before bed and another in the morning to soothe her skin . I also used poxcillin mousse which was very effective at soothing her spots. She mostly just wore a nappy as clothing seemed to irritate her spots.

Loose cotton clothing, a cool room and lots of fun activities.

Distraction and making jokes about how the Chicken helped us. Sounds ridiculous I know! We used Poxclin and Piriton too.

Watching as much TV as she liked
To take her mind off it.

Eurax cream! It kills itching for 10 hours of dabbed on every Pox! Once the itching has subsided, wipe off or rub in.

It also helps in older children to take an antihistamine (Loratadine if d enough) and in very young children, pop some soft gloves on

My ds didn't want anything on his skin after a couple of days. He has willpower of steel though. At age 7, he barely scratched when he was told not to, though he did cry about it. He endured talc & said that helped.

Dd, found oat baths helpful, especially with ice cream at the same time!

Oat milk baths and cool damp flannels at night.

Calamine lotion is so soothing and I found the smell very relaxing! I remember as a child I was playing in the garden as much as possible when I had chickenpox. My children haven’t had it yet so I’m reading with interest...

Cool baths
We used a pox gel which really helped
Also found fresh air was good too.

DS was around 3 when he had it. Only thing that worked was covering him in calamine lotion, keeping him in long sleeved, long-legged pyjamas, keeping nails short and putting cotton gloves on overnight.

Traditional treatments such as Calamine and filling a sock with oats and floating in the bath work surprisingly well.
Antihistamine syrups can be useful at night as they can have a sedative effect too.
Telling a child, or adult not to scratch isn't helpful.

Clip nails short. Lots of cool baths.

We vaccinated, but even vaccinated children often get an extremely mild form of the illness---mine did. Just a few spots but one did leave a little mark next to her nose. If I had had a product handy which reduced scarring risk, I would have dabbed some on.

The vaccine is still well worth getting, though---it meant we had just a few spots and basically no other symptoms. We quarantined in the house to protect other people, but she was out and about in five days.

I got mine vaccinated. That's worked well for sorting out chicken pox.

Calamine lotion. Also making juice/water ice lollies to keep fluids up in a treat way.

Half a tub of bicarbonate soda in the bath water seemed to help the itch, plus children's piriton which not only helps the itch but makes them drowsy too. This combo worked very well for us.

Head and shoulders original. Use as shampoo and shower gel. Ive been informed it stops the itching!!!!

PoxClin was the best product when my kids both caught chicken pox back in 2018, right over Christmas!!! It helped with itching and irritation and seemed to dry the pox out quickly. Would absolutely recommend it!!

@JustineBMumsnet

Whatever your tips for dealing with chickenpox, share with PoxClin Cool Mousse below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

has the thread had enough responses to choose a winner TIA